How to refinish flaking deck with high sun exposure?

Question

Hi team, the finish on our timber deck is starting to chip/flake and I'd like to know the best way to re-finish it to make it look good and protect into the future.

Question is how to prep? The prep instructions varies depending on if its stain, paint or oil and whether its oil or water based. I'm getting a bit lost down the google rabbit hole, so hoping someone here can help me work out what i'm dealing with, so I know how best to go about finishing again.

The deck is north west facing and uncovered, so gets quite a lot of afternoon sun (especially in Summer). I have 2 fairly large and energetic dogs who play on the deck as well, so i'm interested in finishing with something that will hold up to that high intensity traffic.  Suggestions appreciated!

Thanks!

EricL · Answer

Hello @PujDD

Thanks for sharing your question about refinishing your deck. Looking at the photos you've shared with the community it appears that the protective seal that's on the deck has started to deteriorate. The best way to rejuvenate your decking seal is to sand the deck clean back to timber and then apply your choice of stain and varnish or oil sealer.

Sealing the old surface with a new sealer on top is not ideal as it will not get absorbed properly and it ends up with a patchy, flaky finish, which will eventually come off. Sanding down the old seal and going back to a plain timber surface will allow the stain or sealer to be properly absorbed.

Once the deck is properly sanded down, the deck is then washed to clean off any sanding dust and contaminants that may have been left behind. Once the deck is totally dry you can then stain and seal the surface.

To shorten the sanding time, I suggest hiring a floor sander - For Hire: Orbital Floor Sander - 24hr. This will allow you to sand large areas of the deck in a relatively short amount of time.

Here are some handy step-by-step guides that will help you with your project:

* How to clean a deck
* How to sand a deck 
* Choosing the right finish for your deck 
* How to oil your deck

I also suggest having a look at these discussions:

* How to restore deck original look? by @Dpatel
* What grit sandpaper do I use for a Merbau deck? by @Tom23
* How to re-stain weathered deck? by @Samg88
* How to maintain Merbau deck? by @smhasnain

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric