10 Tips to Spruce Up an Old Wooden Deck

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Your College Station realtor may find you the ultimate dream house with a great location and fabulous interior. It has great curb appeal and everything you ever wanted, but when you walk to the backyard, you find that the previous owners did not maintain the deck very well. Do not pass the house up when you can spruce up the old wooden deck in an affordable fashion.

Affordable Construction Projects to Improve an Old Deck

1 – Refinish the Wood

The largest and possibly most expensive way to update the deck is hiring a professional to sand it down and refinish it completely. This process can make an old deck look completely new so it might be worth the cost.

2 – Remove or Replace Railings
Many older decks had heavy railings all the way around even when they weren't needed. Consider removing railings on low decks and extending the stairs. New, more stylish railing may be a great idea too.

3 – Replace Damaged or Rotting Boards

For appearance and safety's sake, all deck boards that are squishy, warped or broken should be removed and replaced.

4 – Extend the Deck

If the old deck is too small for your purposes or does not match the house's size, hire a professional deck builder to extend it so the newer deck part integrates well with the old.

5 – Add a Gazebo or Pergola

For entertaining or just relaxing in the warm Texas summers, a gazebo or pergola offers shade and a spark of interest for an older deck.


Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Professional Deck Projects

5 – Power Washing

Homeowners can rent a power-washing machine and, with proper regard to safety, clean all the debris, moss and even some stains off the old deck boards. This should be done before applying and waterproofing or other treatments.

6 – Get a Moss and Mildew Treatment

Kill off any mildew and prevent the growth of more with a chemical treatment that can be brushed on with a sponge mop or similar. This will do more to prevent future damage than other options.

7 – Add Lattice or Built-In Decorations

Some small construction projects are perfect for fans of do-it-yourself. Adding lattice under the deck railings only takes proper measuring, cutting and a few nails. Building a sturdy rectangular box shape can create a built-in planter or a bench to sit on.


Decorator Accents to Bring New Life to an Old Deck

8 – Improve Seating Areas

Worn out patio furniture on an old deck will not encourage people to enjoy the backyard. Invest in new furniture or at least new cushions. Include just enough seating to handle everyone without making the deck look crowded.

9 – Add Planters and Flower Pots

Bring the garden closer by making container gardens for the corners of the deck, putting pots of fragrant herbs on the edges of the stairs, climbing vines up the pergola or hanging colorful flowering plants from the house overhang.

10 – Create Shade With Umbrellas or Awnings

Install a large roller awning to your house that can be stretched across the width of the deck to provide shade. This not only makes the deck more useful in the summer heat, it also makes any unattractive characteristics of the deck less noticeable.

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