How can I lighten my dark stained deck, or even paint parts white?
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The previous owners used an oil-based, semi-transparent, dark walnut brown stain on the deck they built. I want to lighten up the area, perhaps even paint the deck ceiling white or light aqua. I'm willing to use oil based paint if that will work. The floor can stay dark if I can just lighten the ceiling, posts, railing. The "spindles" on the deck walls are black wrought iron, which can also remain black if other can be lightened, even if to a medium grey!
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I would put a stain-blocking oil-based primer like Kilz Complete on, then paint your white or aqua with your latex exterior paint.
To brighten it up after that, I would add additional lighting like rope lighting around the top of the ceiling behind a moulding, or LED strip lightening.
http://www.lightingever.com/led-crystal-clear-tubing-rope-4500001-dw.html?gclid=CjwKEAjwja_JBRD8idHpxaz0t3wSJAB4rXW5EMpDIGniC6eIb69A-B9EqYEvOBsOagsGeizoYktyIBoCZ7Hw_wcB
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/complete-led-strip-kits/universal-weatherproof-rgb-led-light-strip-kits-led-tape-light-with-9-smdsft-3-chip-rgb-smd-led-5050/2581/5399/?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=base&utm_content=WFLSK-RGB150-IR&utm_campaign=GoogleBaseChild&gclid=CjwKEAjwja_JBRD8idHpxaz0t3wSJAB4rXW5ZU_js83iVPcMXuRja7wCgcXymPQpXmsFTpTwu7kS9RoC6bHw_wcB
I use Sherwin Williams opaque deck paint, nothing special, just plain old deck paint. They can make it any color you want. It worked out great for me.
Thank you Sharon! It was how to manage covering the dark oil stained wood that was my dilemna, having already decided how to add lighting. Will this result in latex paint peeling off after a few years? I'm a mobility challenged, single, female senior that finds each few months more challenging. If I can manage to get these 2 applications done, I doubt I'll be up to scraping and re-doing it in future! Also don't want to be looking at, or eating, paint chips either!
Chubby, was your deck previously stained a dark shade? I use SW paint indoors, and prefer it, so have no doubt to its quality as a first coat if this deck had not previously been oil stained DARK brown. (Think strong coffee in white cup!)
Had you thought to use a outside carpet instead on the top.
Hi Lydia! For hard to lighten wood stain, use oxalic acid, known as "wood bleach." If that doesn't work, strip off the old stain and start fresh. Hope this helps!
You can definitely use deck paint for this, or a paint that's rated for outdoors. While labor intensive, you can get a deck stripper which will remove the dark stain on the boards very easily then re-stain the deck too.