How to Refinish and Paint an Old Wooden Porch and Deck

Wooden porches invoke a certain nostalgia for afternoon iced teas on swinging benches. If you are lucky enough to have a wooden porch on your house, you’re sure to remember the good old days. After several seasons of weather, the porch is not likely to retain its beauty. It’s true, wooden porches do need maintenance every few seasons and spring is the perfect time to start. Here’s how to refinish and paint an old wooden porch and deck.

Repair

Before you put work into the porch, do a really rigorous inspection of the current wooden planks. This includes stairs, joists, railings and other wooden elements. If you have damaged or warped boards, pull them up and replace them now. By doing this before you refinish or repaint, you are ensuring your repair will be invisible. Also inspect any areas where the wood touches the ground. These places are notorious for moisture and pest intrusion. If there are dark spots in any of the pieces of wood, try jamming a screwdriver into them. If it disintegrates, you will want to replace these pieces as well.

The beauty of a wooden porch is the ability to pull single pieces of wood from it and replace it as necessary. Do not skip this step or you could be looking at repairs later in the year, followed by a repainting or restaining. Take on the whole project at once so your porch will be protected for years to come.

While you are inspecting the wood, look at your fasteners and make sure they are intact and tight. Seek out any signs of moisture, like mildew or mold. Make sure any nails that could have popped up are repaired. If your nails are causing rust stains, pull them up and replace them with galvanized versions to avoid future staining.

Clean

Once repairs have been made, the next step is to clean the surface in preparation for painting or staining. This is something that should be done annually regardless of repairs and staining plans. Purchase some cleaner from your big box store. Usually it comes with an applicator to attach it to the garden house. This allows you to easily clean the deck or porch with the hose, rather than a power washer.

If you choose to go the power washer route, be cautious with the PSI you choose. It’s very easy to get overzealous and cause damage to the wood. Too much pressure can create divots and dings in the wooden boards, especially if they are older.

With either pressure washing or using the hose, it’s imperative that you wear eye protection and gloves. The chemicals can cause harm to plants that it runs only. Protect any that could be in harm’s way with plastic sheeting. There are some cleansers that boast a plant-friendly aspect, but it has been our experience that you are better off to put the protection in place regardless of the manufacturer’s suggestions.

Once you have gone over the porch or deck with a cleanser, use a stiff bristle brush to clean and hard to remove stains. Rinse the entire area very thoroughly with the hose. Allow it to dry completely before moving to the next step. Wood tends to retain moisture so you’ll want to allow it to dry overnight at least.

Stain or Paint

Whether you have chosen to use a stain or paint, the process of applying it is the same. But first, what is the difference?

Stains are clear or semi-transparent options that allow natural wood grain to show through. They absorb into the wood providing a protective coating against moisture and sunlight. While they come in many colors, they are typically close to the natural color of wood.

Paints are opaque options that will cover the wood beneath completely. This is a good option if you have old boards next to new ones. The colors will never look quite the same under a stain, but can easily be masked with a paint. Paint comes in more color options but will not let the wood show through.

To apply the stain or paint, you can opt for a swift stroke of a sprayer. Most likely you will end up doing some rolling and brushing as well. These two techniques allow the brush or roller to push the paint or stain down into cracks and crevices within the wood completing the coating. This means that there is no chance for water intrusion to destroy your deck. Sprayers also tend to be messier, with tarping and drop cloths being absolutely necessary to catch overspray. You will need more control around edges and when dealing with railings and stairs.

Extras

Now that the porch or deck is looking great, take some time to paint or stain the railings, banisters and other adjacent elements. With railings and banisters, you may have wooden elements that should be taken care of as well. Some porches have metal railings as a stylish touch. These too should be maintained to avoid rusty run off. A simple cleaning and painting can provide the same protection you just gave the porch.

Hardware that may be a part of the area around the porch might be in need of repair as well. Consider changing out the numbers on your house, mailbox or other pieces. This makes the job look finished and thought out.

Schedule an Estimate

If you are in need of a porch or deck makeover, we’re here to help! Our teams are adept at repairing, cleaning and painting or staining these outdoor living spaces. Schedule a free, no-obligation appointment with our estimate team today to get started.