Bring Your Old Deck Back to Life

Imagine the smell of a sizzling barbecue wafting in the summer air.

Sitting outside with friends, enjoying a drink and a laugh together.

Relaxing on a broad deck watching the kids play outside.

Then you look down at the floor of your deck.

To your dismay, your decking floor looks old, worn.

The boards have lost their sheen, and there are visible stains. 

What once was a uniform, shiny, painted surface is now a streaky, discoloured, fading eyesore.

How did that happen? And, more importantly, what can you do about it?

Don’t worry, we have the solution for you!

Almost any deck can be restored and brought back to life by following simple steps. 

We’ll show you how to restore your decking to bring it back to its former glory and look like new.

You can clean away the years of accumulated dirt and stains. 

You’ll learn how to bring your old deck back to life. 

It’s time to return to fabulous outdoor living by sprucing up your deck!

Choosing Your Deck Finish 

When it comes to deciding which finish to use on your deck, you have three options: oils, stains or paint.

The easiest way to remember the difference between oils and stains is this: oils enhance the natural colour while stains change it. 

Oils

There are 2 types of oils: oil-based and water-based. 

Oil-based penetrates the timber to create a more traditional look. 

Water-based oil lasts longer, because it sits on top of the timber surface. 

An oil is the best product to use if you like the natural colour and grain of your timber and wish to enhance it.

Oils contain a small amount of pigment. This pigment is essential to provide protection against UV and foot traffic. 

Due to its small amount of pigment, oil is less durable than a stain.

Your timber decking can be matched to various tints. Tinted decking oils protect and deepen the colour of the timber to help it last longer.

Before applying colour to the whole deck, we recommend testing with 2-3 coats of your chosen colour on a wood offcut or an area of timber that won’t be seen. 

Stains

If you want the wood grain to show through and change the look of the timber completely then use a stain. 

Stains contain mid-strength pigment. They are designed to transform the look of the wood with a rich colour that still allows the grain to shine through.

Stains are especially recommended for weathered timber that’s lost its colour, or on treated pine decks. You can choose from a range of traditional timber colours and others such as blues, greens and greys.

The benefit of using stains is that they contain more pigment than oils and protect longer against weather and foot traffic.

Paint 

If you have a previously painted surface or want to match your deck with other painted features, then use a deck paint.

You can choose paints that are designed for decking that last longer than regular exterior paints. 

Get Your Supplies

The next step is to organise your supplies. You will need the following:

• Deck cleaner
• Decking oil or stain
• Plastic sheeting
• Bucket
• Stiff broom
• Gloves
• Paint brush
• Squeegee
• Applicator
• Cloth

Cover Up

If there are any plants near the deck, cover them with plastic. Remove any surface dirt by hosing off the deck.

Preparing a Weathered Deck

Preparing a weathered deck properly depends on the condition of your deck, the type of coating it has and the finish you’re looking for.

For example, you might have a bare timber deck. 

If it’s in good condition, and only recently gone grey, then clean it with a deck cleaning product, such as Cabot’s. 

You can bring your deck back to life in its natural colour by removing weathered wood fibres, oils and tannins. 

Sand badly weathered timber back to a solid surface before cleaning.

Making Sure of Your Decking Finish

Your decking timber may have been previously oiled or stained. 

To accept a new finish, it might need to be properly weathered.

In order to determine this, do a water bead test. 

You’ll need to sprinkle some water on your deck. 

Then, see if the water beads or absorbs into the timber. 

If water soaks into your timber, then decking oil or stain should do likewise.

If the water beads, then the timber won’t be able to accept a new coating. In this case, you’ll have to sand it back before going through the cleaning process.

Another scenario might include a painted timber surface. Standard paint recoating rules apply here.

Remove loose or flaking paint. Sand back the timber and clean it before repainting.

Applying Decking Oils or Stains

Before you apply any oil or stain to your deck, you need to prepare the timber. Start with a deck cleaner product. 

Hose down any plants near your deck before and after using the cleaner. This will help to minimise any damage to leaves.

Once your deck is dry, you’re ready to apply the first coat. 

An example of an excellent decking oil product is Cabot’s Aquadeck. 

Cabot’s Aquadeck is a highly durable, low odour, lightly pigmented water based decking oil. It enhances and protects the natural look of your decking timber and lasts twice as long as oil based decking oils.

Before using a product like Aquadeck, give it a good stir. This will ensure the colour is even throughout the can.

Then, pour it into a bucket. Cut in around the edges with a brush where required.

Cover 3-4 boards at a time in long strokes using a lambswool applicator.

