How To Resurface Splintered Wood Decks
- Power wash your deck. Power washing a deck marks the first step of preparation for repairing decking. ...
- Clean with water and bleach. Bleaching the wood kills deck mold. ...
- Repair Cracks and chips. Splintering decks pose a danger to anyone walking bare feet on them. ...
- Sand the deck. ...
- Apply a protective finish to your deck. ...
How to repair a cracked and splintered wood deck?
How to Resurface Cracked & Splintered Wood Decks 1 Power Washing Is the Best Treatment for an Old Wood Deck. ... 2 Get Rid of the Splinters by Sanding. The sander you need for a deck is a flooring orbital sander, which is a large, heavy version of a pad sander. 3 Protect the Wood With Stain, Paint or a Restoration Coating. ...
Can you bleach splinter wood decking?
Bleaching splintering decks also allows the wood to take the deck treatment better. Prepare a bleach solution by mixing equal parts of half water and half bleach. Fill this solution in your power washer and spray down the entire decking boards. If there’re areas with build-up mold and mildew, focus the nozzle on them to lift them off the deck.
Can You Power Wash a splintered deck?
Using a pressure power wash against a splintered deck can make it worse. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to doing this before sanding the whole deck. If you want to avert damage, It’s better to add a 15 degree tip to less the PSI of power washes. Adding bleach with water allows the power wash to remove mold and mildew.
What is the best treatment for an old wood deck?
Power Washing Is the Best Treatment for an Old Wood Deck. If your deck is already splintered, you may think it counterintuitive to power wash it and run the risk of making the splintering worse.

Will sanding a deck get rid of splinters?
If wood splintering is minor and confined to small areas, then an orbital palm sander is probably your best bet. Use 80-grit sandpaper and move the sander back and forth in the direction of the grain.
How do you fill in splintered wood?
0:301:31The Work Around: How to Fix Splintered Wood | HGTV - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPaper to lightly sand the interior of my broken chunk repeat this process for both sides of theMorePaper to lightly sand the interior of my broken chunk repeat this process for both sides of the break. Then using wood glue put on enough to cover the entire.
How do I repair damaged wood deck?
1:215:05How to Repair Damaged Deck Boards That Rot or Have Holes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOne thing you can do is leave the Newport on top mark the edges and then you can make a straightMoreOne thing you can do is leave the Newport on top mark the edges and then you can make a straight line to cut along. And right here I'm gonna use another board just to make a straight line across.
How do you fix a split in a deck?
Cracks: Fill and seal. Although cracking on a deck isn't attractive, it's usually just a normal sign of aging. If the cracks are less than six inches long, all you need to do is fill them in with latex wood filler and then finish off the deck with sealant.
What is the best wood filler for decks?
Best Exterior Wood Filler for DecksBest wood filler for outdoor use – Bondo All-Purpose Putty.Best Stainable Wood Filler– Elmer's E892.Best exterior epoxy wood filler – Abatron Wood Epoxy 2 kit.Best Wood Putty for Decks– Minwax 13617000.Best wood filler for pressure treated deck– Pc Products- 163337.More items...•
Why is my deck splintering?
Splintering decks are usually the result of neglect — occurring after a deck remains untreated and unsealed for a number of years. The lack of protection allows water to soak into the boards, eventually causing them to splinter and crack. Fortunately, all is not lost.
Can wood filler be used on a deck outside?
You can use it inside and outside without worrying about it flaking away, and it works very well when used to repair small gouges, cracks, knot holes, nail holes, and defects in unfinished outdoor and indoor wooden surfaces.
Can I use wood filler on my deck?
Can you use wood filler on a deck? Yes, you can use wood filler on a deck. Wood filler is the best solution for cracks, gouges, etc., because all you need to do is get some outdoor filler, apply it, and wait for it to cure before use.
What is the life expectancy of a wood deck?
10 to 15 yearsTHE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A WOOD DECK: Typically 10 to 15 years. The actual lifespan of your wood deck will depend on the type of wood you've chosen and how well you keep up with wood's rigorous maintenance schedule.
Why is my wood deck cracking?
Constant exposure to moisture and heat causes wood deck boards to crack, and small or hairline cracks are an unavoidable consequence of your deck's aging process. The wood gets wet, soaks up the water, expands and then drys out, contracting and shrinking, causing cracks in the surface of the wood.
How long does it take to repair a deck splinter?
Most splinter repairs are simple and take just a few minutes to complete. However, some repairs, such as rot repairs and board replacement take a little more time to complete.
How to fix a splinter in a wood table?
Locate the splinter. If the splinter is still present inside the wood, then simply pull up the corner and place a dab of wood glue under the splinter. Step on the splinter to hold it in place. Place a piece of wax paper over the splinter and hold it down overnight with a weight. Sand the area the following morning with a fine grit sandpaper.
