Hoping to Restore Your Deck Without Replacing? Deck Refinishing May Be an Option
As the years pass, your deck will begin to show signs of age. Whether wood or composite, exposure to direct sunlight will cause the color to fade, while damage from hail or debris may scratch and dent the surface. You may be wondering if there's a way to restore your deck to its former glory without a full deck replacement—and that's where deck refinishing comes in.
Deck refinishing can be a great way to rejuvenate the appearance of your deck and better protect it against the elements while saving money compared to a full replacement. At Nelson Exteriors, our team recommends refinishing your wood deck every 2-3 years to both keep it looking beautiful and to protect against moisture, UV, and other sources of damage. Here's everything you need to know about refinishing your deck.
What Is Deck Refinishing?
Deck refinishing is a process by which the surface of your deck is fully restored and resealed, creating a new protective barrier on the deck's surface and renewing its appearance. Along with deck repairs and maintenance, it's a common alternative to fully replacing or rebuilding a deck.
The Deck Refinishing Process
To refinish a deck, the process will depend on the types of material used when it was originally built. Usually refinishing is applied to wood decking, as composite products—we typically work with Trex or TimberTech—maintain their color much better.
For wood decks, the refinishing process typically involves:
- Thorough cleaning and rinsing
- Full inspection for structural problems
- Light sanding (if necessary)
- Apply wood brightener
- Staining/Sealing
To refinish a composite deck, typically all that's needed is a thorough cleaning, sometimes followed by restaining. Composite decks should not be sanded (and won't need to be).
Is My Deck a Candidate for Refinishing?
Not all decks can be refinished. Typically, refinishing is a way to improve the cosmetic appearance of your deck and renew its surface protection. However, refinishing cannot address underlying structural issues, and refinishing a deck that is rotting or otherwise needs to be replaced is wasteful.
Decks that are candidates for refinishing are typically:
- Not close to the end of their lifespan
- In good structural condition
- Faded or feature minor surface-level damage
Refinishing vs. Resurfacing
If you've researched solutions for your deck, you may have come across both deck refinishing and deck resurfacing. While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they actually refer to two different ways of restoring your deck.
Deck refinishing refers to replacing the seal or stain on your deck, primarily to restore its appearance. Deck resurfacing, on the other hand, is a process by which the surface boards of your deck are replaced with new ones. This is more involved than refinishing (and therefore more expensive) but still less of an undertaking than a full replacement. It can be a good solution if your deck boards are in poor repair but the rest of the deck is in good condition.
Don't Refinish Yourself! Call the Pros at Nelson Exteriors
While some homeowners may attempt to refinish their deck themselves, we highly recommend calling on our professional team. As one of Metro Atlanta's leading deck builders, our team at Nelson Exteriors is highly experienced in deck repair and refinishing, and we'll be able to complete the entire process much more efficiently—and with a superior end result.
If your deck is dull, faded, or simply not looking like it did when new, refinishing is the perfect solution to restore its former glory and to better protect it against moisture and sun damage. Reach out to our team at Nelson Exteriors for a free, no-obligation quote today!