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Is your deck looking worse for wear? Has the surface become weathered and worn from years of exposure to the elements? Instead of replacing it, you should consider applying a deck resurfacer instead. These products are much like very thick paint. This will save you heaps of money and time. And, if you apply the resurfacer correctly, your old deck will look new again for years to come.
The problem with most decks and other outdoor areas is that they’re exposed to the elements. Both sun and rain can take their toll on wood surfaces and even concrete. Wood decks are especially prone to cracking. Not to mention, if the timber is untreated, you run the risk of splinters being exposed. This is not good if you or the family like to walk out to your deck on bare feet.
Now, you could just paint or stain the deck, but this won’t cover cracks and splinters. These products won’t last nearly as many years as a resurfacer will. The best deck resurfacers are much thicker than paint or stain, and most will add a textured surface to your old, worn deck. This helps to hide imperfections, such as cracks and dents, and will also lock down splinters. This means your bare feet will be totally safe.
For your convenience, our team has researched a number of products for your deck. Our selection looks at textured resurfacers as well as latex and rubber deck paints. We’ll also tell you what we like about them.
This will give you a better idea of the wide range of products available so that you can make an informed buying decision. We also offer some tips on what to look for; you’ll find that in our buyer’s guide.
View the Best Deck Resurfacer, Below.
Olympic Rescue It Deck Resurfacer
Liquid Rubber Smooth Polyurethane Deck and Dock Coating
Rust-Oleum RockSolid 20X Deck Resurfacer
SaverSystems Deck Wood Deck Paint and Sealer
Best Textured Deck Resurfacer For Both Wood And Concrete
This Over Armor resurfacer offers a solid color coating for old wood and concrete. It helps to cover and hide imperfections, cracks, and nail holes. Once used, it creates a textured and skid-resistant surface. It can be applied using either a brush, roller, or sprayer. Make sure that you clean and prep the surface before applying.
Why We Liked It: This product is easy to apply and gives a textured, skid-resistant finish. It will cover minor imperfections, including cracks and splinters.
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Just 1 gallon will cover approximately 75 square feet
Suitable for patios, pool decks, and sidewalks
Requires 2 coats for durability
Requires 4 to 6 hours wait time before applying the 2nd coat
Not suitable for drivable surfaces such as driveways or garage floors
You have to wait 24-48 hours before walking on the surface
2. RUST-OLEUM Deck Restore 41500
Best Water-Based Rust-Oleum Deck Resurfacer
This water-based Rust-Oleum Deck Restore is four times thicker than ordinary paint or deck stain. It's ideal for wood, composite decking, and concrete. It will restore your old deck to new again and cover any cracks and splinters. Remember to follow the directions for prepping and cleaning the surface first.
Why We Liked It: This 5-gallon bucket of Rust-Oleum deck restore covers a large area. It's especially useful to restore old wood decking that has weathered and aged. It will cover cracks and splinters to create a better surface.
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Rust-Oleum Deck Restore allows easy clean up of brushes and rollers as it has a water base
Provides a non-slip surface once applied
Rust-Oleum Deck Restore requires 2 coats to create a durable surface
1 tub of Rust-Oleum Deck Restore covers 400 square feet
Rust-Oleum Deck Restore does not work well on totally smooth surfaces
Hard to remove if you want to redo it because you don't like the result
Will result in bubbling and peeling if exposed to excessive moisture over time
Recommended Number of Coats
4 - 6 Hours
3. KILZ Interior/Exterior Enamel Porch & Patio Latex Floor Paint
Best High-Quality Latex Deck Resurfacer
This latex restorer can be used both inside and outside. It creates a low-sheen enamel surface for decks, porches, and patios. The floor paint also features a mildew-resistant film to keep the surface looking great. You can even use it on masonry, trims, sidings, and trellises. You can apply this paint with a brush, roller, or airless sprayer.
Why We Liked It: This is an easy-to-apply resurfacing latex paint that looks great once it's applied. It provides you with a long-lasting and durable finish. The finished surface will resist fading, scuffing, peeling, and cracking.
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One gallon will cover 200 to 300 square feet of rough surfaces or 300 to 400 square feet of smooth surfaces
Requires 2 coats for extra durability
Wait 4 to 6 hours before applying the 2nd coat
Gives a lovely soft slate gray/silver finish
Surfaces must be prepared well before applying the product
Not suitable for driveable surfaces such as garages and driveways
Recommended Number of Coats
4 - 6 Hours
4. CABOT SAMUEL Deck Correct
Best Dirt-Resistant Deck Resurfacer
Cabot's Deck Correct will cover any cracks and surface blemishes to give a smooth and non-slip finish. You can apply it easily with a roller. Once applied, it creates a hard finish that resists dirt. In fact, you can safely hose down the surface when you need to. Just note that you will have to add your own tint.
Why We Liked It: This product is easy to apply using a roller after you've cleaned and prepared the surface. It only requires 2 coats and will provide a tough, dirt-resistant, and skid-proof surface.
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Suitable for porches, decks, and steps
1 gallon covers around 75 square feet
Requires 2 coats for good coverage
Will create a mildew resistant surface
Wait 4 to 6 hours before applying the second coat
You need to add tint to this product to get the color that you want
Not suitable for driveways or vertical surfaces
Recommended Number of Coats
4 - 6 Hours
5. Olympic Rescue It Deck Resurfacer
Best Waterproof Deck Resurfacer
This textured product will cover small imperfections, fill cracks and lock down splinters. It provides waterproofing to protect your deck from water damage and resists mildew and algae. The product will also give your deck a skid-resistant finish. It's a great product to use on old and weathered wood. It also works on concrete as a sealer to protect the life of the surface.
Why We Liked It: This deck stain is easy to apply with just a roller. It's the perfect product for your deck restoration. It will give you a textured surface that is skid-resistant and waterproof.
VIEW ON HOME DEPOT ➞
Covers up to 75 square feet with 2 coats
100% Acrylic solid color stain for better penetrability
Requires only 2 coats and is self-priming
Wait at least 6 hours before applying the 2nd coat
The deck stain is tintable, so you get exactly the color you want
Needs around 72 hours to cure properly before you can replace the furniture
Darker stain colors will attract and hold the heat
Recommended Number of Coats
6. Liquid Rubber Smooth Polyurethane Deck and Dock Coating
Best Liquid Rubber Deck Resurfacer
This liquid rubber deck paint is available in 10 beautiful colors. It creates a durable, hard, and waterproof membrane on the surface that looks like soft rubber. The product is also UV resistant to prevent fading. It's suitable to use both indoors and outdoors. You can apply it with a brush, roller, or sprayer.
Why We Liked It: This polyurethane coating will give your deck a highly durable finish. It's easy to apply, and it's waterproof and UV resistant. This means it will last for many years.
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Provides a polyurethane coating
Will cover around 100 square feet per gallon of deck paint
Requires 2 to 3 heavy coats
Can be used on decks, concrete, walkways, around pools, and even on non-corroded metal structures
Can be applied over stain and paint
For waterproofing, you may have to apply 3 to 4 coats
You need to wait for 5 to 7 days before placing furniture on the surface
Recommended Number of Coats
4 - 6 Hours
7. Rust-Oleum RockSolid 20X Deck Resurfacer
Best Thick Deck Resurfacer
This extremely thick Rust-Oleum deck stain is twenty times thicker than paint. It will give the surface of your deck a durable finish with only 1 application. This product will also fill in small cracks and lock down splinters with its textured finish.
Why We Liked It: This deck paint will give your deck a highly durable, textured finish. It only requires one thick application. In fact, with Rust-Oleum's cleaner and primer, you can finish your deck restoration project in just one day.
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VIEW ON HOME DEPOT ➞
Only requires one coat as the product is extremely thick
A thick paint coating for heavily worn patios and decks
Covers up to 40 square feet per gallon
Provides waterproofing and UV resistance
The surface will be ready for light traffic and your furniture in only 24 hours
It's recommended to clean and prime your deck before applying this product to get the desired finish
It must be applied with the RockSolid 20X roller
Recommended Number of Coats
8. BEHR Premium Advanced Deckover
Best Mildew-Resistant Deck Resurfacer
You can give your deck a textured and slip-resistant finish with Behr's Deckover water-based stain. It will help to hide cracks and lock down splinters. This deck paint will also give you a mildew-resistant surface. Not only that, this product is resistant to cracking, which means it will last a long time before you have to resurface again.
Why We Liked It: This product is long-lasting and easy to apply. It won't only provide a textured surface to your old deck, but it'll also waterproof it. Plus, you get plenty of gorgeous colors to choose from.
VIEW ON HOME DEPOT ➞
100% acrylic resin that creates a waterproof deck coating to your wood deck
Covers 75 square feet per gallon
Wait 4 to 6 hours before applying the second coat
Available in 54 colors
You have to make sure you prepare and clean your wood deck before applying the product
Has to be applied on completely dry wood
Recommended Number of Coats
4 - 6 Hours
9. Rust-Oleum RockSolid Tintable Resurfacer
Best Single Application Deck Resurfacer
This tintable Rust-Oleum deck restorer will give your heavily worn deck a totally new look. It also features weatherproofing, meaning it'll last a long time. It's six times thicker than paint. This means it will easily fill small cracks and other imperfections. You can also use it on concrete.
