Thread: Paint or Stain a Deck?

SHWMO has been told by our painter that it's Ok to paint our treated-pine rear deck. I'm sure there would be some suitable paints but I'm not sure which.

It was last treated with decking oil about 5 years ago and has recently been cleaned.

Our family room opens onto the deck and it's the only exit path via steps to our back yard.

Being heavily trafficked I suggested that stain/oil is the better wearing finish. Am I correct?

Paint scratches, oil soaks in......

Originally Posted by dazzler

Paint scratches, oil soaks in......

But it's not that simple. Paint for decking lasts better than oil in fact - requiring re-coating generally only after 3-5 years and sometimes longer. Most exposed oiled decks will need re-coating every year or so (depending on the timber, the finish, the amount of sun, the amount of wear etc)

Painting is especially not a bad choice for TP decking which can look pretty ordinary compared to a regular deck. You also have a variety of colours to choose form and prep is what you have done - a good wash off. The timber is TP so will be protected as well by paint as oil so long as you maintain it well (which is easier to do IMO) - and oiled decks have to be looked after too.

If it is subject to high wear then use some anti-slip additive to the high wear area or the whole lot - it will increase the longevity greatly. Also be sure to use decking/ paving paint designed for flat high wear surfaces not just the acrylic wood paints.

I am not a fan of painted HW decks, unless so badly weathered they are not recoverable to look good oiled, but for TP (and sometime cypress) painting is a good option. Cheaper than oiling and easier for a DIYer.

But how long does it take to reoil a deck - not long and you get that sweet oil fragrance .

Then again treated pine looks awful no matter what you do

Wattyl make a deck finish.. its like a watered down paint so it semi absorbs on the first coat to get better bite and isn't as latex as say solar guard... do i like paint on decks.. NO unless the place is up for sale and your moving on and trying to tidy up a dunger of a deck.. Once the paint has a scratch in the coating it gives worse protection than no coating at all .. one of the greatest killers of hardwood decking is worn paint.. the water soaks in through the splits ( breaks in paint coating) it absorbs into the board.. when the sun comes back out it has to go all the way back to the split to evaporate back out.. this means the timber stays wetter longer than if it was uncoated to start with... Other may disagree but we see plenty and this is what we have seen


cheers utemad