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How do I renew my deck?

Our pressure treated deck is rather old and faces due south. It has been stained with a grey stain (paint). It is now quite weathered and my one year old daughter is picking up many slivers as she crawls on it. Is there a way to renew the surface and prevent the slivers? Also, thedeck boardsare mounted on joists with 24 inch centers. At each joist, there is only one nail, placed at the side. Would a second nail help to keep the boards (2X6) in place? Is there a finish that would be more baby friendly for the deck?

Typically, we recommend stain as opposed to paint for decks, because stain is thinner and penetrates deeper into the surface. Therefore, it does not wear off as quickly as paint. In your case however multiple layers of paint may be required to prevent slivers. Porch paint, typically provides thick coverage. The slivers are of serious concern because the deck is pressure treated. The chemical commonly used in pressure treating is copper arsenate salts. It is these salts that give the wood a greenish tint when it is new. Concerns have been raised about the toxicity of these chemicals, and some park and schoolyard play structures have been removed as a safety precaution, because there is concern that the chemicals may be carcinogenic. One or two thick coats of paint, or indoor/outdoor carpeting, or replacement of the deck boards with cedar are your options. In the meantime, you should probably keep your daughter off the deck.



With respect to nailing, two nailsper boardis the norm. Screws could be used as an alternative. Deck screws can be purchased at most building supply or hardware stores. The top of the screw or the nail should be flush with the surface of the wood. If it protrudes, it can injure people. If it is countersunk, water will collect in the depression and promote rot.