I'm not the handiest person out there—I'd rate myself at about a 2 or 3 out of 10 in terms of DIY skills. I'm considering whether I should tackle stripping, re-staining, and sealing my floating deck myself. Is this a difficult task for someone like me? Or should I just hire someone to do it?
4 Answers
I've done this myself and it's not that hard as long as you're ready for a workout. You don't need expert skills—just some patience and attention to detail. It took me about 40 hours to finish my medium-large deck, which looks way better than when a couple of contractors did it in one day.
It's really easy and the staff at the paint department can guide you on what chemicals to use for stripping and cleaning, plus the right stain.
Definitely give it a shot yourself! You'll need a power washer, an airless sprayer, and maybe some other tools depending on your specific situation. Start by power washing the deck, then let it dry for a few days. While it's drying, you can practice using the sprayer. To help with overspray, use large cardboard pieces for masking.
If you want a perfect finish, hire a pro. If you’re okay with pretty good results, you can definitely DIY it!
For reference, how big is your deck?