Your deck is exposed to extreme elements all year long. Intense sunlight and UV rays, especially here in Jacksonville, Florida, fade wood and break down the lignin, or natural substance that holds together wood fibers. Humidity and heavy rains overwhelm wood with moisture, causing it to warp and crack as it then expands and contracts with changing temperatures. Wood that is unprotected or neglected is highly susceptible to these dangers, and will turn gray and eventually rot. The solution is to protect the wood with paint or stain, but which is better for your own deck?

Deck Staining Pros & Cons

A good quality stain will soak into the wood and fill the microscopic gaps that would otherwise become filled with moisture from rain or humidity. The stain will penetrate the wood grain and seal it, making a barrier against moisture. If the stain is tinted, it will shield the wood from UV rays, and the more pigment a stain has, the more protection it will provide. Stain also does not chip or peel, so though it will fade as time goes by, your deck won’t become riddled with pesky peeling paint. The downside to staining your deck is that the choice of stains can be overwhelming, so here’s a brief primer on the major types of stain:

• Clear Toner: Clear toner contains almost no pigment, so the color and grain of the wood will show through the toner. It does not provide as much UV protection as stains with deeper pigmentation, but it does still protect against moisture, and does not peel. We recommend recoating clear toner every year.

• Semi-Transparent Stain: Semi-transparent stain contains enough pigment to change the color of the wood, but will not cover or hide the wood grain. It protects against UV and moisture and does not peel. We recommend recoating semi-transparent stain every 2-3 years, but this can vary significantly depending on factors such as surrounding conditions and use.

• Semi-Solid Stain: Semi-solid stain contains more pigment than semi-transparent stain but less pigment than solid color stain, so it effectively blocks sunlight and UV rays. It partially covers the wood grain, but will not peel. We recommend recoating semi-solid stain every 2-4 years, but this can vary significantly depending on factors such as surrounding conditions and use.

• Solid Color Stain: Solid color stain looks like flat paint. It covers wood grain but does not hide the texture, and provides a strong shield against UV rays. It forms a light film, and may peel if not properly applied. We recommend recoating solid color stain every 5-7 years, but this can vary significantly depending on factors such as surrounding conditions and use.

Deck Painting Pros & Cons

The high solids content in paint helps to form a thick, opaque film on the wood’s surface that shields it from UV rays, resists moisture, and hides imperfections. If you choose to paint your deck, we recommend a high quality water-based latex porch and floor paint, which will do a better job than oil-based paint in flexing with the wood as it expands and contracts with the elements. The downside to painting is that it will eventually begin to peel. Even the best paint jobs will not last too long in the intense Florida climate of high heat and humidity and heavy rainfall.

Deck Refinishing DIY

Staining or painting your deck might sound like an appealing DIY project. However, for many homeowners it ends up being a vastly larger project than they had in mind. The first stage is to pressure wash the surface. You’ll need to clear away all patio furniture and potted plants, and rent a good quality pressure washer. Rented pressure washing equipment is costly and can be dangerous, but it’s necessary for cleaning all mildew, loose or rotten wood fibers, and peeling paint or leftover sealant from the surface so that the new paint or stain can penetrate and adhere properly. The surface also needs to be completely dry, so wait 2-3 days after pressure washing, or longer if it rains. While the surface is drying, check for rotten boards that need to be replaced with new lumber, or loose boards that need to be secured. Collect and purchase the supplies you need, including brushes, rollers, tarps, and the paint or stain itself, and you’re ready to go to work!

Refinishing your own deck seems like a weekend-long project, but more more often than not it takes much more of your time and money than planned. In the North Florida summer heat and blazing sun, this task can grow exponentially worse, fast. The best thing you can do is find a good deck refinishing company in your area and hire a team of experts!

The Jacksonville FL Deck Refinishing Experts

Your deck is one of your favorite features of the house, especially now that summer is here. If it needs a fresh coat of stain or paint, The Painting Craftsmen has the team of experts for the job! If it needs more than a coat of stain, we’d love to help with that, too. We specialize in getting your deck ready for you to enjoy, so if you have rotten boards that need to be replaced, or if the surfaces need intense pressure washing and sanding, we are the professional deck refinishers for you. When our team is finished, you’ll never want to leave the deck! If you live in Riverside Avondale, Ortega, Ponte Vedra, along the beaches, or anywhere else in Northeast Florida, call on the best deck refinishing company in town. We’re ready to start refinishing your deck so that you can enjoy summer to the fullest.

