How to Restore Your Deck

If your deck is looking old and worn out, you can bring it back to life by simply cleaning and refinishing the surface. Learn how to restore your deck in this Lowe’s video:

First, test your deck’s finish. If the water soaks into the wood instead of beading up, it’s time to refinish.

By following these steps, you can bring new life to an old deck and revive this beautiful and useful addition to your home:

1. Wet down any nearby bushes and cover them with plastic. Clean your deck with a deck cleaning solution using a garden hose or pressure washer. Be sure to use a fan tip to avoid gouging the wood. Use a chisel or screwdriver to test for soft spots, which indicate heavily damaged boards. Remove and replace these boards as you go.

2. Pressure washing will raise the grain of the wood, so once the deck is completely dry, it’s time to sand it. Take extra time on the handrails to ensure they are smooth and free of splinters. Sweep the deck completely.

3. Choose a time to stain with several rain-free days in a row. Stains come in many different colors and types, so be sure to test the stain on a small area before your begin. Make sure that any nearby plants and bushes are still covered as well as the walls of your house. Use a large brush for the flat areas and smaller brushes for rails, beams and tight corners. Many stains require two coats for complete coverage. If the boards are extremely mismatched, you may want to use an opaque stain for even coverage.

4. Let the deck dry for 48 hours, then you can put your furniture back on it. Once you’re done, you can clean your brushes and uncover the bushes.