Using a pressure washer to clean a wood deck.
Using a pressure washer to clean a wood deck.

To-Do #7: Clean and Refinish Wood Deck

If the winter has left your wood deck looking worn and shabby, this is a great time of year to spruce it up for summer outdoor entertaining.

To refinish a wood deck:

    1. Spray down the deck with a commercial deck cleaner.
    1. Use a pressure washer or scrub brush to remove mildew and dirt. Be careful not to hold the pressure washer nozzle too close to the wood, and keep it moving to keep from damaging the deck.
    1. Replace any deteriorated boards, and reattach loose boards with nails or decking screws. Drive in any protruding nails.
    1. Use a rotary or belt sander to smooth rough spots to prevent splinters.
    1. Finish the deck with a solid or semitransparent stain, or a clear deck sealer. Apply the stain or sealer in a pump sprayer, saturating one area at a time.
  1. While the finish is wet, use a paintbrush to back brush the stain or sealer into the grain of the wood to provide a smooth finish.

Watch our video on How to Clean and Finish a Wood Deck to find out more.

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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