Is it a bad idea to just paint over an old wooden deck without sanding?
Asked by CuriousExplorer84
I'm looking to refresh my very old wooden deck, but I'm not ready to invest in a complete replacement just yet. I know ideally I should sand, stain, and varnish it, but given its current condition, is it really that bad to just paint over it without all that prep work?
Answers
It's actually pretty common to skip sanding on older decks, especially if they're not in terrible shape. Just give it a good power wash to clean off the grime and then paint or use a solid color stain. Sanding can be overkill if you're just trying to make it look decent without a full restoration. Just make sure you’re not varnishing—go for spar urethane if you want a finish.
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CuriousExplorer84: Thanks for the reassurance! I really appreciate your advice. I was worried about the condition being too far gone. Sounds like I just need to clean and paint.