Home Tips: Techniques for Long Lasting Deck Surfaces

In fact, according to Dave Chillemi of CertaPro Painters ® in Westchester, NY, it’s very unusual for horizontal deck surfaces to hold their good looks for more than two years before needing careful attention.

In preparation for applying exterior paint or stain to your deck, CertaPro suggests the following actions take place:

• Mechanical stripping - Using a 3-head sanding machine often results in the best surface for applying coatings that will last. Before using the sander to strip the surface down to bare wood, it’s important to countersink screws and nails on the surface to be sanded. This prevents the sanding machine from breaking the screws and nails or being broken by them. Once the surface is clear, clean and smooth, the new coating can be applied.
• Pressure washing - Surfaces that are free from chipping or peeling paint may need little more than a good pressure washing with an appropriate cleaner to remove dirt and mildew prior to applying a new coating.
• Chemical stripping - Environmentally safe chemical stripping is a good option if there is a significant amount of old coating to remove. Paint removal systems such as Peel Away 1 ®, a Dumond Chemical product, offer better control and are more dependable than other chemical strippers. Peel Away 1 ® has no fumes or flammable solvents.

Many homeowners become weary of their stain or paint’s lifespan and are tempted to apply several coats of stain or painting colors to make the renewed surface really last. “Don’t do it,” advises Chillemi. “Usually a single coat is best, and never go above two.” On decks, product build-up leads directly to product failure — in the form of cracking and peeling. “And in a relatively short period of time,” adds Chillemi.

For choosing your stain or exterior paint, current trends favor a more natural “variable” finished look rather than an expanse of uninterrupted solid color, but there are enough style options to please every design taste. H&C® Concrete Coatings are frequently used byCertaPro Painters® to protect, restore and beautify exterior concrete surfaces. Your local house painting professional can help you achieve precisely the look you want.

Shop Online Now for Your Deck Paint or Stain at The Home Depot!

About CertaPro Painters:
CertaPro Painters, the largest North American house painting company, was founded in 1992. Specializing in servicing both high-end residential and commercial customers, its success is based on exceeding customer expectations by delivering certainty at every juncture of house painting services from start to finish. CertaPro Painters now operates across America and internationally. For more information please visit www.certapro.com or follow us at facebook.com/certapropaintersus and twitter.com/CertaPro.