How to Get Rid of the Cracks in a New Deck
- Laundry detergent or deck cleaner
- Broom
- Bucket
- Garden hose
- Two-part epoxy putty
- Putty knife
- 100-grit sandpaper
- Eye protection
- Gloves
Repairing deck cracks and preventing new cracks from forming is necessary for a safe and visually appealing deck.
-
Mix 2 tbsp. liquid laundry detergent with 1 gallon of water in your bucket. Dip a broom in the water and scrub the surface of the deck to remove dirt and debris. Use a scrub brush to scrub the recesses of the cracked wood. Spray the deck thoroughly with water from a garden hose to remove the soap residue. You can also clean the deck with a commercially available deck cleaner. Let the deck dry completely.
-
Remove loose pieces of splintered wood from the cracks by hand.
-
Mix two-part epoxy wood-filler according to the manufacturer's directions. Use a putty knife to blend equal amounts of the two parts of the putty kit to create a moldable, clay-like consistency.
-
Press epoxy filler into the cracks with a putty knife and build up the epoxy filler so it sits just above the deck's surface. Let the epoxy filler dry until it is hard.
-
Sand the surface of the epoxy with 100-grit sandpaper until it is smooth and level with the rest of the deck. Sweep up the sanding dust and discard it.
