I Painted My Deck With a Regular Broom and I Would Do It Again.
My house only has one outdoor terrace, and that’s what makes it priceless. It’s the only place we can spend time outdoors without leaving the house. As a confirmed introvert who enjoys pretend conversations with cats more than real ones, this is incredibly important. So I spend a lot of time making sure the terrace is comfortable and in good condition.
A few years ago, I replaced part of my composite decking with new pieces that weren’t quite the same color as the original, so I painted the decking to maintain consistency. However, last winter severely damaged the deck, and it was starting to look a little worn:
Clearly, it was time for a paint refresh. This time, I chose a lighter color and went to the store to buy the necessary tools. Roller and brush? Nope. A regular, cheap broom and a trimming sponge .
How to Paint a Deck with a Broom and a Bending Tool
Here’s everything I needed to paint my deck: a paint tray, a can of floor and patio paint, a broom, and a scrub sponge:
Painting a deck with a regular broom is much easier than with a roller or brush. A 10-inch broom is usually enough for about two deck boards, and the bristles distribute paint into crevices much more effectively than a roller, requiring fewer passes to achieve good coverage. A flex tool is simply a flexible hand-held attachment that easily glides into hard-to-reach areas, such as between deck boards.
Using these two unusual tools, I painted the deck in about an hour, start to finish. First, I scrubbed the deck with a stiff brush to remove all dried dirt. Then, I scraped off any loose paint and let the deck dry completely. Once dry, I grabbed a broom and got to work. The key is to choose a broom with flexible bristles: if it’s too stiff, the paint job won’t be as good.
I alternated painting the tops of the boards with working the spaces between them with a bending tool. Instead of sloppily brushing between the boards, the bending tool smoothly works the sides of the boards, leaving a clean, nearly perfect coat of paint. Looking back, I realize I should have painted the sides first so I wouldn’t have to wriggle around like a pretzel because the boards were all wet, but that’s a lesson learned.
Using a broom and brush to smooth out the wood made painting the deck incredibly easy and quick. If you want to paint or stain your deck, ditch the rollers and brushes and use a broom and brush instead. You won’t regret it. Here’s the end result: