Are you tired of your outdoor living area looking dull and uninspiring? Do you dream of transforming it into a delightful space where you can relax and entertain guests? Look no further, because the solution lies in the power of decking paint. In just a few simple steps, you can give your deck a complete makeover that will instantly refresh its appearance and breathe new life into your outdoor living spaces. Decking paints are specifically designed to protect and enhance the natural beauty of wooden decking. From vibrant hues to subtle tones, the range of colours available allows you to customize your deck to suit your personal style and complement your existing outdoor decor. Say goodbye to a drab and worn-out deck, and say hello to a vibrant and inviting outdoor living area that you can’t wait to spend time in. With decking paint, the possibilities are endless, and the transformation is truly remarkable.
How to choose the right decking paint colour
There are dozens of colours available including popular shades such as White Wash, Deep Blue, Charcoal, Warm Stone, Dark Silver, and Gun Metal to name just a few. Choosing the perfect colour is subjective, meaning that what is perfect for one person may not be for someone else. The type, condition and position of the deck can also affect the appearance of the final finish. For example, the same colour may look different on a deck in full sun compared to one that is mostly in shade. The best way to ensure that you will be happy with the final colour is to do a series of test areas. These can be stripped or over-painted once the right decking paint colour has been picked.
Top 4 Recommended Decking Paints
- Garden Timber Decking Non Slip (Anti Slip) Paint: A hard wearing, polyurethane based, non-slip timber paint for decking designed to seal and colour tanalised decking. Provides anti-slip properties for pedestrian traffic areas. For all exterior wooden decking boards and stairs. Can be used for ribbed, grooved and especially smooth surfaces.
- Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Paint: A water-based paint for decking that renovates tired and worn decking boards. colours include Charcoal, Deep Blue, Slate, Willow and more
- Trade Paints Non-Slip Decking Paint: A hard wearing paint with anti-slip properties, ideal for all types of garden decking. Wide range of attractive, modern, UV resistant colours to brighten up any garden. Dries to an opaque, satin finish.
- Cuprinol Anti-Slip Decking Stain: Although labelled as a ‘decking stain’ this product includes colours such as Black Ash, City Stone, Urban Slate, Hampshire Oak and more and dries to a semi-transparent, matt finish with a strong colour. It also provides Anti-Slip properties which is perfect for decking and decking steps
It is worth noting that many products that are labelled as ‘decking stains‘ also dry to an attractive, opaque or semi-opaque, colour finish.
Advantages of using decking paint
- Resistant to foot traffic and weathering
- Dry to attractive, modern, opaque, or semi-opaque colours
- Quick and easy to apply
- Provides long lasting protection and colour
- Quick drying – Usually rainproof in just a couple of hours
- Is a quick fix solution to improve the look of old, grey, worn decking
How to apply paint for decking
As with any project, preparation is key. Follow these simple steps to transform new or old decking into an area with colour and character.
Decked areas to be painted must be clean, dry and free from all surface dirt, grit and other surface contaminates such as mould, algae, and lichens. Decked areas must have been exposed to warm, dry conditions for a good week or so to allow any moisture in the wood to evaporate.
- Remove all garden furniture and other items from the decking so that the surface to be painted is clear
- Remove areas of decking stain or paint that have started to crack, peel or flake with a jet washer or decking stripper like Ronseal decking stripper
- Areas affected by mould, algae, or fungi should be cleaned with a scraper, stiff broom or brush to remove all surface matter
- Areas affected by mould, algae, and other biological growth should then be thoroughly cleaned with a decking cleaner to kill off biological spores in the wood to help prevent re-growth. If the decking is heavily soiled, a second application of decking cleaner may be required
- If required, use a wood preservative but one that doesn’t contain wax, oil or silicon
- Paint the decking boards with the paint working the full length of 2 to 3 boards at a time
- Allow the first coat to dry for the specified drying time
- Apply a second coat as directed on the tin
Before applying any paint or stain, always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the tin to ensure a consistent, durable, and long-lasting finish.
Decking paint alternatives
Painting a decking isn’t the only way to colour softwood and hardwood decking. Whilst painting a deck typically produces an opaque finish, using a colour tinted oil or stain is also a great way to colour, revive, restore, or reinvent your outdoor living spaces.
Coloured Decking Oils
Using a coloured, or pigmented wood oil to colour and protect decking is a great way to protect decking timbers from dirt, foot traffic and weathering. Coloured oils are quick and easy to apply and maintain and are available in many colours and tones. From lightly tinted shades to dark vibrant colours, coloured decking oils colour the wood, whilst still allowing the pattern of the grain to show through. Find out more about coloured oil for decking here.
Coloured Decking Stains
Decking stains tend to come in two types, those that are essentially coloured decking oils which penetrate into the decking boards and those that coat the surface with a tough, durable coating type finish. Also available in many colours including trendy greys, blues, greens and more, they vary in opacity from semi translucent to virtually opaque, making them more paint like than some other stains and oils. Find out more about decking stain colours here.
Please note: Decking Paints may not be suitable for some, new, dense exotic hardwood decking or decking that has been oiled in the last couple of years. This is because most decking paints are water-based and any oil in the wood may prevent the paint adhering or bonding to the surface of the deck. Some paints may also be incompatible with decking that has been treated with a wood preserver that contains wax or silicon. Preservers that contain water-repellent ingredients may also prevent the paint from bonding with the deck.
An easy way to test this is to hose the decking down. If water beads on the surface, this may be an issue. If it doesn’t, and soaks into the wood, the decking should be fine to paint. It’s important to always ensure that decking boards are completely dry before painting. The ideal time for this is in spring and summer where day and night time temperatures stay above 10 degrees centigrade.
Always do a test area before starting any decking project and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the tin or container at all times.
Garden Decking FAQ’s
Can’t find the answer to your garden decking care or maintenance project above? See our frequently asked wood decking questions and answers page, where we try to answer some of the more commonly asked questions relating to garden decking care, maintenance, and decking treatments.