A deck can add a lot of value to your home… but only if it’s in good condition.
An old, splintering deck can do more harm to your home than good. But just because your deck is old doesn’t mean it’s past saving. Deck restoration can make your deck look as good as new.
However, this might not be a job you should try to do on your own. Hiring a professional might be a better choice.
If you’re trying to decide whether or not to DIY, we’ve put together this guide to help you weigh the pros and cons of each option. So let’s get started!
Is Restoration a Good Option for Your Deck?
Over time, your deck will wear down, splinter, or crack—even if you do all the right maintenance. But this doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune to install a new deck.
You can save a lot of money by restoring your old deck instead.
By applying a deck paint restoration product to the surface of the wood, this product will fill in any cracks, knotholes, and other imperfections. This gives your deck a smooth and clean finish.
Keep in mind, since this type of product is thick, it will also cover up the natural grain of the wood and create a completely different texture. If you love the appearance of wood, you may not want to use this product. But it can extend the life of your deck by several years, which can help you save a lot of money.
When You Can and Can’t Use This Product
For most decks, this type of restoration product is a good option. It can fill in any damages and give your deck new life.
However, there are times you shouldn’t try to restore your deck.
For example, deck paint restoration products can’t get rid of mold. If your deck has started to mold, even if the problem’s still small, you may need to install a new deck after all.
Painting deck restoration product over mold or rot won’t change anything. The wood will continue to rot away underneath the protective layer.
DIY vs Professional: What’s the Better Option?
One of the biggest questions about deck restoration is whether you can pull off a quality DIY job or whether you should hire a professional to do it for you. The right option for you depends on a number of factors, including your budget and your willingness to get your hands dirty. However, in most cases, hiring a professional is a better choice.
Here’s why.
Cost
In theory, you can save some money by restoring your deck yourself. Since you don’t have to pay for labor expenses, you all you have to do is buy the product.
But this isn’t always true.
If you don’t have the right tools, you’ll also have to buy or rent them first, which can add a lot to the price. You may also make a mistake during the process (since the job is a complicated one, this is very easy to do). In this case, you’ll either have to buy more product to try to correct it on your own or hire a professional to fix the problem.
This means you’re spending double what you would have to pay if you just hired a professional in the first place. You’ll probably end up saving money if you just go ahead and hire a professional.
Time
Painting a restoration product over your deck might seem like a quick, simple job, but the process can take quite a while. In fact, you may have to sacrifice an entire weekend (or longer) to finish the project.
If you’re working by yourself or still figuring things out as you go alone, it may add even more time to the job.
A professional has a lot of experience restoring decks, and they have all the right tools. Because of this, they can finish the job a lot faster than you could on your own. Hiring a professional also gives you your weekend back so you can spend it doing what’s important, such as spending time with your kids.
The Work Itself
Restoring a deck is a difficult, messy job. Not only do you have to prepare the wood by sanding off any remaining finish, removing splinters, and power washing, you also have to cover the rails or stairs with a plastic covering to protect them from splatter. That all takes a lot of time and effort, and you haven’t even started the real restoration process yet.
The actual restoration process takes even more work. You have to apply several coatings of the restoration product and wait for it to dry before you continue working.
Unless you have a lot of time on your hands and experience with this type of work, it’s a better idea to hire a professional. They’ll be able to provide quality services that’ll make the end result look fresh and beautiful.
Is DIYing Deck Restoration a Good Idea?
If you wanted to, you could restore your deck yourself. However, you should probably avoid this DIY job. Not only do you have to buy the deck restoration product and all the right tools, but the job also takes a lot of work. It’s a several day-long process, and it isn’t easy.
Not sure who to hire for this type of work?
We can help! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to learn more about our services today!