Repainting decks

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roberth

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I need to repaint the decks. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Previous owner used International deckpaint, and kindly left a couple of cans.

My question is how do I prepare the old surface - as far as I can see, the paint has gone straight onto GRP.

Mostly sound, but some flaking near toe rail and a few small areas. (Unfortunately, touching up not on because colour of fresh paint does not quite match the weathered surface.)

Thanks in advance.
 
I've always just scraped and cleaned up any non-adhering areas, then washed well with fresh water. After its dry - repaint. No need to agonise about it!
 
I have just finished doing his job and picked up a few tips along to way.

My decks had been previously painted and the paint was sound but eroded back to an even earlier paint finish.

A few points that might help:

You dont need primer, go straight onto the grp with undercoat.
Try to split the job into sections that you can complete in one days work..that way with summer temps you can just about get the 2 coats of under coat and 2 top coat on in one day or at any rate 2 under and 1 top in one day and the final top coat next morning. This saves abrading between coats and also stripping off and re masking. I split mine in to 5 sections.

Good earlier point about not using washup liquid due lanoline, I actually used Internationals own stuff just in case of that sort of problem....you won't find out until next year!!

I found the plastic masking tape really useful and not much more expensive than papertape, and you can leave it on if you need to.

I applied the paint with a brush and then rollered it out with a small foam roller, get decent ones, and on hot days ( they were all hot for me)I used a bit of flow inhancer (303 I think) as the paint was drying too fast.

I was painting in shorts and it amazing how many hairs drop off arms and legs..either wear overalls or shave!

I bought quality sythetic brushes from Homebase (or similar) and didnt loose a single brush hair...well worth the extra cost.

I kept a tack rag tucked in my belt to mop up ineviable bits of dust grit and bl##dy hair, plus vacuumed the entire area just before starting.

I used Toplac and Internationals were quite helpful but appear to consider it strange that I should want to buy paint in cans bigger that 750ml in an effort to reduce cost.. it appears that they only sell white in 2.5 ltr cans.

It took me around 8 days at 14hrs a day to do my Halberdier at 36 ft.

Good luck.

Nick
 
G'day Robert,

You can avoid the patchy touched up look to some degree by masking off a strip along the toe rail about the same length on both sides.

Ensure you clean the area before abrading or you will rub contaminants into the base.

Wash dust away with fresh water under pressure and wipe dry then wipe with a tack cloth after it has fully dried but only just prior to painting.

If you roll on and tip off with a fine long bristle brush you should get a good finish but may require more than one coat.

Hope this helps

Avagoodweekend......
 
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