Begin by cleaning and power washing to remove dirt, mildew and old deck coatings. If you are using a clear deck coating, deck brightening products help restore a "new wood" look to the wood.. Both sides of the railings should also be power washed.

Brushes and Rollers - Once the deck is clean and thoroughly dry, start with a brush on the outside of the deck, on tops of the railing and work your way down to the deck, then in toward the house. Then switch to a roller for the deck, starting at an outside edge and working toward the house. Use even pressure on the roller on each board to give uniform coverage and sheen.

Spraying is another way to apply deck coatings. It's faster than using a brush or roller, but you must be sure to protect scrubs etc. from overspray. Spray equipment has become reasonably priced in recent years or can be rented at many rental centers. Check with a paint professional for tip size and pressure setting - which will depend on the type of deck coatings you use.

Spray railings first, unless the railings are to be a different color than the deck. Then the deck should be coated first. One tip for protecting plants or other objects from overspray is to tape plastic or paper to the outside of the railing so it can catch the overspray. When spraying the deck itself, spray evenly over a five to six foot square area, then go back over that area with a 1/2 inch nap roller to spread coating evenly into deck. Continue this procedure in sections until done. Be sure to use a large shield (such as 4 ft square piece of cardboard or light plywood) when painting alongside the house to protect it from overspray.

Peter Harrett