Garden Decking?

Question

A mate of mine has some garden decking which i'm interested in having off him as he is getting a new deck laid. However he has painted the deck black!! Is there anyway i can remove this black paint without damaging the decking?

Answer 1

I agree with powerpuffgeezer. It would be easier to get yourself some new decking rather than trying to reuse his cast offs

Answer 2

Maybe we need the "Deck Doc" to answer this. But I've been trying to think of a way to put another - non-slip - surface over the top of new decking. Whatever would suit for that purpose would also suit yours. ie Construct the thing with decking, but cover up the slippy wood (or in your case, black wood). I know several people who have slipped on wet decking, one of whom broke an ankle in three places. So I'm desperate to think of a way to have a terrace constructed cheaply, but not having a "deck" surface as the final finish.

Answer 3

In one sense I want to agree with 1 and 2 but I've recycled a lot of decking in my time; some of it with quite a few years left in it. Obvious to me is that aesthetics is part of your issue, even if age and condition aren't

Do you know the age/ condition/ type of lumber? Have you been able to determine, in the condition, what the other side of the decking lumber is like? If it's treated lumber; relativley clean on the underside, isn't splitting, crazing too badly, and or warped; crowned; or cupped extremely; certainly it might be worth some effort. Obvious too is your ability to exercise your greatest freedom (CHOICE) and decide what might be worthy of salvage and leave what isn't, behind. Your first issue, with any of the lumber that is workable would be to lay it out and pressure wash the clean side, then sort from there, and if need be, add appropriate New, then treat all of it with a decent sealer. Use exterior grade, galvanized decking screws rather than nails, and keep in mind it's an outdoor garden deck, not a Louis XIV writing desk.

I've torn out and installed a lot of decks in my time, and prefer recycling to the loss of another tree, just to have something to walk on.

Steven Wolf
AKA "The Deck Doc"

Answer 4

If the wood is sound enough for reusing try using a very strong solution of Caustic Soda for removing the old finish. But be VERY careful. Caustic Soda is very corrosive, especially to skin. Wear protective clothing, rubber gloves and eye protection

Answer 5

Make your end-to-end joints over a joist and you should not need to leave an expansion gap. You can buy ready-made stringers where you get the decking.

Answer 6

You sure you want his old deck, it's probably on its last legs. I just replaced my old deck and I know the state of the old one was pretty bad.

Answer 7

buy new stuff mate not worth the hassle of old stuff the more important thing is how are you going to get it up without damaging it. and make the frame exactly the same so you can use the same holes not worth it.

Answer 8

can you not just turn it over and use the underside??

Answer 9

no