If you are looking to give your old deck a facelift, the best deck paint can help you achieve the perfect look. As such, if you choose the right exterior paint, you can update the color of your deck and add a fresh coat to your old wood in no time.
What you need to know is that there’re many advantages to painting your outdoor deck. For instance, you can protect it against wear and tear due to weather conditions and extend its lifespan. However, finding the best deck paint for your project can be a challenge.
That’s why we put the below reviews of the 5 top deck paint available on the market. We have tested these and they are uniquely shortlisted to solve your wooden deck problems.
1. Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch
If you want the best deck paint for your wood decks, you should definitely look into the Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover. This is an excellent acrylic water-based paint that comes with all of the most advanced technologies in water-based paint.
Why do you need to paint your deck?
Everybody loves the feeling of solid wood decks under their feet. Unfortunately, real wood decks are susceptible to the weather and the elements and must be maintained. By using the best deck paint or the best porch paint, you can protect your deck from damage as well as give it a nice color change or shine. You really only have three choices when it comes to deck maintenance: leave your wood unfinished, spread paint over it, or use the best deck stain or best deck sealer.
Leaving your wood unfinished is certainly the easiest option, but it is definitely not the best choice because the weather will beat it down over time. Before you know it, moisture will be absorbed into your wood and it will start cracking, rotting, and warping.
Wood repairs can get very costly. UV rays discolor unprotected wood and break down the lignin and glue that hold together the wood fibers. This leads to a negative feedback loop where more moisture will get into your wood as well as fungi and bacteria. You can see how your wood deck can deteriorate very rapidly if left unprotected. You can also seal or stain your deck. We have recommended plenty of options for that here.
Best Deck Paint Reviews
- Rust-Oleum Painters Touch Latex (Top Pick)
- Diamond Brite Paint Oil Base All-Purpose Enamel Paint
- Kilz Exterior Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint
- Rust-Oleum 41500 Restore Deck Cover Paint
- Anvil Deck-A-New Decks Premium Textured Resurfacer
1. Rust-Oleum Painters Touch Latex – Best Porch Paint
When it comes to wood paint, Rust-Oleum is really an industry leader. If you want the best deck paint for your wood decks, you should definitely look into the Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover. This is an excellent acrylic water-based paint that comes with all of the most advanced technologies in water-based paint.
The biggest problem in the past with acrylic paints has always been the issue of chipping and durability. With the Rust-Oleum, these problems are fixed as the finish is now chip resistant and just as durable as any oil-based paint. It is much easier to apply than oil paints and dries very fast. And since it is oil-based, all you need to clean is some soap and water. The Painter’s Touch ultra cover isn’t just designed for wood decks.
You can use it on metal, plaster, and masonry as well. We really like the smooth finish of this paint. It applies very evenly without any patchy spots. The texture, color, and consistency are all pretty spot on. The paint survives lots of bad weather and the color fades a lot slower than other paints on the market. And for this price range, it is basically a steal. This is by far the best value out there.
We asked a lot of users of the Rust-Oleum Painters Touch and the consensus opinion is that it is a top performer and the best porch paint. Most users and handymen cited that the Painter’s Touch is easy to apply, does not chip or peel, and offers superior protection for your deck. The color stays on for a long time and there is very little maintenance necessary after the initial paint job. Some people did complain a bit about not finding the exact color they wanted. However, we think Rust-Oleum provides you with a wide enough selection so that there is a color for everyone.
2. Diamond Brite Paint Oil Base All-Purpose Enamel Paint
If you want oil-based paint, Diamond Brite is the best deck paint for you. This is a standard all-purpose oil paint that can be used for wood and wood decks. Since the oil-based paint penetrates into your wood, it prevents your wood from cracking, fading, and peeling. It has a nice glossy finish, which not only looks nice but also protects the surface and exterior from the buildup of mold and mildew.
It is highly UV resistant and does not let water get inside your wood since the oil-based paint also acts as a penetrating sealer. The Diamond Brite dries very hard and holds well in high-traffic areas. Water beads up on this paint pretty well, because it is nice and thick. There is a wide variety of colors to choose from and every color is beautiful and lush.
The paint is blended extremely well and you don’t get that flaky effect. We really like the durability of this paint because it is oil-based and soaks into your wood, preventing germs and bacteria from entering the tiny crevices. The color stays for a long time and doesn’t really fade for the first year. You won’t need to reapply this paint nearly as much as water-based paint. This is great for wood decks in your home and barn restorations.
