Revitalize Your Deck in 5 Easy Steps

So most of us have experienced what can happen to our homes after years of harsh weather. Decks and porches especially take the brunt of it and I have seen many decks whose once beautiful boards are now covered in algae, leaf stains and have turned a weather-beaten gray. As a general contractor in New York I know the frustration of seeing great work fade over time. Don’t despair, there is an easy way to revitalize your deck. It takes about a week and should only put you out about $80 to $120. Here are some suggestions for how to revamp your deck and make it look healthy and new again.

STEP 1: Wash the grit and grime away. It is best to do this on an overcast day. It will keep the water from evaporating as fast. Make sure to clear away anything in the way – furniture, plants, etc. Now, pressure wash the entire deck, removing leaves, dirt and any other algae or grime.

STEP 2: Put in some elbow grease. With the deck still damp, now it’s time to scrub the deck using a great cleaning solution.

STEP 3: Rinse it off. After you’ve scrubbed the entire deck with the cleaning solution, wait about 15 minutes and then, using your pressure washer or a garden hose, rinse off the entire deck, ensuring to get rid of all the cleaning solution left over.

STEP 4: Stain away. Now, choose a great stain that either matches the original color of the wood or something new. You need to wait until the wood is completely dry before applying the stain. This may mean waiting up to 3 or 4 consecutive days after you’ve washed it, and considering there is no rain. Sweep the deck before you apply the stain. Using a synthetic filament brush slightly wider than the deck’s boards, apply the stain to each part of the deck. You may want to start with the railings and sides of the deck first and then do the main part of the decking. Brush the deck boards one at a time with long, even strokes.

STEP 5: Let it dry. Make sure to let the stain dry for at least 2 days before walking on it or adding any furniture back to the space.

All done! Now your deck space should look brand new again.