Hello. First time deck painter here. I have prepared my deck as well as possible. The previous owners had painted the deck and let it go real bad. Most of the paint had cracked and peeled off, but other areas (like underneath) are still in good shape. It is a high deck coming off the second floor with a walkout from the first florr below it so both top and bottom have been painted. I have sanded and scraped and prepared the deck for sealant and paint. I am just wondering what is the best and most efficient way to tackle the job (railings, spindles, deck boards, underside in between joists, etc.). Is it better to go with a brush, a large roller, a small roller, some other option? I know I will need to use a small brush in some of the tight areas, but will some other option give me the finish I should have on a deck or is it best to use a brush? I am using a solid color to do the deck because I cannot remove all the old paint.
Thanks!
Mike
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Hi Mike, depending on how you want to finish the deck you should take two things into account...
Stain - if you plan on staining the deck, after you have sanded it down and gotten rid of any visible paint, us a deck wash, it will clean up the "oldness" of the deck a little. A trick I use for the spindels when staining is using a sponge glove (like the ones you use to wash your car). Put a rubber/latex glove on your hand, then the sponge glove and dip it in the stain... you can rub your hand around the spindel... works much easier than a brush.
Painting - once again make sure you remove any visible paint and sand down the surface, if you used a paint stripper to remove the paint, be sure to give your deck a good washing (soap and water) and let it dry for a few days in the sun before you apply paint. If you apply too soon, your paint is likely to chip or peel much quicker because the paint thinner is still in the wood. To paint it, you can use a regular (rough surfaces) roller for the floor and under the floor on the joists. A couple of quality brushes will get you through the spindels.
Good luck.
Cricket
Stain - if you plan on staining the deck, after you have sanded it down and gotten rid of any visible paint, us a deck wash, it will clean up the "oldness" of the deck a little. A trick I use for the spindels when staining is using a sponge glove (like the ones you use to wash your car). Put a rubber/latex glove on your hand, then the sponge glove and dip it in the stain... you can rub your hand around the spindel... works much easier than a brush.
Painting - once again make sure you remove any visible paint and sand down the surface, if you used a paint stripper to remove the paint, be sure to give your deck a good washing (soap and water) and let it dry for a few days in the sun before you apply paint. If you apply too soon, your paint is likely to chip or peel much quicker because the paint thinner is still in the wood. To paint it, you can use a regular (rough surfaces) roller for the floor and under the floor on the joists. A couple of quality brushes will get you through the spindels.
Good luck.
Cricket
