Ok paint experts! New deck installed for our salt water pool, PAINT?

Kim C
by Kim C
The builder told us that the pressure treated wood would turn green or gray from the salt water from the pool. He recommended we paint it or stain it. What kind of paint or stain do you recommend that can withstand constant salt water?
  12 answers
  • Lori Krout Lori Krout on May 06, 2015
    I'm not sure about the right product to use in terms of salt, but one thing to consider when choosing something would be the slipperiness of the surface it might create. Salt water is slippery on its own, and I would think paint would make the surface more so. I would tend to look into a good sealer or stain with the surface in mind. It is a beautiful wooden deck and would be nice to let it's beauty shine through.
  • Lori Krout Lori Krout on May 06, 2015
    I just had an idea- what about a marine sealer for boats? There must be a salt-water protectant sealer for wood that might work for your deck. I'd start there.
    • Kim C Kim C on May 06, 2015
      @Lori Krout I had not even thought of that. Great idea, thanks much,
  • Marie Alesi Caruana Marie Alesi Caruana on May 06, 2015
    NEVER paint outdoor wood because paint seals in the moisture and the wood will rot from the underside up (take it from one who found out the hard way). A good stain will last quite a while but will have to be redone every few years.
  • Connie Phillips Connie Phillips on May 06, 2015
    do not paint, you'll be committed to doing it almost every year.
  • Shirlene Morgan Shirlene Morgan on May 06, 2015
    I have the same and it much better to pressure wash and look brand new than to be stuck painting every year and at some point you will,be stripping those paint layers off and beginning the same process over again.
  • Erin H Erin H on May 07, 2015
    Also any darker and it gets so hot you can't stand in it
  • Joyce Overbay Joyce Overbay on May 07, 2015
    Do not paint! Peels in places and to be redone every year. Check to see what the marina uses or Lowes/ Home Depot should carry something for saltwater, but do not paint!
  • Me Me on May 07, 2015
    another bad thing about paint is that it makes the wood hotter under bare feet. Stain is so much better. How about Tung oil?
  • Kathy Nichols Kathy Nichols on May 07, 2015
    I would check out a product called Restore. It used to only come in a rough finish but now comes in a textured, less bumpy finish. It works well for old decks but I think it would be perfect for around the pool if the marine sealer doesn't work out
    • Jill Jill on May 07, 2015
      @Kathy Nichols Many people here have posted about the problems they have used with Restore. In fact, many big chain stores have stopped selling it, because they don't want to deal with customers coming back to them about it. Besides, Restore is not meant to hold up to constant saltwater exposure.
  • Kathy Nichols Kathy Nichols on May 07, 2015
    Jill interesting info about Restore! We used it on our deck four years ago and it has worn like iron, though admittedly not a salt water exposure.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on May 10, 2015
    @Kim C Murphy's makes a product that only seals and maintains the integrity of the wood. I would advise you to talk to both paint experts and pool experts and perhaps the deck building expert then weigh the answers to make a decision. If you do choose to stain, consider light colours as even if the a transparent stain, the darker stains are realllllly hot in the sun and the feet have a hard time walking on it.
  • Marion Marion on Jun 05, 2015
    It cannot be stained or painted for some time.It needs time to dry out,being it's new.We made that mistake.....