The most common user review of this paint is that it is high-quality paint with a great finish. Many people we interviewed said that the colors of this paint really stand out and don’t fade. The paint is nice and thick and really holds up well over time. Others mentioned that they liked this deck paint because it was cheap and got the job done. The most common complaint we heard was that the colors may be a bit too straight-edged. There are no blended colors and you only really get standard colors of the rainbow. For those looking for magenta or teal instead of red or green, you are out of luck here.
3. KILZ Exterior Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint
The KILZ Exterior Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint is the best deck paint if you want a specialized wood deck product. KILZ paint has both an oil and water-based formula, so it combines the best elements of both. First of all, it is self-priming, which makes it much easier to apply and pretty much cuts your work in half. Due to its oil-based aspects, it prevents cracking and warping of your wood because it penetrates deep into your wood.
The paint also forms a protective layer on top of your wood that is resistant to discoloration from UV rays, moisture build-up, and general wear and tear. It has high durability and retains its color very well. And because it is also partially water-based, it is easy to clean up with just water and soap. It really is the best of both worlds.
The only thing we wish it had is a bigger selection of colors. One can of this covers about 500 square feet of space, so a few cans of this deck paint is enough for most average-sized decks. You can easily apply this with a brush or sprayer and it dries in about 2-3 hours. It is suggested you apply a second coating as a touch-up about 6 to 8 hours after the first coating. The white and red colors of this paint really pop out and give you that iconic white fence red barn look.
4. Rust-Oleum 41500 Restore Deck Cover Paint
This is the ultimate deck paint if you want something nice and thick. The selling point of the Restore 4x by Rust-Oleum is that it is meant to be four times thicker than ordinary paint. This makes it amazing for new to moderately weathered surfaces. It also helps conceal hairline cracks and offers superior coverage. You can also walk over it using your barefoot, which is something nice to have.
In terms of protection, it definitely lasts longer than most of its competitors. We would rank the Rust-Oleum Restore 4x at the longer end of the spectrum in terms of durability. This deck paint is meant to be used on wood, wood composite, and broom-swept concrete surfaces. The coverage area is about 80 square feet per gallon or 400 square feet for a 5-gallon can. This allows you two full and thorough coats. Finally, the Rust-Oleum Restore 4x is offered in 60 different colors, so we are fully confident that you can find the right one that suits your tastes.
To apply the Rust-Oleum 41500, you should prepare the deck properly with the best exterior wood primer. But before you do that you should probably use a deck stripper to clean out the old paint from the previous installation. It is absolutely critical that you adhere to these principles as failure to do so could result in poor adhesive and coating failures. You should use a nap roller or a synthetic paintbrush when applying this product.
5. Anvil Deck-A-New Decks Premium Textured Resurfacer
The Anvil Deck-A-New Resurfacer is the best porch paint for those who want to rejuvenate their weather and damaged wood decks. It is 100% acrylic deck paint. It has a great textured finish and offers many years of protection for your wood decks. This deck paint will fill up splinters, loose ends, and cracks as well as present a nice slip-resistant finish. The Anvil deck – A- New Resurfacer is scuff, peel, and chip-resistant and is easily cleaned up with water and soap.
It comes in 5 nice and stylish colors and 1 or 5-gallon containers. The tint is flat and the percent solids by weight and volume are 60% and 41% respectively. For every gallon of the Anvil Deck-A-New Resurfacer, you get 120-160 sq feet of coverage. If you want to do two coats, you get around 80 square feet of coverage. In terms of drying time, the Anvil Deck-A-New dries to touch in a few hours, to recoat in 4 to 6 hours, to foot traffic in 12 hours, and for everything else in a few days. We would confidently say these are pretty good specs compared to competitors.
If you want to apply the Deck–A–New paint to wooden surfaces, you should first try to replace deck boards and remove all loose splinters. You should also clean the surface of mildew, dirt, and oil and patch up large cracks. Finally, the level of nail and screw heads. Basically, you want as flat and clean of a surface as possible before applying new deck paint.
You should definitely try to get two layers of coating on your deck with the Deck-A-New paint. For best results, we highly recommend using a brush or roller and evenly distribute the paint. Keep in mind that once fully dried, it will be very difficult to remove, as it should be.
