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It will probably be a long time before homeowners give up on wood altogether when it comes to building their decks, patios, and balconies. There is a timeless quality to one of nature's greatest gifts to man that isn't likely to go out of fashion. That said, using wood comes with a host of drawbacks, most of which patio-owners are more than familiar with. By mixing plastic into the stew, composite decking gives the owner all of the appearance benefits of wood while minimizing some of the drawbacks. Even though regular painting and staining isn't required with this material, you may want to change colors down the line. Here's how to paint. Clear Your Area Don't try to paint your composite decking without clearing your surface. This isn't a job you can finish in between the commercials of the football game. Trying to complete it without moving all the furniture and plants off the surface is only going to result in frustration. You'll be constantly moving these items around and you're almost certain to get paint on them. Just take everything off your platform and set it aside for now. If your deck abuts your house, you'll want to do some masking to keep the paint off your home's exterior. Clean the Surface Paint should have a nice, clean surface. You don't want what painters call "trash" getting into your work. Sweep the surface carefully and then spray it down with a hose to get rid of any little bits of debris and dust that remain. Some homeowners find success in using a push broom to thoroughly wash the composite decking with soap and water. The cleaner you can get the surface, the better it will accept the paint you're getting ready to put on. Let the surface dry completely and you'll be ready to move forward with the job. Prime and Paint You're taking a big risk if you paint without putting primer on first. Some composite decking is ready to accept paint without primer, but you'll probably do better to prime anyway. The primer will give you the smoothest surface possible. You can use either a brush or a spray gun to apply the primer. Once it has dried, you can use an approved exterior paint to get the color you desire. You will get better results with two separate thin coats than a single thick one. Once it has dried, you can replace your furniture and plants. Composite decking is a great way to add a little flair to your home design. Find out more about this attractive option at http://www.latitudesdeck.com/
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