Can I use my house trim paint on the deck handrail?
No way!
Exterior latex is for the house and exterior stain is for the deck. You can purchase a solid stain tinted to match the house trim. We have done that successfully. Paint doesn’t breathe like the stain does and wood–particularly when creating a horizontal surface–needs to breathe.
Now you know why, but what happens when you don’t heed the advice? Simply put, “PEELING”.
If you are looking at “peeling” on the handrail or deck surface, it is likely that you have exterior latex and not stain. Stain will wear away over time, but it doesn’t peel when properly applied.
If you like “color” and not looking for the “see-through” or “natural” look, you can use solid stain and choose from any color in the color deck. Yes, I did just say you can use the paint color deck to select a solid stain color. Aren’t options great?
So, if you are trying to remove that peeling paint yourself, try a product that we use called M-1 Roof & Deck Cleaner. Be certain to follow the directions for properly diluting the product. Less is more when using it. Also, you’ll need to apply and wait about 20 minutes for the easiest removal. If you don’t wait you’ll end up wasting product and using a great deal more muscle than is necessary.
Of course, if you’d rather not use up your Saturday removing the paint, and the following Saturday to pressure clean and then the next two or three Saturdays staining, you can always contact us at www.mtnpainting.com.
Jacquie Tallman
Mountain Painting Company, Inc.
www.mtnpainting.com
