Paint wooden decking planks with colour – Bring planks to life with varnish or glaze



Wooden decking boards lose their charm over the years. A new coat of paint not only provides more colour intensity, but also offers optimum wood protection.

Paint wooden decking planks with colour - Bring them to life with varnish or glaze The terrace is one of the most popular places to relax after a stressful working day. A beer after work, a glass of wine, a good book and a blanket and the evening is perfect. If only it weren’t for the aging decking. Somehow they destroy the whole look and feel-good character.

Anyone who decides to use wooden decking boards simply has to live with the fact that they need a new coat of paint every now and then. With a colour refreshment you do not only bring the wooden planks back to their former glory, but at the same time provide a perfect wood protection.

“By the way: Coloured floorboards enhance the terrace and, together with patio furniture and plants, make a great eye-catcher.

Step by step to a new coat of paint

Preparation the be-all and end-all

Before you start, check the condition of your decking boards. The wood should still be in a good condition, otherwise all the work would end up being in vain. Rotten, brittle and damaged planks are best replaced with new ones. Minor damage and scratches are harmless.

Check the fastening at the same time: Are all the screws tight? Does the construction wobble, are some boards warped? Take the time to fix things like that.

The old planks should then be thoroughly cleaned. To do this, use a hard brush and a special patio cleaner. I achieved very good results with the cleaner from norax. The money is already available for less than 10 dollar and even tackles moss, bird droppings and other pollution.

” Attention: The high pressure cleaner should be avoided at all costs with wooden planks. Otherwise, the strong jet may attack the wood surface and cause the wood to splinter.

If the floor has already been painted once, sanding is advisable. But be careful: most decking boards have grooves. If you want to keep them, do not use the normal sanders, because that was the one with the grooves. Many DIY stores lend special sanding machines for parquet floors to which different attachments can be attached. A Dremel can also be extremely useful for the grooves. Then remove the sanding dust and let the wood dry if necessary.

If there are deeper holes or splinters in the planks, you can repair the damage with a special wood filler (such as this one).

Different possibilities for colour design

Before you start painting, it is important that the planks are completely dry. Also keep an eye on the weather forecast. It should also be dry and resistant outside during the process itself. If the terrace is not covered, rain protection is advisable until the paint is completely dry.

You have a free hand when choosing the colour: you can work with different wood tones, choose a discreet grey tone or let the terrace shine in a colourful colour.

Painting with wood glaze

The woodstain is suitable for colour refreshment, you can also achieve a darker wood tone with it. The structure of the wood and the grain remain visible in the glaze, so the new look looks natural. Make sure that the glaze used is suitable for outdoor use.

Painting with boat lacquer

An opaque coat works best with acrylic-based boat paint. After drying, this varnish is easy to walk on and very resistant. A primer is recommended to ensure that the colours come into their own. Only after drying these, come two coats of the actual paint. Always allow to dry well in between. For permanent resilience, use a clear protective lacquer as the top layer.

“Tip: It is recommended that you choose colour and primer from a range of products from one manufacturer. That’s the best way to get the result.

Don Burke

I am Don Burke, one of the authors at My Garden Guide.  I am a horticulturist that cultivates, grows, and cares for plants, ranging from shrubs and fruits to flowers. I do it in my own garden and in my nursery. I show you how to take care of your garden and how to perform garden landscaping in an easy way, step by step.I am originally from Sydney and I wrote in local magazines. Later on, I have decided, more than two decades ago, to create my own blog. My area of specialization is related to orchid care, succulent care, and the study of the substrate and the soil. Therefore, you will see many articles dedicated to these disciplines. I also provide advice about how to improve the landscape design of your garden.

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