Why We Liked It: With this product, you can easily resurface your deck in just one day. It's easy to use and features weather resistance to keep your deck looking good for a long time. With this product, you can easily resurface your deck in just one day. It's easy to use and features weather resistance to keep your deck looking good for a long time.
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Only requires 1 application
The Rust-Oleum RockSolid deck restore covers up to 80 square feet per gallon
You can restore your deck in just one day if you also use the Rust-Oleum cleaner and the Rust-Oleum primer
Rust-Oleum Rocksolid is a deck stain with a water base
Can be tinted to 60 different colors
You have to add tint to the product before applying
Rust-Oleum recommends that new and sealed wood decks have to weather for at least 6 months before you apply this product
Recommended Number of Coats
4 - 6 Hours
10. SaverSystems Deck Wood Deck Paint and Sealer
Best Deck Paint And Sealer
This sealer is a solid color paint that hides the wood grain and protects against fading and graying. It's both a stain and sealer for your wood. You can even use it over other solid color wood stains. You can use it on all wood surfaces, both horizontal and vertical.
Why We Liked It: This is the best resurfacer if you want to hide the wood grain or paint over existing paint. It provides a solid color matte finish. Clean up is easy, too, because it's water-based.
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Available in 6 solid opaque colors
Clean up is easy with just water
Easy to apply with a brush, roller, or airless sprayer
Requires two coats for optimum coverage
You only have to wait around 2 hours before applying the second coat
Will give your deck a semi-solid matte finish and totally cover the wood grain
The paint is quite thin, so you have to apply it evenly to get a good finish
Recommended Number of Coats
Best Deck Resurfacer Buying Guide
When you’re looking for the best deck resurfacer for your worn deck, you’ll want to know what’s important before you buy.
Keep in mind that these products are designed for weathered decks and should not be applied to a new deck. In fact, most product manufacturers recommend that you let your new deck weather for at least 6 months before you apply a deck resurfacer.
It’s also important to note that a deck resurfacer will generally not allow the wood grain to show through. This is because it creates an entirely new surface that is both weatherproof and, in most cases, slip-resistant.
But, before we go further into this, let’s look at the pros and cons of these products.
One of the biggest advantages of applying deck resurfacers is that they’ll cover all the imperfections that a weathered wood surface deck might have. This extends the life of your deck and means you don’t have to replace it.
Here are some other advantages:
+ Most deck resurfacers are easy to apply, and some you can apply in just one day.
+ If used correctly, these deck resurfacers are virtually maintenance-free.
+ You don’t need any special skills to use them. You just need to know how to use a paintbrush, roller, or airless sprayer. Then, just follow the instructions on the product.
+ Deck resurfacers are designed to stick to almost any surface as long as it’s prepared correctly. Most can be used on both wood and concrete.
+ In addition to using resurfacers on your deck, they’re also ideal for steps, sidewalks, and around the pool. Their anti-slip properties make them perfect for these types of applications.
+ Unlike deck paints or even a wood stain, these resurfacers are available in a huge range of colors.
+ Applying one of these products to your deck will make it look new again without the expense of replacing it.
There are not many major disadvantages to applying deck resurfacers, but there are some things to consider. These are:
+ The product will cover the grain of the wood, and once applied, they can be very difficult to remove if you want the natural wood appearance back.
+ These products are known to hold in heat from the sun. This means your deck could be hotter to walk on, especially if you choose a dark color.
+ You have to ensure that you prep your deck according to the instructions on the product. Failure to do so may result in the product peeling over time.
Now, here are some things to consider when looking for the best deck resurfacer.
To resurface your deck, there are many different types of products that you can use. What you choose depends on the condition of your deck. Let’s look at these in more detail.
Oil-based stains are designed to preserve the look of your timber deck. They work best on new wood decks that haven’t been exposed to the elements. These products are usually fairly thick and will need to be re-applied to give an even finish and to protect the wood.
However, when you use an oil-based stain, you’re preserving the natural look of the wood. So basically, the natural beauty of the grain will show through.
Bear in mind that an oil-based stain will often take 24 to 48 hours to dry. This means it will take a few days to finish the project, especially if you need to use more than one coat.
Once applied, the stain will fade over time and will have to be re-applied many times over the deck’s lifetime. This can be extremely time-consuming. These stains are also not good to use on very weathered wood.
This is like a varnish. It will coat the wood and prevent moisture from penetrating it. You’ll also get a wide range of colors to choose from. However, this product is highly flammable, so you need to be extra careful until it’s fully dry. It also has an unpleasant smell that tends to linger.
