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My husband has been talking about replacing our cracked decking for 3 years now, but hasn't done anything about it. Our pressure treated boards are all cracked and have splinters.
Our 1 1/2 year old granddaughter is coming to spend the week, and I don't like the idea of her playing on the deck and maybe getting a splinter.
I was thinking, what if I sanded the deck, filled the cracks with exterior wood filler, then applied a coat or two of stain, or maybe even just Thompson's Water Seal?
I don't care if the putty degrades over winter. I just want a nice safe deck for next week.
Rent a floor sander and sand with 60 grit sandpaper. Then re-sand with 80 grit.
If any feathered or splintered wood remains apply a sandable/stainable wood adhesive to those areas, let dry, and hand-sand with 80 or 100 grit. Some also use a 120 grit over the whole deck but I'm not that particular about smoothness.
A wood filler works but will show as a repair more so than most clear wood adhesives.
Seal deck with Thompson's or similar deck sealer using a pneumatic sprayer or paint roller. Add a second coat after the first is well dried.
Every other year power-wash, let dry thoroughly, and roll-on/spray a coat or two to help avoid splinters and weather related damage.
If any feathered or splintered wood remains apply a sandable/stainable wood adhesive to those areas, let dry, and hand-sand with 80 or 100 grit. Some also use a 120 grit over the whole deck but I'm not that particular about smoothness.
The sandable/stainable wood adhesive, would that be something like Liquid Nails?
OK. I've used it on small projects to seal fibrous ends, but hadn't thought of it on a bigger scale. Thank you.
After a thorough sanding there's usually just a few feathered spots (where the heart grain of the wood will separate from the board). Use the Elmers to fill-in the separation and level the area. It's sold in gal. containers but our 10x25 deck required only about 4-6 oz.
Don't chase good money after bad.
Sanding, sealing, and half-assed repair work is just a self defeating act of ignorance.
I have to agree if P C-
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pitt Chick
IF all you want is a temporary fix...
I'd just get a cheap outdoor rug.
You can get 48sq/ft of outdoor carpet for just over a hundred bucks. And it will last for many years. All of of the "repair work" would be well over a C-note an only last the season.
Cover it up- and then invest in a good rebuild using vinyl. Forget about wood and composites- the vinyl will be the last deck you build; and never a splinter!
I'd do the rug. In fact I have done it, before ultimately tearing out a deck. Any sanding and repairing is way too much work for something that won't last.
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