I'm working on restoring my old, grey painted deck. I've already used a mold and mildew cleaner and power washed it. Once it dries, I'm planning to sand it down and then finish it. However, I have a few questions: First, some of the paint on the railings and the top part won't come off. Any suggestions on how to deal with that? Second, what would you recommend for the finish? Should I stain, paint, or just use a transparent sealant for the entire deck? Would it be better to paint some areas and stain others? For context, I'm in Alberta, Canada, where it's very dry with long winters.
2 Answers
Just a heads up, painted decks can be a maintenance nightmare! I’ve always advised against painting for that reason. Restoring it will be labor-intensive, but if you choose to paint again, just be ready for the upkeep every few years. Stains are often the better route!
Since you’re dealing with wood, I’d suggest going for a semi-transparent stain rather than paint. It allows the wood to breathe and is generally less of a headache in terms of maintenance. As for the stuck paint on the railings, sanding should help, and if that’s tricky, Citristrip is a great option to remove old paint without too much hassle.