On the plus side, this stain has an average lifespan of around 6 to 7 years before you need to reapply it. Once again, it’s only good for newer wood that hasn’t had a chance to age.
Water-Based Paints And Stains
All the products that we’ve reviewed are water-based. This means that they’re easy to use and very durable. In this range, you can choose from acrylic, latex, silicone, and silicate.
These products offer excellent weatherproofing and are also UV resistant. Most of these require 2 coats, but they will last for quite a number of years. These products allow you to restore the deck to a new condition.
This is a fairly new addition and contains special additives to make it superior to other acrylic resurfacers. It’s water-permeable, so it will allow the surface to breathe.
The Thickness Of The Product
The thickness of the resurfacer that you need will depend on the condition of your timber. If your deck is badly weathered with many large cracks and chips, you’ll want the thickest resurfacer you can get. Look for one that’s 6 to 10 times thicker than paint.
This will give you enough thickness to cover all the cracks and lock down the splinters that are most likely poking through. On the flip side, if your deck is still in reasonable condition, you might prefer a thinner coverage that resembles a deck stain or paint.
Consider The Coverage Of Each Deck Resurfacer
Generally, the thicker the product, the less coverage you’re going to get. In our reviews, we’ve given you the approximate coverage for one gallon of product. But remember, if your deck is particularly worn, you’re going to need more product to cover all the imperfections perfectly.
But, even if you need two or three cans of deck resurfacer to do the job properly, it’s still going to be a lot more cost-effective than replacing the entire deck.
What Type Of Finish Do You Want?
Would you prefer a textured finish, or is a smooth finish more to your liking? Deck resurfacers are available in both. Textured finishes are ideally suited to very worn decks as they help to hide all those imperfections.
They’re also more slip-resistant which is important to consider if you have young children or elderly people living in your home.
For a smooth finish, consider one of the rubber or latex deck resurfacers. They’ll give your deck a lovely smooth matte finish that resembles solid color deck paint.
How Much Weather Resistance Do You Need?
If your deck is exposed to the elements for long periods of time, you want to select a deck resurfacer that is totally weather resistant. Some resurfacers even create a film that resists mold, mildew, and algae.
On the flip side, if your deck is exposed to extreme periods of sunlight, look for a resurfacer that is UV resistant. This means it will resist fading, peeling, and cracking over time.
Do You Have To Prep Your Deck Before Applying A Deck Resurfacer?
Most deck resurfacers require you to prep your deck well before applying them. But, there are some that you can apply straight over existing paint or stain. You just need to make sure that your deck is clean and free from any debris.
For this purpose, a quick power wash to remove dust, dirt, and other debris is all that’s required.
Other products recommend that you use their brand of deck cleaner and primer to get the best finish. But on the positive side, these say that you can complete the entire job in just one day.
At the end of the day, the more prep work you do, the better the end result will be. You’ll have a good-looking deck for many years to come.
You also have to decide what color you want. Some resurfacers come only in a selected range of colors. Others require you to add the tint that you want. Therefore, if you have a particular color in mind, make sure that the resurfacer you select has that color option.
Tips For Applying The Resurfacer
Most resurfacers are easy to use, but you have to prepare the surface first. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to help you. Remember to follow the instructions provided by the product that you’re using.
First, you have to wash the surface that you want to paint or stain. It’s easy to do this with a pressure washer. You should give the pressure-treated wood a little time to dry so that the paint or stain you’re applying will adhere to the surface.
Once the pressure-treated wood is dry, fill any large cracks and nail holes with latex caulk. You’ll also want to allow this to dry before using your stain or paint.
Now it’s time to apply the paint or stain. It’s best to use a roller for this, but you can use a brush for smaller areas. Many people have also used an airless sprayer with good results. Just be aware that the paint or stain will not go as far if you use this method.
When applying the stain, be sure to reload the roller often. You want to use smooth strokes and avoid going back and forth like you would if painting a wall. The idea is to apply the product quite thickly to give an even surface and good coverage.
Wait for the first coat to dry before adding another. Follow the instructions as to the time required for each product.
Apply the 2nd coat. This will fill in all the gaps and give you a good solid surface. Allow this to dry for around 24 to 48 hours before walking on the surface if you can.
When your deck is weathered due to age and the environment, you need to find a way to bring it back to its original glory. Using a resurfacer is the ideal way to do this.
These resurfacers will give your deck a new lease of life so that it looks like new again. These products are also designed to hide any imperfections and give you a flawless finish. They’ll last for a good number of years if you use them correctly.
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