All in all, we think the Deck–A–New is very easy to apply and offers very good protection for your deck. It has great durability and is very resistant to cracking and peeling. So in terms of performance, you can’t really go wrong with this deck paint. It will last a long time and it won’t fall apart on you. The only concern we have is there are not a huge variety of different colors. If you just so happen to like one of the five colors, then perfect. If not, then you need to consider the fact that aesthetics could be just as important as deck protection.
Best Deck Paint For Old Wood – Buying Guide
Everybody loves the feeling of solid wood decks under their feet. Unfortunately, real wood decks are susceptible to the weather and the elements and must be maintained. By using the best deck paint, you can protect your deck from damage as well as give it a nice color change or shine. You really only have three choices when it comes to deck maintenance: leave your wood unfinished, spread paint over it, or use the best deck stain or best deck sealer.
Leaving old wood unfinished
Leaving your wood unfinished is certainly the easiest option, but it is definitely not the best choice because the weather will beat it down over time. Before you know it, moisture will be absorbed into your wood and it will start cracking, rotting, and warping. Wood repairs can get very costly.
UV floor paint discoloration
UV rays discolor unprotected wood and break down the lignin and glue that hold together the wood fibers. This leads to a negative feedback loop where more moisture will get into your wood as well as fungi and bacteria. You can see how your wood deck can deteriorate very rapidly if left unprotected. You can also seal or stain your deck. We have recommended plenty of options for that here.
Can I use the best porch paint for my deck wood?
Yes, you can paint your deck with the best porch paint. Painting your wood deck allows you to choose the color you want. You can even change your wood color completely. Generally speaking, the best deck paint has a thicker finish so it fills up gaps and cracks even better than deck sealers or deck stains. If you have some serious damage to your wood deck, you should be considering using thick paint.
Paint also protects your wood just like stains or sealer. It is resistant to mold and mildew and protects your wood decks from sun and water damage. Â Also, depending on the paint, it can be very easy to remove if cured properly.
What is the downside of using the best deck paint for old wood?
But there are definitely some drawbacks to using the best deck paint. First of all, painting your deck is more or less a permanent decision. This is because stripping lots of paint is quite an extreme and tedious task. You can always put paint on top of the sealer or stain, but not the other way around. Also, paint hides the natural beauty of your wood. If you like a more transparent natural look, you should go with a deck sealer or deck stain. Finally, paint can get slippery when wet so watch out for that.
Is it worth painting a deck?
Yes, it is worth it to invest in the best deck paint to prolong the life of your wood decks. Deck paint is available in many colors so you can pick one that matches your wood or go with a completely different color.
What type of paint can you use for your deck?
Deck paint can either be oil-based or water-acrylic-based. Oil-based paint tends to penetrate deep into the wood. On the other hand, acrylic water-based paint is more likely to sit on top and form a protective layer. Acrylics chip off easily as they degrade while oil-based paints gradually fade over time and wash off evenly. Water-based paint can become very brittle and absorbs a lot of UV rays, thus making them degrade and wear down sooner than oil.
Be prepared for some hard peeling when acrylics do degrade. However, these days water-based deck paint has become more popular because of quick dry times, easier soap and water clean-up, and better color retention. Also, they have more or less caught up to oil-based paint in terms of durability despite the fact that they don’t penetrate the wood.
Should I paint or stain your deck?
This is a matter of preference. However, paint allows you plenty of color options. On the other hand, the stain is limited to two colors, brown or shade.
Overall, painting or staining your deck is a great way to give it some life and make it look brand new again. Whether you choose to paint or stain is based on the color you want to give your deck. If you choose to paint, select a color of your choice and apply a coat of primer followed by two coats of exterior-grade acrylic latex paint applied with brushes or rollers.
However, if you choose to stain your deck, then you must choose shades or brown.
What are the best deck paint brands?
Below are the best paint brands you can find on the market. They are all excellent and have great reviews. Choose any of these brands to apply a coat of paint on your deck.
- Rust-Oleum
- Diamond Brite
- Kilz
- INSL-X
- Benjamin Moore
- Sherwin-Williams
What lasts longer on a deck paint or stain?
A really well-done quality paint job can last for as long as 10 years. Then you’ll need to repaint your deck. On the other hand, stains require to be reapplied every couple of years. So if you are looking at the cost aspect, then you’d better go for painting rather than staining your deck.