A deck is an important part of your home. It’s where you relax, entertain, and spend time with friends and family. The railings on your deck are a vital safety feature that help prevent falls and other accidents. In addition, they add style and personality.
If you’re looking for a way to refresh your deck railings, paint can get the job done. It offers an easy way to give your deck a newer look without a significant time or money commitment. Since railings are exposed to the elements and feature curves and angels, you can’t just grab a paint brush and get the job done with any paint you have laying around your house.
You must be mindful of the type of paint you choose. While there is no one brand or type of paint that is the best for deck railings, we recommend latex or oil-based exterior paints or primers. These options can withstand the elements as well as weather fluctuations and varying temperatures. Plus, they’re able to block the UV rays so your paint job won’t fade any time soon.
If you’d like to match the paint color of your deck, you can always bring a sample to a local paint store or home improvement store. Most of these stores will be able to help you find the closest color match. Whether you hire a pro to paint your deck railing or tackle the project on your own, keep these tips in mind.
-
Railing Material
Before you paint, use a power washer on your railings. This will clean off any dust and dirt so you have a nice surface to paint on.
-
Sand Off Imperfections
There’s a good chance there are at least some imperfections on your wood or composite railings. Use a piece of sandpaper to sand them off and help the paint adhere to the surface better.
-
Make Sure Wood Is Completely Dry
If you paint wood when it’s wet or saturated, the paint won’t adhere properly. That’s why it’s in your best interest to ensure the wood is completely dry before you apply the paint. If it’s rained the past few days, wait for a few days of consecutive sunshine.
-
Wait for Warmer Temperatures
Oil-based paints are designed to be applied when it’s at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you use latex paint, 50 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Keep in mind that painting when it’s higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit is strongly discouraged as this may lead to blisters in the wood.
[gravityform id=”1″ title=”true” description=”true”]