Work up and down the full length of the boards, rather than across. This is to ensure consistency and that no edges appear mid-board. 

Wipe over any drips immediately to ensure they don’t dry as this will leave spots.

Apply 2 coats leaving 1 hour between each coat. 

You’re done, and your old worn-out deck will look like new!

Get the Best Products and Advice

Whatever product you use to restore your deck, whether that is an oil, stain or paint, you can get excellent advice, products and supplies at your local Inspirations Paint outlet. 

At Paintenance Melbourne, we use and recommend the Inspirations Paint Nunawading store.

And if you want direct assistance with your decking or exterior paint project from a Master Painter, please contact Jonno at Paintenance Melbourne on 0404 227 330.

Happy painting!

Article References:

How To Restore a Deck – Better Homes and Gardens

How To Restore a Deck with UltraDeck – Bunnings

Choosing Between an Oil and a Stain – Inspirations Paint

How to Choose the Right Paint

Choosing the right paint for your next painting project can be a daunting task.

There are many types of paint on the market.

These have a variety of descriptions, such as flat, eggshell, low sheen, matt acrylic and satin acrylic.

How do you choose the right one?

There’s a kaleidoscope of colours available too.

From deep blues and aquamarines, to violets, tans, greens, through to whites, neutrals, yellows, oranges, browns, pinks and reds.

With so many different brands and colours to choose from, it is hard to know which one will work best for you.

This blog post discusses 16 ways that will help you find the perfect paint for your needs!

Getting Started with Your Paints

Tip1: Before getting started, you want to determine if the paint is interior or exterior.

If it’s for outside use, then it is best to go with an exterior grade paint. A paint that can stand up against harsh weather conditions such as rain and sun exposure.

Tip 2: Determine what type of surface you are painting on. For example: interior walls vs ceilings; wood surfaces such as floors or cabinets vs brick exteriors; tile countertops versus concrete bases – there’s a big difference!

Choose the right kind of paint for the surface you will be painting.

For example, if you’re going to paint walls then latex paints would work best but if it’s furniture that needs a makeover than oil-based paints might just do the trick!

Tip 3: Consider durability. Oil-based coats last longer than their water-based counterparts because they dry faster and cure harder due to the solvent in the finish coat, such as linseed oil.

Paint Features

Tip 4: Paint Features

Oil-Based Paint Features

• Longer drying and curing time.
• More durable than water-based paint.
• Cleaning paint brushes requires harsh chemicals like paint thinner.
• Usually gives a smoother and better-looking finish.

Water-Based Paint Features

• Drying and curing time less than oil-based paint.
• Isn’t quite as durable as oil-based paint.
• Clean-up doesn’t require chemicals – soap and water works great.
• More common paint than oil-based paint as a rule.

Oil-based paint may be better on surfaces that take a lot of scuffs and knocks, like exteriors, floors, doors, trim, and furniture.

On the other hand, water-based paint is great for things that won’t see a whole lot of wear and tear, like walls and ceilings.

Water-based paint is sometimes known as latex paint.

Although even though water-based typically uses acrylic resins or vinyl instead of actual latex.

Water-based paint is also the most common type of paint.

Around 75% of paint available at most hardware or paint stores is water-based, although it depends where you shop.

Below is a list of the more common types of paint, thanks to Haymes Paint.

Matt

Also known as flat, ultra-flat and matt acrylic, flat paint has little or no shine.

This paint is ideal if you have less than perfect walls.

Its coarse pigments deflect light, so it’s ideal for making imperfections less obvious.

Low Sheen

Paints such as eggshell fall under the category of low sheen.

They have a lower level of shine and work well in a living space or bedroom.

Like flat acrylic paint, low sheen is ideal for masking perfect imperfect walls.

Satin

Satin paint is a mid-sheen.

It’s ideal for children’s bedrooms, as satin takes more wear and tear than flats or low sheens and is suitable to be lightly scrubbed.

Semi-Gloss

Semi-gloss is ideal for trims, skirting boards and interior doors.

Semi-gloss can handle a bit of wear and tear, yet is relatively low-key in feel and lustre, unlike gloss.

Gloss

Gloss paint is the shiniest paint of all. It’s commonly used on window and wall trims, as well as architraves.

Traditionally, this toughest of paints is oil-based, but today it is also made with water-based technology and is a little less hard-wearing, but the clean-up is a lot easier.

Natural Paints

Paint manufacturers have responded to environmental concerns by formulating paints with less Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).

These are still found in many oil- and water-based paints.

As extended exposure to VOC’s can be harmful to the user, it’s always best to be aware of this when selecting your paint.

