Building a deck onto your home is a wonderful way to extend your living space. Decks are places that create many great family memories of everyone sitting together and enjoying the beautiful outdoors over some good food, drink and laughter. One of our very good friends has an absolutely charming deck attached to their home…and in the summer, you’ll only ever find them outside “on the deck” enjoying the nice weather along with good times.
Most decks that are built today are done so with treated or pressurized wood materials. Wooden decks can add an incredible amount of charm to any home and they can be adorned with lighting, trellises and deck furniture to create a very visually appealing living area. While the construction of wooden decks are designed to be long-lasting, unfortunately they must be preserved with either paint or stain if they are to survive. Most decking paint that is used on the surfaces of decks will need to be re-done every few years due to changes in temperature, rain and sun damage.
When it is time to re-paint a deck, it is highly advisable to select top quality decking paint as this will provide the wood with superb protection against the weather and general wear and tear. While decking wood is a strong material it is also very vulnerable. Just take a look at a fallen tree that has been exposed to nature’s elements to see what water and sun can do to under-protected wood. 
The key to protecting your deck is to apply a paint that will provide protection from precipitation and humidity. Any home improvement store will gladly assist you in choosing a top quality deck paint. There are water based, clear, semi-transparent and opaque finishes from which to choose from so be sure to look at the finished sample pieces to select the type that will look best on your deck.
Applying decking paint is a true summer do-it-yourself job that requires a few rollers, brushes, scrapers and a good deal of muscle power. Be sure to thoroughly clean the deck prior to painting-preferably with a power washer that will remove trapped dirt and debris. A power paint sprayer also comes in handy… although it is not necessary, especially if you can recruit some help from family or friends.
The best decking paint is acrylic-based paint that requires no priming. It blocks stains and can be used on new or previously stained surfaces. It also will bond to weathered oil or latex coatings and will block knot bleeding as well as greening due to pressure treatments. Although the best deck paint can cost around $50 a gallon (which covers about 110 square feet) ,it is designed to last for several seasons, unlike cheap paint that can be purchased for much less but that will require you to re-apply year after year. It is therefore recommended that you spend the money and buy the best deck paint in order to ensure that your deck not only looks outstanding but that the finish will protect it for several years.
Treat your deck with the right kind of paint and you’ll be enjoying its beauty and function for years to come!