Cover Your Wood Deck With This Liquid Option To Make It More Durable

Outside wood decking is usually the nucleus of a yard. It is the place where you go to sit and enjoy your garden by yourself after a long day of work, and it is where you and your loved ones gather on the weekend for BBQs, picnics, and catching up. This means that you probably want it to look its best. But with all the foot traffic and weather conditions, wood decking can start to look quite unsightly. Paint can chip, wood can rot, and soon, your decking becomes an eyesore. Thankfully, there are products you can use to make your wood deck more durable, and one to consider is liquid rubber. 

Liquid rubber is exactly what it sounds like. It is a paint that contains rubber compounds or particles, usually made out of polyurethane. The blend that is in this paint helps prevent cracking or breaking on the decking and provides the wood with a layer of protection against foot traffic and the elements. It can be used for a range of decking, including concrete and vinyl, but it is particularly useful for wood decking as it is waterproof. This means that the wood is protected against rot and mold. Liquid rubber is also UV-resistant, which means that it is a great way to protect your deck from fading in the sun and help it look fresh and new for years. However, liquid rubber doesn't come cheap. It costs around $90 per gallon, and, as it is advisable to apply more than one coat, you are looking at needing at least three gallons for a decking of around 150 to 200 square feet. You will also need to buy primer for the best results.

With that hefty price tag, it makes sense to consider whether liquid rubber paint is actually the best way to protect your wood deck or not. Alongside the price, applying the liquid rubber can be a bit of a pain. You need to wait for dry, warm temperatures to apply the paint, but it can't be applied when the sun is too hot or intense. For those of us who live in climates with unpredictable weather, this may be pretty difficult! The decking also needs a lot of prep work before the application, with any damaged boards fixed and replaced, and the whole thing washed with a pressure washer.

However, liquid rubber paint may be worth it if you have the time and money. By protecting your wood decking, you are less likely to need more work done to it in the future. Furthermore, the liquid rubber paint can last years before it needs redoing, allowing you to enjoy your decking throughout the seasons without worrying about upkeep. Your decking will carry on looking its best as time goes by because of the great protection and uniform finish the liquid rubber provides it with. Plus, as it is slip-resistant, you can have your friends and family over without worrying about any accidents.

The pros of liquid rubber may be outweighing the cons for you right now, but before you go ahead and buy some, it is helpful to consider the application process so you know what you are getting into! As previously mentioned, the prep work for liquid rubber can be quite arduous, but this really depends on what state your decking is in right now. If your decking is new, you probably won't need to spend time fixing up boards or sanding away chipped paint. You will just need to clean the deck of debris and pressure wash it. But if you need to revive a weathered deck, the process will take some time.

Once the decking is washed and prepped, and when the weather conditions are right, applying both the primer and liquid rubber is easy enough. You can use a brush, a roller, or even a sprayer for it. When applying the primer, it is important to ensure you are getting it into all the nooks and crannies of your decking! Using a smaller brush here can help. Then, wait one or two hours until it has dried, and then you can apply your first coat of liquid rubber. When this has dried, which will usually take four to six hours, depending on the exact product, you can then apply additional coats. Once done, you need to wait around a week before putting your furniture, decor, or planters back onto the decking. Avoid any heavy traffic during this time, too.

If the work sounds a bit tough for you, you can also consider hiring a pro to apply the liquid rubber for you. Of course, this will add more costs, but it may be worth it to get a long-lasting, beautiful wood deck.