With two reasonably sized wooden decking areas in my garden, I have always dreaded the task of painting them. That said, it is an essential maintenance job if you want to protect your wooden decking and keep it looking decent. I try to tackle it every year, or at least every other year.
Naturally, I am always looking for ways to make the job quicker and easier, and that is what eventually led me to try a decking paint pad.
Before that, I painted everything using a large four-inch paint brush, backed up with a smaller one-inch brush for detail work. It worked, but it was painfully slow. On fresh timber, I would usually need two coats of the Ronseal charcoal decking paint I use, which meant long days on my hands and knees.
So are decking pads any good? Let us get into it.
How Effective Are Decking Paint Pads?
Decking painting pads have become increasingly popular with homeowners wanting to refresh tired decking without spending days doing it. They promise speed, ease, and less physical strain, and from my experience, they mostly deliver.
However, they are not perfect.
Decking paint pads excel in terms of coverage speed, but they have limitations when it comes to paint depth and grooved boards. Whether they are right for you depends largely on your decking type and expectations.
Quick Summary
- Decking paint pads are best for smooth or lightly textured boards
- Pads struggle on deep grooved decking
- Medium grooved boards need brush follow up
- Great for large areas and maintenance coats
- Not ideal for heavy first coats
- Best results come from using pad and brush together
- Pads save time and reduce strain
The Advantages of Decking Painting Pads
Faster Coverage
The biggest benefit is speed. A decking pad covers far more surface area per stroke than a brush, allowing you to move quickly along long runs of boards. If you are racing against the weather, this alone makes pads appealing.
Easier on the Body
Most decking painting pads come with an extendable handle, which means no kneeling, no crawling, and less strain on your back and knees. This made a huge difference for me compared to traditional decking paint brush work.
Simple to Use
Even if you have never painted decking before, pads are intuitive. Dip, glide, repeat. No special technique required.
The Limitations of Decking Paint Pads
Thinner Paint Application
In my experience, pads do not apply paint as thickly as a brush. This means you will likely need three thin coats rather than two thicker ones, with slightly higher paint usage.
Struggle With Grooves and Gaps
Many boards have grooves or textured grain. Flat pads simply cannot push paint deep into these areas.
I always end up following behind with a brush to hit board edges, gaps between boards, and grooves. This is essential, especially on the first coat.
Not All Pads Are Durable
Cheaper decking pads can fall apart surprisingly quickly. I have seen plenty of poor reviews where the pad separates from the base after limited use. Spending a bit more on a decent pad makes a big difference.
In the above image you can see where I have applied one layer of decking paint with the pad system. The circle visible in the middle is where we had our hot tub. As you can see it hasn’t applied a very deep colour. It took another two coats to apply a good level of grey decking paint.
Are Paint Pads Any Good on Textured Decking?
Not all decking boards are manufactured the same. I found that the decking pads behaved differently on each type of decking. Generally, the smoother the board, the easier the pad can glide over the surface and apply an even level of paint.
On heavily grooved boards, I found that the pads struggle. The pad surface simply does not compress enough to push paint down into deep channels. Instead, it tends to skim across the tops of the grooves, leaving the recesses lighter or even bare. I find myself needing to use a brush alongside a paint pad.
This does not mean pads are useless on textured decking, but it does mean expectations need to be adjusted. In most cases, textured decking requires a combination of tools rather than relying on a pad alone.
The Different Types of Decking Boards
There are several types of decking boards available on the market, each offering a distinct aesthetic and varying levels of grip. Some boards are designed for shaded areas prone to moss and moisture buildup, while others are better suited for dry, south-facing locations.
I’ve worked with all different types of decking. In the following examples, I have used completely smooth boards, ribbed boards and grooved boards (in varying depths).
Double Sided Boards
Here is a deck I built a few years ago.
One smooth side
One lightly ribbed side
These are actually double-sided boards. One side is ribbed, and one side is smooth. We opted for the smooth side, and the paint pads worked well, although they needed a few layers to get good coverage.
Ribbed Decking Board
My next example was a deck I built using the same boards, but this time I used the ribbed side. They provide a better grip, but painting was slightly more awkward.
Grooved Decking Boards
In my final example I’ve been painting our decking boards in our back garden. I have some with small grooves and some deeper. I found the paint pads were less effective the deeper the groove.
Best Practices When Using Decking Painting Pads
To get the most out of decking painting pads, here are some tips based on my experience:
- Prepare the Deck Thoroughly: Make sure the deck is clean and dry before you begin painting. Any dirt, dust, or moisture can affect the adhesion of the paint. I tend to pressure wash the deck prior to painting. Ensure the boards are dry before painting.
- Use a Quality Pad: Invest in a high-quality painting pad. Cheaper pads may wear out quickly or provide even less coverage.
- Apply Multiple Thin Coats: Instead of trying to get a thick coat in one go, apply multiple thin layers of paint. This helps achieve a more even finish and ensures better coverage.
- Have a Brush Handy: Keep a brush nearby to get into the gaps and crevices that the pad can’t reach. This will save you time and ensure a more uniform appearance.
- Mind the Weather: Plan your painting project for a period of stable weather. Avoid painting in direct sunlight or if rain is expected, as this can affect the drying process and the final look of the paint.
Final Verdict. Are Decking Paint Pads Worth It?
Yes, with realistic expectations.
Decking paint pads are excellent for smooth or lightly textured boards, quick coverage, and annual top up coats.
They are less suitable for deep grooves, heavy first coats, and one coat coverage expectations.
Personally, I find them invaluable for yearly maintenance. Once the initial painting is done properly, pads make refreshing the deck fast and relatively painless.
If speed, comfort, and ease matter to you, decking painting pads are a solid addition to your decorating toolkit. Just do not throw your brush away yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, decking paint pads can be very good on smooth or lightly textured decking. They help you cover large areas quickly and reduce strain on your knees and back. On heavily grooved boards, they struggle to reach into the channels, so you will usually need a brush as well.
You can use them on medium grooved boards, but expect to do brush follow up in the grooves and edges. On deep groove decking, pads are not ideal because they tend to skim over the surface and leave lighter lines in the recesses.
The best method is a combined approach. Use a brush first to work paint into the grooves, then use a decking pad to cover the main flat surface. Finish with multiple thin coats for a more even, longer lasting result.
Not better, just different. Pads are quicker on large flat areas and are great for maintenance coats. Brushes are better for first coats, edges, gaps, and textured or grooved boards. Using both together gives the best finish.
They can do, especially on rough or absorbent timber. Pads often apply a thinner coat than a brush, which can mean an extra coat is needed. On smoother boards, paint usage is usually similar.
Yes. A brush is still needed for board ends, edges, corners, gaps between boards, and any grooves the pad cannot reach.
Often, yes. Many boards are reversible and the underside is flatter, which makes painting with pads much easier. Flipped boards offer less grip, so consider using anti slip decking paint.
Yes. Pads work well with both stains and paints. Stains are thinner and often spread very evenly with a pad.
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