Wood Deck Restoration with Behr Premium DeckOver
This post may contain affiliate links which won't change your price but will share some commission. Read more here.This amazing wood deck restoration project was accomplished using Behr Premium DeckOver. The post includes tips on preparation, application and results.
You can find a followup review of our wood deck restoration here (with additional tips on Behr Deckover.)
The post Wood Deck Restoration with Behr Premium DeckOver® was sponsored by Behr Paint but my DIY hubby and I loved this product!
Quick tips for using Behr Deckover wood restoration product:
- Preparation – the first step in doing any deck project is to clean and prepare it.
- Tips and Tools – you must keep this product stirred. It is also critical to remove ALL the debris off the deck.
- Application – apply a generous amount of product and try to work in the cool of the day,
- Durability – the first few times the product gets wet, you may notice white streaks or even dried white puddles. If this happens wash the entire deck with the hose to remove.
Shortly after we moved into our home 23 years ago my DIY hubby built the lower deck by our back door and then the upper deck around our large tree.
Oh, the stories this deck could tell!
Our kids used to hop on their ride-on toys and race around this tree with abandon!
One of our favorite funny home videos shows our youngest two riding a little bus with a coat completely covering their eyes. You could hear us hold our breath as they veered around the tree, barely keeping from falling off the deck, laughing hysterically in glee.
I don’t remember any major accidents and thankfully we’ve only had one broken bone in all these years!
Throughout our parenting years we’ve hosted birthday parties, cookouts, a surprise graduation party, a sweet sixteen party as well as many holidays for our extended family.
With all the enjoyment our deck has given us the least we could do was take time and effort for a wood deck restoration project! Here’s my handy hubby to tell you all about it!
From Tim: Recent repairs and improvements to the deck left it in dire need of a bit of spit and polish!
So, spit and polish is what it got…along with the most amazing deck restoration product from Behr called DeckOver!
This before picture shows what I was dealing with; old wood, bad stain and new wood. At the very right of this picture I added a wedge-shaped section of deck to fill a corner where a fence used to be.
This is that section and became the new home for the swing…all new wood.
Here is a great shot of how weathered our decking was, compared to new wood.
And another of older stain showing through a different coating that just didn’t hold up. All those cracks would be filled with the DeckOver product…or so they say!
Wood Deck Restoration
(I’ve included some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
Materials:
Behr DeckOver Wood Coating
Jomax House Cleaner & Mildew Killer
DAP® Premium Indoor/Outdoor Sealant
Industrial paint stirrer
Purdy Roller Covers
Roller frame
Cordless Drill
1. Preparation
The first step in doing any deck project is to clean and prepare it.
Here I’m using a really good cleaning agent called Jomax House Cleaner & Mildew Killer.
It is a concentrate that can be diluted and sprayed on the deck to release the build up of grime and dirt.
Best to let that product sit for about 10 minutes, and then pressure wash.
I am well aware that there is debate recently as to whether or not to pressure wash anymore. I have done it for 23 years and have no intention of stopping now.
It is the only thing that will get the surface clean enough to receive whatever product you will put on. Plus, it saves an incredible amount of back-breaking labor scrubbing with a brush.
You can see here how one pass with chemical and pressure does the job!
After letting the deck dry for a minimum of 24 hours (and this is true if it rains prior to sealing), I needed to fill some of the bigger cracks and knot holes with caulk.
This DAP® Premium Indoor/Outdoor Sealant
is great and was pretty close to the color of the DeckOver we would be using.
These were holes where deck lights used to live. Just squirt and smooth.
I walked the entire deck filling anything bigger than the DeckOver could handle (1/4″ according to Behr).
Here is a five-gallon bucket of the product we used, tinted to “Woodbridge”.
2. Tips and Tools
There are many tips for using this product and the first is that you must keep this product stirred.
It is very thick, almost like pudding, so you don’t want any kind of settling, especially when working out of the 5-gallon bucket.
This is an industrial paint stirrer that attaches to any drill and, when used carefully, can totally handle the thickness of the product.
