Why Does Deck Paint Peel – And How To Stop It?
'Peeling deck paint is usually caused by one of three things: poor quality paint, incorrect application, or inadequate surface preparation.
1. MOISTURE IN THE TIMBER
'The biggest cause of flaking is moisture,' says Laurence Mann, director at Wood Finishes Direct. 'This could have been in the wood before application, or been soaked up afterwards via cut ends, breaks in the stain, or continuous contact with soil or foliage at ground level. Because wood is porous it can appear and feel dry, however can be holding moisture which will over time need to naturally disperse. When it is sealed in by a paint it has nowhere to go and so causes the product to lift.
'Jet washing before application can also add to this problem. It's necessary to allow the wood a period of days or even weeks to then dry fully before application.'
2. LOW-QUALITY PAINT
'The most common reason why deck paint peels is using low-quality paint,' says Charlie Tack of ADA Fastfix. 'If you’re not using high-quality deck paint specifically designed to resist peeling, it’s likely that your deck paint will continue to peel.'
3. POOR PREPARATION
'We find that the two most common reasons are lack of preparation (decorating dirty surfaces or gray, denatured timber) and decorating damp/wet wood,' says Kevin O’Donnell, technical specialist at Sandtex.
'Coatings peel because they have not been able to achieve a true bond with the surface allowing it to work together with the timber substrate. It’s important to be decorating either a clean, sound and dry existing coated surface, or if it’s bare timber, it needs to be bright new wood. Always follow the instructions on the container.'
'There are many different reasons why deck paint continues to peel,' says Allan Jeffrey, MD of Ultra Decking. 'Poor preparation and over-application or too much paint, even cracks and holes on the deck surface can lead to paint peeling.
HOW DO YOU STOP DECK PAINT FROM PEELING?
Thorough surface preparation 'One way to stop your deck from peeling is to start with proper surface preparation,' says Charlie Tack. 'This means sanding the deck and removing any loose paint before applying a bonding primer and new coat of high-quality deck paint. Once the new paint is dry, you can protect it by using a deck sealer or stain.'
Thorough cleaning 'If it’s been previously decorated and in good order, just make sure the surface is clean (mild detergent in warm water and rinse off with clean water – allow to dry), then it’s a good idea to ensure a key is provided by giving the whole surface a light abrade (with the grain), dust off. Then re-decorate,' continues Kevin O'Donnell.
Wait for timber to dry If you are cleaning a deck, 'the advice to stop this is to allow a full two days (at least) after cleaning before the application of a finish,' says Laurence Mann. 'Note that coating type products will eventually peel and flake and that oils won't as they are microporous.
Correct application of paint Over-application is one thing that causes paint on a deck to peel. 'Follow the instructions carefully as provided by the coating manufacturer product you’ve selected. If in doubt ring for advice or check online support,' says Kevin O'Donnell.
Maintenance 'Whatever your finish, regular sweeping and cleaning will also help to prolong the life of the finish applied. Your decking is exposed to the elements 365 days of the year and needs a little TLC sometimes,' says Laurence Mann. Equally, ensuring that any areas that are continuously damp, perhaps below a dripping gutter, are tackled. The wetter the wood, the more likely the deck is to peel.
HOW DO YOU FIX PEELING PAINT ON A WOOD DECK?
'In terms of fixing it, you can't,' says Laurence Mann. 'The coating has failed and you'll have to re-do it. You'll have to remove the flakes and re-apply. Any loose flakes can be removed with some light sanding and then patch-repaired to refresh the overall appearance; this must be done when the wood is dry.'
If you have peeling paint on your wood deck, the first step is to sand the area with 80-grit sandpaper,' says Charlie Tack. 'This will roughen up the surface and provide a good key for the new paint to adhere to. Next, remove any loose paint with a putty knife or scraper.'
'It needs to be removed so you are back to a sound surface. Use whatever means is easiest: scraper, sander, chemical stripper (take great care as these can be nasty and have environmental impact) or power washer.
'With power washing, note that this can force unwanted moisture into exposed bare wood; this then needs a good week to dry out before most coatings are then applied.'
'If you want to use a translucent wood stain, then anything peeling needs to be fully stripped back and start again for best aesthetic effect,' continues Charlie Tack. 'An opaque decking option allows you to take off what has delaminated but any stubborn areas of coating can be left, feathered in to avoid hard edges and then coated over to hide it.'