How do you prep a deck for painting?

To prepare a deck for painting you should first use a deck cleaner, either a store-bought or homemade formula. The purpose of the deck cleaner is to remove accumulated dirt, debris, mildew, or algae that would prevent a smooth, long-lasting bond between the paint and boards. Once you’ve applied the deck cleaner (ideally with a garden sprayer and hose), allow time for the formula to penetrate the surface; the length of time varies by product but is usually 10 to 15 minutes. The next step is to thoroughly rinse the deck. The most common method is to use a pressure washer, but be sure that you don’t use it on high pressure too close to the wood’s surface, or else you may risk damaging the boards. Once the deck has been thoroughly rinsed, allow the wood to dry completely. This step takes at least 48 hours in most cases but will vary based on temperature and weather conditions. The final step is to prime the deck. If you skip this step, you hinder the durability and longevity of the deck paint. Use a quality wood primer and use a brush to thoroughly coat the sides of each board and the spaces in between. You can then use a roller or sprayer to apply the primer down the length of each deck board. Allow time for the primer to dry—the manufacturer’s instructions will indicate how long of a drying period is required before you can move on to painting the deck.

How long does deck paint last?

Deck paint needs to be periodically reapplied, but how long it lasts depends on several factors—including foot traffic, weather exposure, and the condition of the wood. In addition, proper surface preparation will often determine the success or failure of a deck painting job. Deck paint can last 5 to 10 years but may need to be repeated as often as every 2 or 3 years in harsh conditions.

What tools do you need for painting a deck?

To paint a deck , you should have the following tools and products ready before you start. Deck cleaner formula Garden hose with water supply Pump sprayer Primer Paintbrush, sprayer, or roller with cover for application (will likely need a brush for detail work and between boards) Clean 5-gallon bucket or paint tray Mineral spirits or paint thinner (only necessary for clean-up of oil-based paint) Deck paint

The 7 Best Deck Paints of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Behr Premium Advanced Deckover at Home Depot

This thick paint fills cracks up to a quarter inch deep, comes in a variety of colors, and works on wood, composite wood, and concrete.

Read Review

Best Budget:

Kilz Interior/Exterior Enamel Latex Floor Paint at Amazon

Budget and user friendly, this paint goes on smoothly and dries fast and is resistant to scuffing, fading, cracking, and peeling.

Read Review

Best One-Coat Coverage:

Rust-Oleum Gray Exterior Deck Resurfacer at Home Depot

One coat is thick enough to fill nail holes, fill cracks up to a quarter inch deep, cover wood defects, and provide a waterproof surface.

Read Review

Best for Old Wood:

Sherwin Williams Exterior Deck and Dock Coating at Sherwin-williams.com

This paint can make your old deck look new by smoothing over rough surfaces and soaking into cracks of all shapes and sizes.

Read Review

Best for Pool Deck:

Valspar Interior/Exterior Porch and Floor Paint at Lowe's

Skid resistant, this paint has a textured coating that increases traction, but also feels comfortable on bare feet.

Read Review

Best Color Selection:

Benjamin Moore ARBORCOAT Exterior Stain at Benjaminmoore.com

Great on new or older wood, this paint can be matched to any of the thousands of exiting Benjamin Moore colors or almost any color.

Read Review

Best Stain:

Sikkens Transparent Matte Natural Oil-Based at Ace Hardware

This oil-based stain allows the natural beauty of your wood deck, railing, or furniture to shine though and looks great in one coat.

Read Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
Why Trust The Spruce

Whether you’re building a deck from scratch or sprucing up your existing one, the paint you use is an important consideration. Because your deck is horizontal, it is exposed to the elements—sunshine, rain, and snow—more than any other point on your house, even the roof. You’ll need to plan on repainting it at least every three years and when you do, you’ll want to use a quality paint or stain.

When evaluating options for deck paint, be sure to consider the type of wood you're painting, along with the appearance you want your deck to have. The paint you pick will determine the opacity, sheen, and texture of the finished project. You'll also need to decide if you'd rather use water-based or oil-based paint, which impacts project clean-up along with long-term durability.

Read on for our top picks.

View On Home Depot

Size: 5 gallons | Coverage Area: 375 square feet | Color: Redwood | Finish: Smooth | Transparency: Solid

What We Like

Provides protection against splinters
Easy soap and water clean-up

What We Don't Like

4 hour dry time between coats
Very thick paint formula

Prep your deck by sanding and cleaning it, then allowing it ample time to dry before painting and you’ll be thrilled with the results of this Behr Premium Advanced Deckover Paint.

This thick paint fills cracks up to 0.25 inches (prefill them before painting) and also makes your wood splinter-proof. It comes in more than 50 colors ranging from natural redwood and cedar hues to more contemporary colors including forest green and colony blue. The acrylic resin formula is easy to clean and offers a mildew-resistant finish. The paint works on wood, composite wood, and concrete, including older stamped concrete. It's not suitable for driveways, however.