Here’s an action shot and you really get an idea of the viscosity of the DeckOver product.
Before I go further, I really want to stress how critical it is to get ALL the debris off the deck.
Anything you leave between the space between boards will get picked up by the brush and roller and then get deposited back into your bucket or pan, only to be plopped back onto the deck later.
Clean as you go and keep it clean.
3. Application
The best way to work this product is three or four boards at a time…not like I started to do here! It sets up SO fast that, if you roll back into it, it pulls that product back into little peaks.
In addition, if something drops into your beautiful surface (bug, leaf, dog, etc.) DO NOT dab into that surface to retrieve it! Just leave it for the second coat and pluck it out then. This will be an essential tip on the second coat.
I chose to work right out of the bucket with a roller and paint screen. It is much easier than pouring into a pan and executing re-fill after re-fill.
Once you begin that 3 or 4 board run, you want to move along to the opposite end with no interruptions. FYI, I used a 3/8″ roller cover.
This is the first pass, with the roller on a long handle, and I was immediately in love!
Another good tip is to work in the cool of the day, if at all possible. I began right around 5:00 p.m., which allowed me to work in complete shade.
If you try and apply in extreme afternoon heat, work a few boards at a time and work very fast.
You want to apply a very generous amount of product. Don’t try to stretch this stuff out. Load that roller often and run from one end to the other.
If you have a pretty good space between boards you may need to use a brush first and get those exposed edges. If you have a helper, this is where to use them!
Here I’m just about to finish the lower deck and you can really see the dramatic difference!
I have been a Painting Contractor for a long time and have never used a restoration product. This truly lives up to the claims it makes.
The look after application is not glossy but will appear that way until it dries completely.
And here is the end of the first application! For the record, the upper deck is around 24′ x 26′ and the lower is 16′ x 16′.
I actually got better coverage than the instructions suggested, but I am guessing that it is because I have no railings, benches or substantial steps.
Since I had leftover product, I asked about a third coat and was told to hold off for now. In the future, another coat can be applied after light cleaning and brought back to this appearance.
4. Durability
A good question you might have is about durability. I had the same concern since I have dogs that think the decks are their personal potties, lots of foot traffic, birds and tree debris.
At the time I write this post, I am pleased to say that the product has not lifted off anywhere…after two months! I just wash it off with a garden hose and I’m back to clean.
Now, here is something I’ve read can happen with this product and it happened to me. The first few times the product gets wet, you may notice white streaks or even dried white puddles that looks like somebody spilled milk all over your beautiful deck.
Not to worry, this is called “surfactant leaching” and is a bi-product of a material used in formulating the product. Surfactants are soapy carrying agents that help the product be distributed on the surface.
If you wet your fingers and touch these streaks, you will get a soapy sensation. I have seen this in some exterior paints and it really is nothing to worry about.
Mine appeared after a rain and I just washed the entire deck with the hose and they went away. I believe I did this one more time and they have never returned.
I really love this space, especially with the enormous silver maple tree, and the DeckOver was a welcome enhancement.
And, at the risk of being accused of being all “matchy, matchy”, we also did the swing and a picnic table!
We love it, and I can’t recommend Behr Deckover enough! Work it right and you can achieve the same results and even better! Good Luck!
From Marty: My husband did a great job on the deck and the difference has been amazing. Do you have a deck you need to tackle? Let us know if you have any questions about the Behr wood restoration product!
***The Deckover color we used was Woodbridge.
More Painting Tips
Practical painting tips for the home that anyone can use, including chalk painting, accent walls and choosing the right colors.
help – our deck has a lot of damage to the wood and about 4 yeas ago be re-painted but it needs help, so there is quite a bit of paint now, can this product be applied over paint? There is probably about 75% paint on boards? The wood is also very damaged? Ahh, what to do? Not sure this would work for us……?