Paint Effects

Are you wanting to make a statement? Then textured paint may be the right choice for you. There are many effects available, such as shimmering metallics and copper, to concrete looks and textured sand.

Now that you know the basics, let’s look at some more tips on how to choose the right paint for your next painting projects.

Primers

Tip 5: Consider if you will need any primers.

Primers are a type of paint with special qualities. These qualities include adhesion promoters or sealers designed specifically to:

• Improve bonding between coats (i.e., latex primer over oil-based surfaces),
• Increase resistance from moisture damage (i.e., exterior grade primers)
• or Reduce appearance flaws caused by previous materials (i.e., sanding marks & stains).

Flat vs Glossy

Tip 6: Finally, determine whether you want flat finishes vs glossy coatings.

This will depend upon the look you want to achieve (i.e., flat paint for ceilings or walls that will receive little wear as opposed to glossy coatings on cabinets).

When choosing the right paint, it is important to not only consider what kind of painting project you are doing, but also how it will be used and where in your home!

More Quick Tips (7-10)

• Always read labels before starting – make sure to check out all the safety precautions and instructions before starting your job.
• If using primers make sure they’re designed specifically for use with oil-based paints on wood surfaces
• Decide upon finish type depending upon desired result such as glossiness and durability etc.
• Choose interior grade materials when working indoors.

As you can see, there are many different factors involved when choosing paint.

Some of these include colour, quality, cost, coverage area, brand preference etc.

Each one of these will help you determine which ones will work best for you.

Painting Surfaces

Tip 11: What surface are you painting? Determine whether it is wood, brick, concrete etc.

For example: for wood surfaces choose a water-based paint but for bricks and concrete use oil-based paints as they adhere better to these types of surfaces.

Paint Coverage

Decide how much coverage area do you have.

The size of your house or office will help determine which type of brush or roller should be used.

For small areas like walls use smaller rollers while larger projects require bigger ones that cover more space in less time.

Budget and Brands

Tip 12: What is your budget?

Some brands of paint cost over $50 per litre, while others can be found at a lower price point.

Also, some colours will be priced differently than others.

This may help determine if it’s worth spending extra money on these products or not.

Do you need specialty paints like metallic and pearlescent types of finishes?

These tend to get pricey, but they add that special effect that really makes everything pop out in an amazing way!

Just make sure you don’t go overboard with buying too much as it may end up costing you more in the long run.

Tip 13: Which brand works best for your painting projects?

There are lots of choices out there, but some brands tend to stand out more than others due to their quality products and great customer service!

Make sure the one you choose has a good reputation among its customers.

This will ensure it’s worth spending money on these items versus cheaper ones with no reviews online.

For information about the paint brands and stockists that Paintenance Melbourne recommends, please check out our Resources Page.

Tip 14: How long do you want the paint job to last before it needs redone?

This will help determine on whether you should choose a water-based paint or an oil-based one.

The former tends to get worn faster while the latter lasts much longer and doesn’t need redone as often!

Quality and Colour

Tip 15: Another way to determine which brand of paint will work best for your project is to consider its quality.

How many coats of paint do you want?

Some brands have better coverage than others. This means less coats are needed for maximum results.

So, if this is your goal, then be sure to look for a brand that has good reviews in terms of how long it takes them to dry and being able to cover large areas with just one coat!

Cheaply priced paints tend to have poor coverage area. High-quality paints require fewer coats during application, so they save time in between sessions.

Tip 16: What type of colour would best fit your room’s theme?

Whether it’s bright colours like pinks and purples or more neutral ones such as whites and greys.

One way to choose the right paint is by colour because it can drastically affect whether your painting projects will be a success or failure.

If you are looking for bright colours, then choosing bright, intense paints would be great idea.

But if you need more subdued tones, than warmer colours like greens and browns might just do the trick instead.

With all these different factors involved when choosing the right paint for your next painting projects; one thing is certain.

There are many options out there and each one works differently depending on what type of project you may need them for – interior or exterior, small, or large jobs etc.

Remember that these are just some of the many ways to choose the right paint for your next painting projects.

There are just so many factors that go into choosing the right paint and each one of them will help you determine which types work best for certain painting jobs.

If you’re not sure what paint to use for your next project, feel free to contact Jonno at Paintenance Melbourne for some friendly professional advice!

Video: How to Paint Bathroom Tiles the Right Way *Currently 183k views

Give Your Bathroom Tiles a Makeover

Bathroom tiles can look great. Gleaming, bright, clean. They make your bathroom look fresh and inviting.

Well, at first.

Then, over time, they start to show signs of wear and tear.

