DIY Deck Resurfacing Made Easy

If it’s the outdoor living season, it means cookouts, yard games, and even relaxing reading sessions are upon us. Unfortunately, if you have a wood deck, it might also mean expensive and time-consuming seasonal repairs are also here. This entire process can be a hassle for any deck owner.

However, you can consider this. While you could deal with these expensive and time-consuming repairs, you could completely replace them with superior composite material and avoid having to deal with seasonal maintenance ever again. If your existing deck is still in relatively good shape and it is fully intact, you are very well likely a candidate to getting your deck resurfaced.

Luckily, resurfacing a decaying wood decay with completely new composite decking material is a relatively easy Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project that you can complete over a couple of weekends if you have the necessary expertise and possibly the assistance of some friends or family.

Wood-alternative decking comes with numerous benefits that make it the superior option over traditional wood decking. After all, it is designed to be incredibly durable and it requires very little maintenance at all. It is much more capable of resisting various issues that you would normally have to deal with if you had a traditional wood deck. These things include fading, staining, and even mold. Another benefit is the fact that it doesn’t require any sanding, staining, or sealing. All you need to do with composite decking material is infrequently washing it with regular soap and water to help it maintain looking as good as new for a long time.

Are You Ready To Resurface?

By using the various steps outlined below, you will be able to resurface your new deck which can save you a lot of time and money in the future.

Step 1: Examine The Substructure

Prior to doing any removing of the boards, you want to look at the foundation of your deck. You should be beginning from the bottom. You want to ensure that everything is in proper order down below because it can dictate the sturdiness of the entire deck. Look at the footings, posts, and joists during the examination. You want to check to ensure the wood is in good condition to ensure that it isn’t rotting. If the existing substructure is in good condition, you are ready to proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Remove The Older Deck Boards

From there, you should be removing any railing that already exists and then prying up the nailed boards allowing the substructure to remain in place. Begin from the outer portion and move towards the house in order to provide yourself with a very safe platform that you can work on.

Step 3: Level Everything

In order to ensure that everything is level, you want to look at the joists and ensure they are flat and level with one another. If any of the joists are bowed, you will need to either cut them or plane them.

Step 4: Install The New Deck Boards

From there, you should be laying down all of the new boards made up of composite material. You should begin right by the house. You can face screwing the very first board directly to the frame. From there, you will want to follow the instructions to a tee as it relates to the spacing from the installation guide provided by the manufacturer. As you begin to progress, continue to check to ensure the space between both the house and the deck boards are parallel. You can do small corrections little by little to ensure you avoid large gaps.

Step 5: Complete With The Railing

You should be measuring for each post location and cutting placement holes with a proper jigsaw. From there, you should be dropping the posts directly into the various holes they are intended to go in and bold them so they are secure. You can then slide the various sleeves directly over the posts and begin assembling the railing while closely following the installation guide. You can finish by adding whatever decorative elements you chose to add whether it be post caps or top rail caps.

Maintenance-Free Decking Supplies and Professional Assistance

Our expert Twin Cities deck builders and Chicagoland deck builders are here for you at every step of the way, from professional consultation to quality product recommendations.

Whether you are a DIY homeowner looking to install your own deck rails or you want to enlist the help of professionals, UglyDeck.com can help with any of your decking and railing needs.  We can assist the DIY homeowner with How to Build a Composite Deck.  We also have an award-winning UglyDeck DIY Academy available to customers who desire a high-quality finished project.

Contact us today, or visit one of our showrooms to talk with a member of our UglyDeck.com team about all your decking needs and goals!