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facebook painters
A FAceBook
Conversation
Pro Painter magazine’s Facebook page has attracted a small but loyal following in the
last year. The conversation below is a small part of what our Facebook painters are
talking about while they help each other learn and grow professionally.
Editor RB MacKinnon starts off this conversation by asking members about painting decks
Discussion Board Topic View
Topic: Painting decks
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RB MacKinnon wrote
Who has a deck?
Who has it varnished or painted?
Who manages to keep it looking good?
What do contractors do to maintain a deck?
Paul Bisson wrote
I have painted and stained decks over the years. I prep them good: always use a power washer, scrape by
hand, then sand with power sander, dust really well, spot prime, then paint. I use a moisture meter to make
sure moisture is low before applying the finish. I apply extra coats in high-traffic areas.
RB MacKinnon wrote
Thanks Paul for that. I really hate doing decks because no matter how I do them, they still peel after a few
years. Is this common?
Paul Bisson wrote
It’s a common problem unless you are there with the carpenter when the deck is being built. What helps
is proper dry lumber. I do not like pressure-treated and will not paint it. When the end cuts are sealed on
regular lumber and primed all the way around, it sure helps. It doubles the life of the paint being sealed since
moisture now has a hard time getting into the wood and lifting the coating. Rubber-backed rugs on decks
are not good, as moisture builds up between the lumber and rubber back.
Glen Rogers wrote
Numerous deck products claim to last five - 10 years or even longer, but I have not found a single product
that lives up to these claims. What I do find is many home owners disappointed with cracked, peeled and
faded decks. In the B.C.’s Lower Mainland, problems tend occur as quickly as the first year. My suggestion to
clients is to use a semi-transparent deck oil. That should avoid the nasty job of striping when the time comes
to resurface.
Paul Bisson wrote
I agree. I believe in using a moisture meter, together with a little double-boiled linseed oil in the stain. Let it
penetrate and stay wet a little longer to soak into the wood. Of course, saying that, you also must clean the
wood well beforehand to remove dirt and other foreign matter likely to effect adhesion.
10 Professional Painter • Winter 2011