KILZ Interior/Exterior Enamel Porch and Patio Latex Floor Paint

View On Amazon View On Walmart

Size: 1 gallon | Coverage Area: 200-400 square feet | Color: Gray | Finish: Smooth | Transparency: Solid

What We Like

Can be applied with brush, roller, or sprayer
Provides mildew-resistant finish
Affordable

What We Don't Like

Requires up to 6 hours before second coat

This highly-rated deck paint isn’t only budget-friendly, it’s user-friendly, too. It claims to go on smoothly even on previously painted surfaces, dries fast, and is virtually drip-proof.

For best results, use a 0.37 to 0.5-inch nap roller or airless sprayer. Once it’s fully dry (in less than 24 hours), the paint is resistant to scuffing, fading, cracking, and peeling even in high-traffic areas. The skid-resistant paint has a mildew-resistant film and can also be used on trim, siding, and trellises. The slate gray color is the perfect shade—it’s dark enough to hide dirt (which is easy to clean off with soap and water) but not so dark it will make your outdoor space look like a battleship.

RustOleum 4 Gal. Gray Exterior 20X Deck Resurfacer

View On Home Depot

Size: 4 gallons | Coverage Area: 160 square feet | Color: Gray | Finish: Textured | Transparency: Solid

What We Like

Save time with single-coat application
Provides non-slip finish

What We Don't Like

Too thick for sprayer application
Must be applied with RockSolid 20X roller cover

Make even heavily worn, decades-old decks look like new with just one coat of this paint. 20 times thicker than regular paint, Rust-Oleum's RockSolid paint can cover cracks up to 0.25 inches, nail holes, and other wood defects. It works on composite wood and concrete, too—just remember to prime prior to painting to ensure smooth application.

Available in 60 different colors, this paint has a waterproof, flat anti-skid surface that’s also UV resistant. For the best results, paint your deck on a day that’s slightly overcast, not too hot, and not too cold.

The 10 Best Paint Brushes of 2021

View On Sherwin-williams.com

Size: 1 gallon | Coverage Area: Not listed | Color: Varies | Finish: Textured | Transparency: Solid

What We Like

Elastomeric formula provides excellent weather-resistance
Can be applied over existing paint or stain

What We Don't Like

Must be applied heavily

Even decades-old decks and docks can get a refresh with this Sherwin Williams paint. Designed to smooth rough and damaged surfaces, it soaks into cracks of all shapes and sizes to make your deck look and feel like new. The water-repelling paint can be applied directly over any existing stain or paint and works on concrete, too. Because it's a high-build paint, which means you'll need at least two coats to get the job done. We recommend buying more than you think you’ll need for the best, full coverage.

The 9 Best Exterior Paints of 2021

View On Lowe's

Size: 1 gallon | Coverage Area: 75-100 square feet | Color: Gray | Finish: Textured | Transparency: Solid

What We Like

Provides excellent non-slip finish
Can be used on wood or concrete

What We Don't Like

Not true-to-color
High sheen may show shoeprints

When you’re painting a high-traffic area that often gets wet, aka your pool deck, you need skid-resistant paint like this one so your friends and family won’t slip after a dip. This Valspar anti-skid paint has a textured coating that increases traction but still feels comfortable on bare feet. The weather-resistant paint can be used on wood or concrete and primed metal such as stairs or guardrails. When painting a deck, start with the highest part first so you don’t drip on your freshly painted floorboards. The 100 percent acrylic formula leaves behind a colorfast sheen that is easy to clean with soap and water.

View On Benjaminmoore.com

Size: 1 gallon | Coverage Area: 300-400 square feet | Color: Varies | Finish: Not listed | Transparency: Solid

What We Like

Dry to the touch in 1 hour
Can be applied in temperatures as low as 40F

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Looking to match your deck to your living room? Benjamin Moore's ARBORCOAT Exterior Stain is a great option. This formula can be tinted to any of the thousands of existing Benjamin Moore colors from classic sandalwood to Flamingo Orange or any other color of the rainbow. The finish is resistant to blistering peeling, staining, and scuffing and protects against mildew and UV damage.

For best results, apply a second coat at least four hours after the first. It works on both new and older wood, including decks that have already been painted or stained.

Sikkens ProLuxe Cetol SRD RE Transparent Matte Natural Oil-Based Oil-Based All-in-One Stain

View On Ace Hardware

Size: 1 gallon | Coverage Area: 150-400 square feet | Color: Varies | Finish: Smooth | Transparency: Transparent

What We Like

One coat application
Highlights natural wood grain

What We Don't Like

Requires mineral spirits for clean-up
Expensive

An oil-based stain has the advantage of penetrating deeper into the wood to better protect it from the elements. This option from Sikkens has a transparent finish that allows the natural beauty of your wood deck, railings, or furniture to shine through. You’ll get gorgeous results with a single coat, though it’s very important to use a high-quality brush (such as a natural China bristle one) for the best results. Remember to paint with a back and forth motion to better keep your brush wet.