Hi, Jana. Here’s my husband’s reply: You have a couple options now, but both really hinge on the age of the deck. The DeckOver product will certainly handle a great deal of wear and tear and even bad wood, but there does come a point when not even this product will help. At that point, you need to look into the second option and that is simply replacing the deck boards. Framing and railings might be salvageable, but you certainly don’t want to invest in a restoration product over wood that has lost all integrity.
If you decide to go over the paint, you must remove anything that is even thinking about coming off. The DeckOver product needs a clean surface to bond, and that won’t happen over peeling product. You may be able to achieve that with a good chemical wash and a pressure cleaning at no less than 3000PSI. Regardless the technique, anything loose must come off.
DeckOver is a great product, but it is very expensive. I would hate to see you waste your investment.
What a great looking deck. Nice Job! I thought I’d add my 2 cents worth. We refinished our 950 sq.ft. deck with DeckOver last summer. We are in central Michigan and just came through yet another brutal winter. I did extensive prep prior to applying 2 coats of DeckOver with a 3/4″ nap roller. In addition to Behr’s deck cleaner I used a power washer and a very stiff bristle deck brush to remove a lot of dense green algae. I was incredibly hard, backbreaking, arm building 🙂 work. And it was nearly impossible to find appropriate times to apply the product when rain was not in the forecast, or we hadn’t had rain in the prior 48 hours. It literally took me all summer, and I’m still working on all the railings. But, bottom line, the deck and product came through the winter with flying colors. I’m completely satisfied with how the product looks and held up over the winter. I know it’s just one year old, but so far, so good.
Thanks so much for the testimonial, Curt! We have had a similar experience with the deckover and I will be posting a followup next month. I know your prep work paid off with a solid performance.
How is this product holding up? I have read so many reviews from folks who say it peals terribly after 1 season. I too am prepping with Jomax and a pressure washer. After reading so many negative reviews… I am leery of using it! We have already bought the DeckOver but now???? Note: we are in south Georgia.
Hi, Jan. If you read the comment right after yours on my post you will see another testimonial to the Behr deckover product. I’m also going to be posting in June about how our deck has held up, which has been great! We are completely pleased with the product. We live in NC so we do not live in extremes. We probably hit teens and 90’s during the year but mostly stayed between 30’s and 80’s to give you a range. Hope that helps.
So I was curious how your deck looks now after a year. I am working on my 20+ year deck and am researching the products that I am going to use.
Hi, Rebekah, If you go back and read the last comments on my post a reader just gave a glowing recommendation on the Behr Deckover and I left a comment for another reader as well. I’ll have a full post coming out in June. Thanks so much!
Wow, you guys did a great job restoring that deck! You really painted that deck evenly– it looks so smooth! I’d love to have a deck that looks like yours, especially if it came with a matching swing set. Well, even if the deck wasn’t the same color as the swing, I could follow this guide and just paint it!
Thank you, Delores! We have been so pleased with the Behr product. My husband has done a great job on both our front and back deck. He’s my DIY handyman and I am blessed! Have a great weekend!
Hi, I am so frustrated with my first coat. There are white spots all over the deck. It has now been about 36 hours since first coat went on. I did paint when it was very warm out, 80’s. I painted some of the fence and supports yesterday in the shade and this morning more white. You say take a hose to it, let it dry and put on second coat? Is that correct. Thanks for any suggestions. Linda
Hello,
I’m impressed on how your deck turned out but I have a question on how it looks after a winter season. We live in Edmonton, Alberta Canada and have 4 extreme seasons. Last year I replaced my deck boards with untreated 2 x 6’s and left it over the winter to season the wood so to speak. I’ve read reviews on Behr deck over as well as other products and there is a lot of negative reviews out there with peeling after one winter. I’m curious as to how your deck has held up over the winter?
