Sanding
Take the time to sand rails until they’re smooth to the touch. For most lumber, 80- or 100-grit sandpaper should do the job. If the wood is too wet to sand, wait a month or so until it’s drier. Try to round over any sharp edges, especially where the grain seems prone to splintering. Use either an orbital power sander or a sanding block.
The Pros Say: Always sand along the direction of the wood’s grain lines. It’s difficult to remove sanding marks that go against the grain.

Sealing
Penetrating sealers help decking shed moisture. Some also block the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. To remain effective, sealers must be renewed–usually every year or two. When wood absorbs moisture, its fibers swell. Over time the surface becomes rougher and small cracks are likely to open. This does not usually cause structural flaws right away. But eventually fasteners may loosen and the boards tend to develop small cracks, called checks.

Applying Stains
You can enhance the color of your decking with stains and sealers. Many exterior stains include a sealer. Always wait until the wood is dry to apply a finish. Before staining your whole deck, try your chosen color on a test board or in an inconspicuous location. You should expect some color variation from board to board. Spray or roll the stain according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Despite what you see in the photo, always wear rubber gloves and goggles when working with chemicals. Splattering is inevitable, no matter how careful you are.

Bleaching Wood
If your decking has darkened and grayed with age, you can brighten it with a wood restoring solution. These are usually sold in powder form. (You mix these into water just before application.) If your deck is made of pressure-treated lumber, select a bleach designed for treated wood. Bleaches won’t remove grease or negate all the effects of sun and rain. After bleaching, a stain may help reduce the color variations between boards. In some cases, however, staining may accentuate these differences. Before staining and bleaching, test an out-of-the-way area first.

Final Touches
Grading soil away from the house and footings will help ensure that water doesn’t saturate and destabilize the ground under your deck. Avoid contact between soil and untreated wood.
Lighting: Locate switches near the door, preferably inside the house. Low-voltage lighting is easy to install along stairs and railings.
Electrical receptacles let you use radios, lights and appliances when you’re entertaining outdoors. Try to find a nearby circuit that you can tap for an outlet. Be sure to use a ground-fault interrupted (GFI) receptacle and a cover rated for wet locations.
Flower pots and planters offer a natural accent for outdoor living areas. Try to raise them a bit above the decking so that water doesn’t collect on the deck boards and cause rot.
Water faucets, conveniently located on the deck, make it easier to care for potted plants.

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