How to Back-Brush Your Deck

Outdoor decks can be enjoyable places for many years if they are properly cared for. The most important maintenance task is keeping the deck sealed or stained to protect it from rotting and fading. Wood sealants and stains are thin enough to apply with a sprayer. However, spraying these substances does not force them into the grain of the wood, so you must back brush after spraying the deck to ensure the coverage is even.

Broom
Safety glasses
Garden hose
Pressure washer
Wood stain or sealant
Garden sprayer or paint sprayer
Paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Sweep off the deck using a broom to remove all debris from the surface.
- 2
  Put on safety glasses and attach a garden hose to the water inlet valve of a pressure washer. Turn on the pressure washer and wash all of the deck boards thoroughly, keeping the nozzle 12 inches away from the deck to prevent damage. Allow the deck to dry overnight before proceeding.
- 3
  Unscrew the top of a clean garden sprayer and fill it with the desired water sealer or wood stain. Screw the top back on and pump the handle up and down until you feel resistance to pressurize the inside of the sprayer.
- 4
  Hold the sprayer nozzle 1 to 2 feet from the deck. Squeeze the trigger on the sprayer nozzle to dispense the material in long, even sprays onto the surface of the deck. Continue until the entire deck is covered.
- 5
  Pick up a paint brush and drag it over all of the deck boards in a back-and-forth motion to work the sealer or stain down into the crevices of the wood grain. You must complete the back brushing before the stain dries.
- 6
  Allow the deck to dry for a minimum of 24 hours, or until it no longer feels sticky before walking on it.

Do-It-Yourself Decorative Concrete Staining

Trex Artisan Post Installation

Decks & Patios