You know. You’ve seen it all.

Mould.

Stains.

Cracks.

Scratches and scuff marks. And the rest!

You could strip them out. Get rid of them. Pay someone to put in new tiles.

Then you’d have shiny, beautiful new bathroom tiles.

But it’s not cheap.

There is an alternative. You can paint your bathroom tiles instead.

It’s not easy, but you can give your tired old bathroom tiles a serious makeover.

Just follow our step-by-step guide!

Materials for Painting Your Bathroom Tiles

The first step is to obtain the right materials.

You’ll need the following to paint your tiles:

• 4mm Nap 100mm wide microfibre roller with tray
• 38–50mm high quality angled sash cutter brush
• Paint stirrer and drop sheet
• Sanding block
• Scrubbing brush
• Painters Masking Tape
• Sugar soap
• Old toothbrush
• Grout
• Mould killer
• Tile cleaner
• Dust mask
• Sponge
• Primer
• Rubber gloves
• Drop sheets
• Safety glasses
• Bucket
• Respirator
• Tile paint, such as Dulux Renovation Range Tile Paint

Clean Your Bathroom Tiles

The next step is to clean your bathroom tiles.

Make sure you scrub them very well before painting.

Get your bucket, some water and sugar soap.

Grab your scrubbing brush and give those tiles a really good scouring. For smaller areas, you could try using sugar soap wipes.

Then take your old toothbrush.

Scrub the grout lines with your toothbrush, using mould killer to get in and remove any mould spores.

We recommend using a respirator and safety glasses for this part. If you’ve ever been sprayed in the eyes accidently by mould killer, you’ll know how important this step is!

Leave this a few minutes before cleaning off.

You can spray with tile cleaner, leave for 30 seconds, then wipe off with a wet sponge to remove soap scum and oil.

Sand When Dry

Once your tiles are gleaming clean and dry, it’s time to sand.

Sanding the tiles will help your new primer and paint adhere to the surface better.

Give the tiles a light sand all over.

Wear a dust mask while sanding. Then go for it!

Use a sheet of 240 grit wet/dry abrasive paper and a sanding block to create a rough matt surface.

Wash and rinse off the tiles using a wet sponge and clean water.

Leave to dry completely.

Mask Your Edges

Mask up any areas where you don’t want your paint to go.

Use painter’s tape to mask off walls at the floor, the ceiling and any other edges such as taps and fixtures.

Press firmly on the edge of the tape along the area to be painted to give a clean finish.

Fill any cracks with grout or gap filler. Leave to dry.

Place drop sheets on the floor.

Apply the Primer

Once you’ve taped up everything, you’re ready to apply the primer.

If you’re using Dulux Renovation Range, it comes with an additive that you add to the primer, then stir the primer well, for two to five minutes.

Even though it’s specifically designed for plastic or laminate, you can also use it on all tiles.

Once your primer is mixed, pour it out into a tray.

Take your paint brush to cut in around the edges and the grout lines of your tiles.

Once this has been done, use your roller. Roll on the primer in a zigzag pattern, then smooth out. Roll the primer on from the top to the base.

Leave your primer to dry for four hours.

Start Painting Your Tiles

Once your first layer of primer is dry, you can apply the second coat of paint.

Lightly sand the tiles again with 240 grit paper and wipe down.

As with the primer, use a paint brush to cut in along the grout-lines.

Then use a roller to apply the colour across the surface of the tiles in long, even strokes.

Paint a small area at a time in a zigzag pattern, then roll smooth.

When the paint is spread and only a little is left on the roller, go over the area in one direction from top to base

Allow the first coat to dry for eight hours, then apply a second.

To get a nice, even finish gently go over your tiles once more with an unloaded roller in the same direction.

Paint Your Topcoat

Store your brush and roller in water until the first coat of paint is dry.

Squeeze out the water.

Lightly sand the tiles with 600 grit paper.

Wipe off the dust, then apply the topcoat using the same technique as for the first coat.

Allow to dry for a day, then wait a week until fully cured.

Clean it Up

Wash your roller, tray, brush and sponge in warm soapy water.

Take off all masking tape once the paint is fully dry. Remove the drop sheets and pack away all your equipment.

Now you’re done.

You didn’t have to get an expensive tiler, and your tiles look brand new.

Enjoy your complete bathroom tile makeover!

• If you’re interested in more painting ideas, take a look at more of Paintenance Melbourne’s blog posts.
• Give painting expert Jonno a call on 0404 227 330 to talk about your next painting project or get a quote.

*Thanks to Dulux, Bunnings, and Handyman for the information used in this article.