How to Strip Old Paint Off of Decks

Decks covered in old, peeling paint can diminish the appearance of your landscape and exterior living areas of your home. If your deck looks old and faded, you can’t make it look new again until you remove the old paint. Old deck paint will occasionally come off with a scraper and a strong blast of water, but a chemical stripper often is necessary to remove all of the stubborn paint stuck in the wood grain and between the planks.

Preparation

Prior to removing the old paint from your deck, remove all furniture and cover nearby vegetation with plastic sheeting. Secure plastic sheeting to siding, windows and masonry along the deck with painter’s tape. Sweep the deck with a push broom to remove leaves, dirt and other debris. Wear safety glasses, rubber gloves and a painter’s mask when working, and scrape away as much loose or peeling paint from the wood as possible with a paint scraper or stiff-bristle brush.

Applying Paint Stripper

When choosing a chemical stripper for your deck, avoid products containing methylene chloride. Although these work fast, they are extremely powerful and should only be used by professionals. The least toxic strippers to use are limonene-based strippers. To begin stripping paint from the deck, start in one corner of the deck opposite your exit point. Apply the stripper to a small section of the wood with a nylon brush or roller. Do not apply stripper to a section that is larger than you’re able work on in a 15 minute period. Leave the paint stripper on the wood for 15 to 30 minutes or until the paint lifts or bubbles. Apply more stripper as needed to keep it wet during this time, then scrub the softened paint from the wood with a stiff-bristle brush or scrape it off with a paint scraper. Continue applying stripper and scraping until the entire deck, including railings and spindles, is clear of paint.

Rinse and Neutralize

Wash the deck with clean water either from a hose or a pressure washer. This will remove both the remaining bits of paint and any residue from the paint stripper. Pressure washers are not usually recommended for use on old wood decks because the wood is easily damaged. However, if you choose to use a power washer, keep the nozzle tip at least 9 to 12 inches away from the wood to avoid gouging. If you want to brighten the wood with a bleaching agent, neutralize the wood after stripping by applying a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Never mix any chemical products such as strippers and bleaches because dangerous reactions may occur.

Sanding and New Finish Preparation

Allow the wood to fully dry and then sand the deck with fine-grit sandpaper, such as 120- or 150- grit to remove fine specks of paint and to smooth the wood in preparation for a new coat of finish. Sand in the direction of the wood grain and sweep away sanding dust prior to applying a new finish. Once all of the paint is removed, nail heads, and holes or gouges may be more noticeable. Countersink raised nails with a hammer, and fill gouges or holes with exterior wood filler prior to painting or staining.