Wood Pool Deck Refinishing

A pool deck is a great feature to add to the pool area, but it requires some hard work on your part to keep it protected and looking great all year round. One of the jobs that is recommended each year is to protect your deck by carrying out a pool deck refinishing job.

It’s up to you how often you carry out the finishing, whether you choose to perform a refinish each year or less frequently, some wood surfaces may not require it that often, but it certainly won’t hurt to give it another protective coating.

Before you start your deck refinishing job you have to prepare the surface by cleaning off all the debris as well as any peeling paint (if that’s what it was originally finished with). If it has been a long while since the last time it was cleaned, the wood finish will probably be quite dirty so a thorough clean will be a necessity.

For a small deck you may choose to use water, soap and a stiff brush. When the scrubbing has been completed you will have to ensure that the soap has been entirely removed from the surface, so a hose and high pressure spray should be applied. Care, of course, will need to be taken to spray away from the pool edge.

In all likelihood there will be debris caught between the wooden decking boards, so it will be necessary to get down and remove everything that’s caught there. Failing to do so will simply allow them to sit and rot and your wood deck refinish will be for nothing as the boards will be prone to rotting themselves.

It may be necessary to strip back a layer of decking oil if the deck surface has become particularly discolored. If you’re going to perform a sanding, the deck nails should be sunk below the surface of the boards so that you’re not constantly ripping the sandpaper. Sanding the deck before commencing the refinishing gives your deck a more fresh appearance when you’ve completed.

Once you’ve finished preparing the deck surface you can go ahead and apply the new finish. Whether you’re using a deck paint, stain or oil you will have to plan where you start so that you end up in a spot that ensures you’re not painted in.

We refinish our pool deck with a decking oil to give it strong waterproofing qualities while showing up the wood grain to best advantage. To apply the decking oil, use a fleece applicator, a brush or a roller, working along the decking boards along the grain. Work in small manageable patches to ensure an even coating is applied.

Personally I prefer the applicator because it allows you to control the amount of stain you are applying to the deck and you can work quickly while remaining on your feet. It’s much easier on the back and the knees. Whether you use a roller, a brush or an applicator will be up to your own preference and the tools you have available.

Many quality decking stains only require a single coat to offer sufficient protection, however it is up to you whether you feel a second coat is necessary. If your pool deck refinish is going to consist of two coats you will have to leave 12 to 24 hours for the surface to dry properly. Even after 24 hours the surface may still be tacky and the second coat may not be absorbed properly. You will have to wait an appropriate period before you can put the pool furniture back onto it.

A wood pool deck refinishing will result in prolonging the life of your pool deck, protecting it from the elements as well as from the water that inevitably gets splashed from the pool. When you’ve completed the job you can sit back and appreciate how the deck refinish has renewed your pool deck back to its original condition and appreciate that your investment is protected.