How to Make Sure Your Decking Looks Great for Longer: Tips from Thorndown

Grey reigns supreme when it comes to styling outdoor living areas, according to one of the UK’s leading exterior paint brands.

Advice from the experts at Thorndown, who specialise in eco wood and wall paint, puts grey firmly in the frame when it comes to revamping tired decking.

Ben Thornborough, Managing Director of Thorndown, said:

“When it comes to giving decking a new lease of life, grey is proving to be an incredibly popular choice. It’s versatile and practical, disguising dirt from the garden and offering a deep, blank canvas around which to style the rest of the outdoor entertaining space.”

Decking suffers from a lot of wear and tear from foot traffic, as well as exposure in all weathers. From rain lashing down and freezing ice to the sun shining directly on it in summer months, it has a lot to contend with.

Caroline Thornborough, Design Director of Thorndown, said:

“Decking is like a high-maintenance lover, it requires a lot of TLC.”

Here the expert team at Thorndown share their top tips on how to transform decking from disaster to a delight:

1. Clean Thoroughly

Make sure all surface residues such as dirt and algae are removed. Remember, if you’re using a power washer, you’ll need to leave it for a long time to dry thoroughly as the jets push large volumes of water deep into the timber. The timber must be completely dry before painting.

2. Remove Loose Paint or Stain Coatings

Sanding is essential to remove any loose old paint or stain coatings. If the previous coating is sound, you can skip this stage and just make sure it’s clean and dry, then paint straight on top with Thorndown Wood Paint or Stain Blocking Primer if required.

3. Use a Stain Blocking Primer

Paint on a stain blocking primer if you’re painting a light color onto new decking and don’t want any tannin stains or resin bleeds to show through. Leave it to dry.

4. Stir Paint Thoroughly

Ensure the paint is stirred thoroughly before and during application. Buy sample tins to make sure the color you select is exactly what you want.

5. Apply Paint Properly

Use a sprayer, roller, or brush to apply a coat. Make sure you get the paint well into all of the nooks and crannies, in between the grooves on the decking board surface, and in between the boards so you get the sides too.

6. Leave to Dry

Thorndown Wood Paint will be touch dry in about 30 minutes to an hour in decent dry warm weather. It’s ready to paint on a second coat afterward. A second coat will increase the intensity and solidity of the color and will increase the durability of the coating to last longer.

7. Avoid Walking on It for 24 Hours

Although the coating will be touch dry, it will still be curing (turning nice and solid), so you don’t want to mark it while it’s still soft.

Thorndown’s range of exterior wood paint is available now from Thorndown, priced at £22 for 750ml.

By following these expert tips from Thorndown, your decking can look great and stay protected for longer, making your outdoor space a stylish and inviting place to relax and entertain.

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