Hi, Lance. Here’s what my husband had to say about the Behr Deckover:
Great question and valid observations about reviews. I also read those prior to using the product and came to my own conclusion, right or wrong, that the key to success involved proper execution on multiple levels. First, preparation and proper cleaning is absolutely essential, with any deck project. I made sure I cleaned the deck with effective chemicals (Jomax and Outdoor Bleach) and used a 3500 PSI pressure washer to get it clean. Now, just because you have that kind of power doesn’t mean you have to use it! You don’t want to damage the surface nor drive mold spores down into the wood. Just get that top layer nice and clean. THEN, you have to make sure and get all the chemical off as well! The next most important thing is proper application. You really have to work this product at the right time of day and avoid as much blistering sunlight as possible while you’re working. Don’t glob it on with the first application; two light coats is better than two inconsistent layers. The last thing is dry time. You must stay off of it and keep it dry for the full three days. I am convinced that those who have had problems with the product failed in at least one of these three areas.
As for my deck, it held up extremely well through a season cycle. We have heavy dog traffic, children, and even that huge tree that the deck was built around. In fact, I just pressure washed it last weekend to clean it and NOTHING peeled away! I was really pleased with how clean it came without damage. I only found one spot where the product lifted off and that was where a large branch fell, destroyed the gutter and hit the deck. The extra amount of water that hit that spot, along with the damaged surface, made the product release from the wood in a spot as big as half a finger.
Our winters are not nearly as harsh here in North Carolina, but we do see freezing temperatures every year. Because the product is water-based (as a opposed to petroleum), it will flex very well and not just pop and flake off. This is true regardless how far your deck is off the ground. Anyway, I love the product and recommended it to family members who used it with similar results. Go for it!
Hi Marty Walden,
Great job Marty. Very impressive
Thanks so much, John! We love Behr products!
i just did the deckover with sable and am very pleased with it. i washed it first with behr’s all in one wood cleaner and brushed it on and in 15 minutes hosed it off. it kept bubling soapy bubbles but after an hour of rinsing i finally stoped. let it dry and thn put the deck over on. we finished late saturday night with the second coat. i call the behr rep, mike, who answers all the time on his cell as i need to new advice as i went along. i asked him last night if i could patch some of the places that were still deep …about 1/8th or slightly more. he said that would be okay. i noticed that as i went along each board carefully, since my deck is 22 years old, that there was a few places that had cracks in the deckover. i really got nervous about that and just painted over them. i still have more patching to do and wondered if anyone else had noticed hairline cracks and what to do about them. over all i love the color and the finished look. ince it takes 3 days to cure, i will wait till friday to put the furniture and plants back on the deck. by the way, i thot it interesting that you were told to put the third coat on next year. i like that and will wait to do mine next july also. also, the fact that you just hose it off with water is a great idea. i usually air compress the dust, leaves, and debris off.
Hi, Ann. I’m glad you’re making good progress with the Deckover, and what a great Behr rep you have! I know when a deck is as old as yours and mine that it’s practically impossible to restore it to new, but this product does a great job of reviving it. Sometimes my husband will blow the deck off of debris, but water is an option as well to keep it looking clean. Good luck and I hope you continue to enjoy it!
I’ve applied to newly installed handicap ramp on the front of the house and some OLD steps out back. It has been sunny every day since. I’m not planning on a second coat (we’ll see). I am going to go back and apply between the boards. I sure hope this works. I understand Sherman Williams has a really good product.
I hope the Behr product works well for you, Mary! We’ve only had ours on for a couple of months so I’ll do an update next summer. Thanks for reading!
Looks GREAT! What color did you use? There are so many to choose from! My husband likes the color that you used! Thanks!
Hi, there! The color is “Woodbridge.” I hope it works well for you!
I applied the rustoleum version of this product to a customers deck in the fall of 2013. All preperation instructions were followed to a T. This spring I got a call from the customer stating that they were experiencing peeling. I spent a whole day scraping. About 60% of the applied material has come off, the other 40% is adhered strongly and cannot be removed by scraping. The amount of heat necessary to strip the remaining product from the deck chars the deck boards. Sanding the rest off is not an option as the major constituent of the product is silica. Breathing arasolized silica is not something I care to get into. I hope you have better luck with the Behr product.
