painting tips :: decks Surface Prep For the first step, pressure washing is basically a necessity for your deck. There are two main reasons: Wood is not happy being horizontal—it takes a lot more "abuse." Rain and sun bleach the deck more intensely. People walk on a deck, grinding dirt into the wood (you don’t have that problem with walls and ceilings). Pressure washing will lift out the dirt and freshen the wood to an amazing degree. Ask your paint store about deck cleaning solutions for even better results than pressure washing alone. Most decks are stained or clear-coated instead of painted, so deglossing, scraping, and patching won’t be needed; washing is your major surface prep step and it needs to be done well. After pressure washing, the deck will look so good that you may be tempted not to treat it. Resist the temptation. Your deck should probably be treated every two years to make it last as long as your house! Replace any rotted wood now. If your deck was installed with screws, check the floor to see if any need to be retightened. Review steps 1 and 4 in the Exterior Surface Prep section for a few more hints. "Painting" For decks, this step will probably be staining, clear-coating, or waterproofing instead of painting. Ask for advice about the best treatment for your deck based on its type of wood and location. The Work Horse™ polypropylene brush is excellent for applying deck treatments. This pole-mount brush works on an extension pole, and with the help of its 8-inch block and 200 tufts you can just "sweep on" the waterproofer or sealer. If you plan to apply stain, use a paint roller instead. (Rollers also work well for other deck treatments.) You might want to try an 18-inch roller instead of the standard 9-inch length. It doubles the area you cover with each stroke! The Big Ben™ 18-inch roller frame is rust-proof, lightweight (less than one pound), and easy to clean. Use a bucket to make the job easier. The Wooster 4-Gallon Bucket used with the 8626 Lid keeps debris like leaves and dust out of the bucket. The no-tip design and built-in roll-off area make work go more smoothly. And if your project takes more than one day, you can store your stain and painting tools right inside to save cleanup and startup time. Cleanup With proper cleaning, you can use your high-quality Wooster applicators for many years to come—visit the Cleanup page for detailed instructions. Now take a seat in your favorite lounge chair and enjoy the view from your beautiful deck!