How to repair rotted feathered wood?
Repair rotted feathered wood in the following way. Use a chisel to scrape out any remaining rotted wood. Apply an epoxy pre-treatment to the area to stop the spread of the rot. Fill the area with wood filler using a putty knife. Allow the area to dry for 24 hours.
Does Hunker repair splintered wood?
Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Repairing splintered wood is a simple process. A splintered and feathered deck will no longer be enjoyable because it is impossible to walk over it without threat of injury. It is important to address a feathered and splintered deck as soon as possible to prevent ...
What is the best way to clean a splintered wood deck?
Power Washing Is the Best Treatment for an Old Wood Deck. If your deck is already splintered, you may think it counterintuitive to power wash it and run the risk of making the splintering worse.
How long does it take for a deck to cure?
Wait for 24 hours before applying the second coat, and let that cure for the recommended time, usually 48 hours, before using the deck.
How do I protect wood from sun damage?
Protect the Wood With Stain, Paint or a Restoration Coating. After sanding, you’ll probably be impressed with the appearance of the wood, and you may decide that a stain is all it needs. If so, choose a semi-transparent deck stain with enough pigmentation to forestall further deterioration of the wood by the sun.
Can you replace wood deck boards with composite?
Of course, there’s always the option of throwing away the old boards and replacing them, but new wood boards are expensive. Even replacing deck boards with composite can cost an arm and a leg.
Why do decks splinter?
Splintering decks are usually the result of neglect — occurring after a deck remains untreated and unsealed for a number of years. The lack of protection allows water to soak into the boards, eventually causing them to splinter and crack. Fortunately, all is not lost.
How do I get rid of mold on my deck?
Mix up a solution of half bleach, half water and spray down your entire decking. If you see areas of deck mold (not unlikely if it’s been a while since your deck’s been treated), hit those especially hard and work at them with a scrub brush until the mold has been removed.
How long does it take for bleach to dry off a deck?
Once the bleach solution has dried off the deck (it’s a good idea to give it about 24 hours, just to be sure), you can move on to sanding. Since splintering decks mean lots of painful slivers for bare feet, it’s important that you sand down your deck so that you’re once again working with a smooth surface.
How often should I treat a deck?
Finally, remember to treat your deck on a regular basis (at least every few years). It’s the only sure-fire way to prevent problems like splintering, cracking, rot and mold.
Can you use a power sprayer on a deck?
Using a power sprayer drastically reduces the time it takes to treat a deck, though it can be done with paint rollers and brushes if you’ve got the patience. Just be sure to watch out for drips and runs, and to brush them up quickly. Waiting until after the deck is dry to try to get rid of them is almost impossible.
Can I repair decking myself?
While it’s possible to repair decking yourself, it’s a time-consuming and laborious job — especially if you don’t have the right tools. A decking contractor is experienced enough to repair decking of all sorts, and they will also have the supplies and know-how to get it done right in a fraction of the time. For this reason, many homeowners find hiring a decking pro to be worth the extra cost.
Does bleaching a deck kill mold?
Finally, wait for the deck to dry before moving on to the next step. The bleach does two things: It kills deck mold and mildew, and it bleaches the wood to a uniform color, preparing it for treatment.
What to do if you have splintered wood?
The first thing you want to do if you are having issues with splintered wood is to assess the situation for the severity of the splintering and other possible damage. The reason for this is because how you fix the splinters will depend on the cause. You might have some small splinters just coming loose, you might have small splinters or chunks ...
How to fix a splinter in a wood table?
To fix small splinters that are still present, all you will need is a bit of high-quality wood glue, some wax paper, an old rag, and anything flat and heavy that can be used as a weight. You may also need some sandpaper.
What to do if rot has not gone through wood?
If the rot has not gone all the way through the wood, you can repair it with a chisel, some wood filler, a putty knife, an epoxy pre-treatment, and some sandpaper.
How to prevent splinters from getting into your eyes?
If the damage is too severe, it’s probably easier to make replacements rather than repairs. Always wear protective eyewear to ensure that no splinters get into your eyes when working with wood. Always follow proper safety procedures when using power tools such as drills or saws.
How to remove damaged wood?
To remove the damaged wood, you may first need to use your drill to drill a pilot hole, so you can then insert your jigsaw blade. Insert your jigsaw blade and make the cut to remove the damaged section.
How long does it take for wood glue to dry?
You will need to let the wood glue dry, and wood glue, depending on the weather, can take anywhere from a few hours to over a full day to fully dry.
How far to remove a splinter from the eye?
You will want to remove the damaged piece and a bit more, about 2 inches to either side of the splintering. You want to remove more than what is visibly splintered to the eye because chances are that the damage has already spread further than what you can see.