The 8 Best Wood Stains of 2021

Final Verdict

The best overall deck paint is Behr Premium Advanced Deckover (view at Home Depot). It makes your wood splinter proof, is easy to clean, and comes in 50 colors. If you prefer a budget-friendly option, KILZ Interior/Exterior Patio Latex Floor Paint (view at Amazon) is long-lasting, mildew-resistant, and user friendly.

Type of wood

Start by considering what type of wood your deck is made from. Hardwood and softwood varieties have different needs when it comes to deck paint. Softwoods, like pine, will readily absorb deck paint; you can choose either an acrylic or alkyd (oil) deck paint. If you have a hardwood deck, made from a tropical wood like ipe, you should choose an oil-based deck stain. The alkyd formula will provide better penetration while the transparent formula will highlight the natural beauty of the wood.

Base

Deck paint is either water-based or oil-based. Water-based formulas are most common and offer the advantage of being easy to clean up with soap and water. Oil-based deck paint is more commonly seen with transparent deck stains and requires mineral spirits or paint thinner for cleaning brushes, sprayers, and tools.

You can use oil-based paint over a surface that has previously been treated with a water-based formula, but you cannot typically use water-based paint over a surface painted with oil-based paint.

Opacity

The opacity of deck paint will determine how much or how little of the wood grain and appearance is visible once treated. Solid deck paint is the most common option since it better hides the effects that weather and aging have had on your deck. However, if you have new deck boards, then a transparent deck stain will allow the natural beauty of the wood to shine through. Semi-transparent deck paint is another option, best suited for decks that are only a few years old and show minimal signs of aging or splintering.

Durability

The durability of deck paint will be put to the test by foot traffic, UV exposure, and weather conditions. Acrylic deck paints are often formulated for horizontal application, with the understanding that this means the surface will be exposed to feet, furniture, and the elements. One of the biggest factors that will improve a deck paint’s durability is proper surface preparation before the paint is applied. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning and preparation exactly to enjoy the longest-lasting results.

Texture and sheen

Texture and sheen are two important aspects of deck paint finish. Deck paint can be smooth, textured, or extra textured. Smooth is most similar to paint used for vertical surfaces, while textured and extra textured deck paints have an additive to provide traction for walking. This is important if your deck, porch, or patio will be exposed to rain. The painted surface can easily become slippery and a deck paint with texture can help to avoid accidental falls.

Sheen refers to the appearance of the deck paint’s finish. Some deck paint formulas are matte, while others offer a glossy finish. Some deck paints with a high-sheen formula will show marks easily, including footprints or pawprints. However, not everyone prefers the flat appearance of matte deck paint.

FAQ

How do you prep a deck for painting?

To prepare a deck for painting you should first use a deck cleaner, either a store-bought or homemade formula. The purpose of the deck cleaner is to remove accumulated dirt, debris, mildew, or algae that would prevent a smooth, long-lasting bond between the paint and boards. Once you’ve applied the deck cleaner (ideally with a garden sprayer and hose), allow time for the formula to penetrate the surface; the length of time varies by product but is usually 10 to 15 minutes.
The next step is to thoroughly rinse the deck. The most common method is to use a pressure washer, but be sure that you don’t use it on high pressure too close to the wood’s surface, or else you may risk damaging the boards. Once the deck has been thoroughly rinsed, allow the wood to dry completely. This step takes at least 48 hours in most cases but will vary based on temperature and weather conditions.
The final step is to prime the deck. If you skip this step, you hinder the durability and longevity of the deck paint. Use a quality wood primer and use a brush to thoroughly coat the sides of each board and the spaces in between. You can then use a roller or sprayer to apply the primer down the length of each deck board. Allow time for the primer to dry—the manufacturer’s instructions will indicate how long of a drying period is required before you can move on to painting the deck.
How long does deck paint last?

Deck paint needs to be periodically reapplied, but how long it lasts depends on several factors—including foot traffic, weather exposure, and the condition of the wood. In addition, proper surface preparation will often determine the success or failure of a deck painting job. Deck paint can last 5 to 10 years but may need to be repeated as often as every 2 or 3 years in harsh conditions.
What tools do you need for painting a deck?
To paint a deck, you should have the following tools and products ready before you start.
- Deck cleaner formula
- Garden hose with water supply
- Pump sprayer
- Primer
- Paintbrush, sprayer, or roller with cover for application (will likely need a brush for detail work and between boards)
- Clean 5-gallon bucket or paint tray
- Mineral spirits or paint thinner (only necessary for clean-up of oil-based paint)
- Deck paint

This article was written by Anne Fritz, a freelance home writer with over 20 years of experience. Previously, she was an editor and her work has appeared on several top publications. To make this list, she considered the formula, finish, and price point of each option.