Can you stain trex decking

You love your composite deck. What about staining or painting — can you paint composite decking? Can you stain composite decking? Although, it's important to note that newer styles of capped composite decking cannot.

If your first generation composite deck is showing some signs of fading, then it may be time to take matters into your own hands… Literally. Grab a brush, some paint, and the other necessary tools and get started bringing your deck back to its original beauty. Staining your first generation composite deck follows a lot of the same rules and steps of painting your deck. If your deck is beginning to fade and you want to enrich its natural-looking color, simply follow these staining steps for a deck that will look good as new.

After all, your composite deck was specifically made to prevent you from having to do such intense maintenance. But for smaller spot jobs, such as grease or rust stains, you may need to do some touching up. Also, to get the coverage you want, two coats might be required. The extra time spent now will pay off in the long run. A good paint will last over a decade while a stain must be reapplied anywhere from 2 to 8 years.

Also, paint requires less maintenance. You can pressure wash a properly sealed painted deck, but pressure washing stain is not recommended. If you need to protect your deck from moisture, then consider using oil-based paint. Otherwise, use latex paint to protect against UV fading.

Stain benefits include that it is less expensive, looks more natural, and can easily be painted over or given a different shade. Staining on top of paint is almost impossible, especially with composite decks. Before you paint or stain, you will need to thoroughly clean the deck of mold, mildew, and grime. You can purchase a deck cleaner designed for composite decks or make your own cleaner with soap and water.

If you have mold, you will need some vinegar and baking soda. With a little elbow grease, you have a clean deck and are ready to move on to the next step— unless your decking has mold. Then a few extra steps are required:. When shopping for stains , look for ones made specifically for composite decks. It should be an acrylic latex stain with UV blockers and a mildew inhibitor, such as zinc. Whichever paint or stain you pick, clean the deck thoroughly first. Do not use a pressure washer on non-capped composite decks.

Rinse thoroughly with a hose, and let the decking dry. Apply the paint or stain when the boards are not in direct sunlight, which would cause the coating to dry too fast. To avoid creating lap marks, plan your work so you can complete entire boards while the coating is still wet. In many cases, this means painting only three or four boards at a time.

Work your way toward the steps or door so you have a way to exit without stepping on wet finish. As composite decking ages, its color starts to fade.

And if your decking is at the end of its lifespan, you might want to replace it rather than refinishing it. Most of the composite decking has a lifespan of roughly twenty-five years.

And if your decking is more than twenty years old, replacing it might be a good idea. One of the main reasons for painting or staining composite decking is to achieve a custom color to match your house. Stains and paints for composite decking are available in many colors. Choose a color that is suitable for you. Before you apply the stain or paint to your deck, first apply it on a small piece of composite decking to see how it looks. Also, always choose high-quality paints and stains.

They might be a bit costly, but they will most probably last longer, which justifies their extra cost. Choose paints and stains that provide UV ray protection to your decking. You can also look for stains that contain zinc. Zinc resists the growth of molds and prevents discoloration.

Use a composite deck cleaner or a scrub brush to get rid of all the mildew, dirt, mold from the composite decking surface. Once you have got rid of all the molds, dirt from the composite decking surface, you have to prepare the surface so that paints or stains can stick to it properly. Sand the surface using or grit sandpapers.

But remember not to overdo it. Or else you might damage your deck. After sanding, get rid of all the dust and apply primer. Acrylic latex-based primers are best for composite decking. They increase the durability of the stain or paint. Before painting or staining your composite deck, always consider the weather condition. Moisture and rain are the worst enemies of your composite deck.