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Beading water on a freshly finished deck Refinishing an existing deck goes a long way to preserving the wood and avoiding future maintenance problems.

And how do you know it's time to refinish your deck? Well, every two years is a good rule of thumb, but there's another way to see if your sealer/stain is standing up.

Sprinkle some water on the deck and watch to see if it is absorbed. If the water soaks into the wood immediately, it's time to apply a sealing product.

If it is beading like the picture on the left you should be okay.

A typical refinishing schedule for deck maintenance would be:

Every year: thorough deck cleaning
Every two years: apply sealer or stain. Solid stains required re-application less frequently because they contain more pigment than semi-transparent stains.
Every four to six years: thorough sanding of all surfaces before refinishing

Decks less than five years old:

Unless the deck has already been treated with a solid stain, use a clear or semi transparent stain that allows the wood grain to show through.

Wood Decks More Than Five Years Old:

Use a solid stain to hide imperfections, cracks and splinters.

To Refinish a Wood Deck:

First sand the area with 80-grit sandpaper.
Sand in the direction of the grain and wear a mask so you don't inhale the sawdust.
Safety first! Wear protective masks, gloves, goggles, long sleeves and pants when applying paints, stains or sealers.
Stir, do not shake, the sealer or stain product.
Follow the instructions on the label for drying times and ideal application temperatures
Taking sections of three boards a a time, evenly apply a coat of stain or sealer. Expect to do at least two coats. If the stain puddles, roll over it again to spread the stain out evenly.
Allow to dry completely.
Follow manufacturers directions for cleanup and disposal of rags, brushes and rollers.