Take your deck from wood to wow with a composite decking makeover – Home Improvement Blogs

(BPT) – Take into consideration this — for the same sum of time and strength needed to strip, sand and stain a wood deck, you could switch those people boards with composite decking and hardly ever all over again have to stress about repairs. Made for utmost toughness and small upkeep, wood-choice decking, like Trex, is resistant to fading, staining, scratching and mildew, and just an occasional soap-and-h2o cleansing is all it requires to keep a “like-new” visual appeal for many years.

Resurfacing a deck is a doable Do-it-yourself job that can be concluded in a weekend or two with just a little know-how and the help of a several buddies. Just comply with these actions from the experts at Trex Academy to give your aged wood deck a makeover with large-effectiveness, inconvenience-cost-free composite decking.

1. Remove old deck boards

Start by getting rid of any railing and prying up the present deck boards. Depart the substructure and framing in area.

2. Clean the body

Assure that all fasteners and hardware have been taken out from the best of the deck frame. If nails are not able to be taken off, bend the ideas in excess of so they lie flat on the wooden for safety. Take away any debris from the bays among joists to allow air to move beneath the body.

3. Inspect the substructure

Check out the beams and joists of the framing to make certain these foundational parts are free of charge of rot and decay. Use a flathead screwdriver to probe for smooth spots. Mend or change any decayed or rotting framing ahead of continuing.

4. Protect joists and beams

For extra defense and to lengthen the existence of your deck, apply protective flashing tape, this sort of as Trex Protect to the joists and beams of the substructure. This straightforward-to-utilize, self-adhesive tape can help to safeguard wood and metallic fasteners from moisture that can lead to rot, rust and decay.

5. Set up new deck boards

Get started laying out the new composite deck boards starting with the board farthest absent from the household. Be sure to intently stick to the manufacturer’s guidelines for spacing to guarantee good ventilation.

6. Shuffle the deck

Composite decking is built with random variation in hue from board to board. For the most purely natural-hunting final results, shuffle — or combine — the boards to make your preferred search. This can be finished by laying out several programs of boards and organizing them to your liking right before setting up.

7. Frame and complete

After the deck boards are in place, use a round saw to trim any overhang for clear, concluded edges. Then re-attach railing factors or add new railing paying close notice to the manufacturer’s set up guide and community building codes.

8. Decorate and delight in!

Incorporate furnishings and decorative aspects to finish factors off. Then, stage again, admire your function and enjoy your new, headache-free of charge outside place.

For much more expert advice and sources, which includes a step-by-move deck resurfacing video, stop by the Trex Academy segment of Trex.com.