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Give Your Home’s Exterior a Facelift

While you didn’t have to contend with the cold, harsh weather that our neighbors to the north went through this winter, having a home in Florida does present some of its own unique problems. Living in what is considered a tropical area with hot summers, long rainy seasons, high humidity, and no dry season to speak off, the outside of your home does take a beating. It is more than likely your home’s exterior could benefit from a little extra attention this spring.

The hot sun can damage the exterior of your home and cause paint to chip or peel. Stained surfaces may fade and even start to flake. Stucco surfaces may be in need of cleaning or repairs from cracks or blistering. You may have even noticed the growth of mildew around the outside of your home from the humidity.

Left unchecked, this aesthetic damage can worsen into damage to the external structure of your home. This is where the skilled professionals from The Painting Craftsmen can help restore the beauty of your home by:

• Refreshing the exterior of your home with our stucco repair, deck and fence refinishing, pool deck coating and pressure washing services.
• Painting or staining your home with specialized paint or stains meant to withstand UV rays and moisture damage and inhibit the growth of mildew.

Freshen Up Your Concrete Patio for Summer Pool Parties

If you are like most Floridians, you probably enjoy spending a lot of time cooling off in your pool during the summer. However, your concrete patio pool area may need some TLC before the season starts. The Painting Craftsmen offers the services that your patio needs!  We offer:

• Concrete Stain Pool Deck Coatings
• Acrylic Concrete Pool Deck Coatings
• Paver Sealing and Cleaning
• Concrete Crack Repair
• Settled Paver Re-leveling

If your concrete pool patio is looking a little dingy, now is the time to have it cleaned to remove any stains or mildew that may have accumulated over the winter or repair any cracks in the concrete and uneven pavers. Combine services to have your pool deck look like new!

Get Your Wood Deck Ready for Summer Entertaining

Decks are built to enhance the quality and quantity of your back yard usage.  Wooden decks do not always have a long life because they are exposed to harsh elements like sun, rain, and humidity every day.  Wood rot is often the culprit as indicated by faintly cupped deck boards that hold puddled water.

Refinishing a deck can add years to its life, even those that are in a serious state of disrepair.  The professionals at The Painting Craftsmen offer rotten wood repair, complete deck refinishing and staining services using only the finest materials.  Homeowners are able to choose from clear protective finishes, stain shades that will complement their home and landscaping materials, or solid paint colors that will accentuate the surrounding colors.  The Painting Craftsmen experts evaluate and replace any boards that are deteriorating with new lumber prior to refinishing or staining any deck to help make your investment last longer, while protecting it from mold and mildew growth.

Take time now to clean up and replace your pool patio or wood deck furniture so that you are not rushing around later on when you are getting ready to entertain. You may need a little time to find just the right piece of furniture or accent pillows that will help you achieve the look you want for your patio or deck area. Add some colorful plants to make the area more welcoming and increase its appeal.

Don’t Forget Your Fences!

Are your fences becoming an eyesore because they are in need of repair or maintenance? It is amazing what a good cleaning can do to improve the look of your wood fences. Consider having your fences pressure washed to restore some of their original beauty. By having a clear protective finish or new stain applied, you can give your fences a new look and extend their usefulness.

Does Spring Make You Think of Gardening?

One of the benefits of living in Florida is that no matter what time of year it is, you can always have something beautiful growing around your home. However, depending upon the type of plants you want to have you may encounter some challenges because of the nature of the soil in the area. One way to avoid this is to stick with native plants that do well in our area. There is a wide variety of annual/perennial flowers, groundcovers, shrubs and trees in which to choose.

You can depend on the expertise of The Painting Craftsmen when it comes to improving the appearance of your home both inside and out. We can help you get your home ready for the season with our wide range of services tailored to keep your home looking its best.

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