Hi, John. I’m so sorry you had such problems with your customer’s deck. Rustoleum and Behr are two separate products. All we can speak to personally is our experience so far, but I will update info on the deck after a year of weather and dogs!
We used Olympic brand deck restore and are not happy with the results. Followed the instructions to a “T” in the fall. One winter and it looks horrible. We would chalk it up to our deck being “beyond repair”, but the paint is even chipping and flaking off of 4 new boards we put down prior to painting. 🙁 Hope yours holds up better!
Thanks, Cass. My husband was not impressed with Olympic and always researches a product before he uses it in our home. We are thrilled with the deck and hope to see it looking as good next summer! Let me know how the DeckOver works for you!
We plan to use DeckOver on our 30 year old deck this summer. I have seen a fair number of posts on other sites that tell of large areas of the DeckOver peeling off after this past hard winter (all were from people in areas that are cold and snowy). Do you know if Behr has responded to any concerns like these? Can you keep us posted on how your deck holds up?
I will definitely keep my readers up to date on how the deck holds up. My husband did a lot of research before using the product and obviously there are both good and bad reviews (as with any other product). I think preparation and following the instructions are key to a successful project. Good luck with your deck!
one year later how did the product hold up over the winter? Hoping to use this product but it sure isn’t cheap. Thanks.
Hi, Coleen. I actually posted about our experience a year later this week. Here’s the link: https://www.martysmusings.net/2015/07/behr-deckover-product-review.html
We used Behr Deckover on our deck. It was difficult to apply but looked ok at first. After about a year, it started peeling. The only way to remove it is to sand it off. It was a mess. We finally rebuilt our deck to fix the problems. We have since learned that Cabot is the best productfor decks. I
Wow What a vast improvement ! I love Jomax House Cleaner and Mildew remover, it works miracles when removing the mildew that forms on Hardiplank siding, NO scrubbing at all or power washing just rinse well after spraying with tank sprayer. Question please did you have some one brushing the edges to smooth out the cracks between boards, and to make sure deck board edges were covered
Here’s my husband’s response to your question:
Great question, and, while I did have a helper (my son), I did not have him brush the edges between boards. On most of the deck the spacing was tight enough that rolling got the job done…with liberal application. However, I will confess that the new section I built prior to the restoration product really could have benefited from brushing those edges and then rolling. The spacing was farther apart and those edges are now slightly visible. I may go back later and re-do that section to correct it. If your spacing is big enough to insert a #2 pencil between boards, I would highly recommend you brush first.
Thanks for the question!
How long did you have to wait before putting patio furniture and humans back on your deck
Hi, Doris. We waited 3 days, per manufacturer’s instructions. The hardest part is finding a window where there is no rain forecasted. Good luck!
That looks so great! A friend of ours was just telling us about this same product he used on his deck recently! I had never heard of it before that. I don’t have a deck but do have a concrete floored screened porch that needs a makeover! Will check it out.
Looks like new…great job!
Nancy
Hey, Nancy! Let me know if you have questions about your screened porch. I’ll direct you to someone who can help! We absolutely loved our restored deck!
WOW!!! Loving the new look!!! Thanks so much for the tips!! They will come in very handy within the next couple weeks!
Thanks, Christine! Prep is everything with this product, and since my husband is a painting contractor he knows his stuff!
Wow! This is an amazing transformation! We just stained our deck and painted the railings last weekend (new wood). It’s a big job. And I can see that all the prep work you had to do makes this an even larger undertaking. But what a huge difference! Great work! Pinning!
Thanks, Kim! My husband did a great job. I don’t take credit, I just take pictures!
Marty it looks sooooo amazing!! Love it!
Thanks, Vanessa! It’s hard to believe our deck is 20 years old and we’ve been in our home 23 years. I love that you appreciate the passing of time so much and share it in your writing. We all say it, but it does seem hard to believe that your kids can grow up just fine when you’re in the middle of the busy years!
It looks amazing! great job… now I just need to build a deck!
Thanks so much, Bee! We love it!