In summer many people do chores around the garden they have been putting off, and one of the most dreaded jobs is having to paint decks and fences. 

Wooden decks and fences need to be repainted as the wood can absorb water from rain, snow or humidity and without the protective coating, it will eventually lead to rot. 

Painting wooden areas around the garden can be time-consuming, but Jimmy Englezos, an expert from Ronseal has shared there is a simple way to paint using only items you have around your home. 

Jimmy said: “Rather than spending all that time on your hands and knees a clean soft-bristled brush can double up as a gigantic paintbrush."

He added: “Likewise for painting, a clean household flat mop can be used for decking staining. Simply pour the decking stain into a mop bucket and dip the mop head in to soak up the solution."

It may sound strange but using a soft-bristled broom or mop is perfect for painting a large surface and will save you hours of time. 

Make sure the area is been completely cleaned beforehand as there is no point in painting over mould or dirt as it will eventually break down the wood. 

Also make sure to always paint on a cool day with cloud cover, as paint will stain or dry unevenly if the weather is too hot. 

How to use a broom to paint wood 

All you need to do is pour the paint into a large tray and then dip the head of the brush like would with a paintbrush. Brush the paint in a back-and-forth motion until the area is completely covered. 

Jimmy said: “Unlike a paint roller, a sweeping brush will be able to get into the grooves of decking rather than paint over them. 

“This means you won’t have to worry about missing any areas. For tighter spots and along the edges, however, I still would use a handheld paintbrush.”

How to use a mop to paint wood

Use a clean flat mop to dip into a paint bucket, wait for it to soak up the solution and then sweep it across an area to fully paint it. 

For an even easier job, use a mop with microfibre pads as they have been easily removed and cleaned so you do not have to worry about damaging the mop. 

Jimmy said: “Make sure to take care of any loose or cracked boards as you don’t want the mophead to catch and chip or tear-away the decking surface. 

“Make sure to apply two coats across the entire decking surface before leaving to dry. Because flat mops are designed to evenly spread liquids, using this ensures an even coating of stain across the deck to prevent any large blobs from forming.”