How do you renew and restore your deck?

Revitalize treated wood decks by pressure washing them, followed by sealing them with Thompson's Water Sealer or another wood deck treatment. Scrub synthetic decks clean with a bristle brush and mild detergent. The cost of renewing a deck and maintaining it is far less than the cost of replacing it entirely.

Lowe's sells Rustoleum Restore, which improves the look of even severely damaged decks with a unique coating that is 10 times thicker than paint. The product comes in a variety of shades to match any decor and fills in cracks of up to 1/4 inch.

If your deck is in good shape overall but starting to look a bit scuffed, apply a clear or tented sealant to protect it from water and sun damage. Treat decks once every few years if you use them a lot. Extremely high-traffic decks may need treatment as often as once a year to maintain a nice look.

Behr Deckover is available at Home Depot. This product can restore a wood or concrete deck using a textured coating that helps add traction for safety. It is available in 5-gallon buckets, enough to handle even very large deck projects, and the treatment lasts for years.