How to Paint a Porch Deck

• Paint brush and roller
• Foam applicator
• Brush
• Scraper
• Putty knife
• Sander
• Wide masking tape
• Paint spinner

• Wood repair compound
• Sand paper
• Latex primer and paint

Before You Begin

Below the steps involved are listed to complete this project. No time to do this job? Find a painting contractor who has the skills and tools to do it right. Click Home Advisor, a free referral service that connects homeowers with local prescreened contractors.

• Step 1 : Prepare the surface

  Scrape off any flaky and loose paint with a scraper or putty knife. If necessary, use a belt sander to smooth badly worn wood and a large buildup of old paint. You can use a random-orbit sander to remove flakey old paint and smooth the hard edges of paint around the scraped area.

• Step 2 : Clean the surface

  Use a brush and water to clean the surface and let it dry. Then make any repairs that may be needed. The deck should be clean and dry before painting.

• Step 3 : Apply the primer

  Apply wide masking tape around the perimeter of the porch deck along the bottom of the siding to protect it. Then stir the primer and apply it to the surface according to the directions. First use a paint brush to outline the primer on the decking along the bottom of the siding. Then use a paint roller to apply primer to the decking. To get into spaces between the boards use a foam applicator brush. Then let it dry.

• Step 4 : Clean out the tools

  Thoroughly wash the brush and roller in water to remove all primer. Remove excess with a paint spinner to dry them.

• Step 5 : Apply the paint

  To apply the paint finish coat, follow the same process of applying the primer. Let it dry thoroughly. Clean the paint tools again.