Tiles are an option for worn deck

Q. My 15- by 20-foot deck is 27 years old and showing its age. I once used a red sealer on it, but most of it is now flaking off. I’d like to resurface the deck the easiest possible way, since I want to do it myself. How about outdoor carpet? What options do I have?

A. There are a number of ways to resurface the deck, and the results will depend on how much money you want to spend and how attractive you want the deck to become.

The easiest and most expensive option would be to cover the old wood with wood decking tiles. These are beautifully made and finished hardwood tiles, usually 1 foot square and about 1/2-inch thick. They interlock and are simply laid on top of another surface such as a deck, patio, porch or balcony.

For more information, including illustrations, visit www.ezydeck.net and www.easydeck building,com. The cheapest tiles I found were about $8 each.

If this were my deck, I would do one of two things.

If the wood decking is still in good condition, I would remove the peeling red finish. If it is very loose, pressure washing would probably remove most of it; the rest could be removed with paint remover or stain remover, depending on what was put on it. The wood should then be refinished with a semi-transparent stain.

If the decking is in poor condition, as it probably is after 27 years, and if the supporting structure is still strong, I would remove the old decking and replace it with new decking. If you do the work yourself, either of these options will be cheaper than decking tiles.

Outdoor carpet is an option, but you should first cover the deck with an underlayment of 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch exterior plywood.

Q. My stairway has brass brackets to hold the rail in place. I polish the brass, but it tarnishes again quickly. How can I keep it bright?

A. Manufacturers of brass products often coat them with lacquer to keep them from tarnishing for long periods. You can do the same, using spray lacquer sold at many home stores. Clean the brass thoroughly with soap and water and rinse well, then let dry. If the brass might have some old lacquer on it, scrub with lacquer thinner to remove it.

Mask everything around the brass with plastic sheets and masking tape, then spray on a thin coat of lacquer. Let the first coat dry and apply a second coat, making sure you get all areas of the brass.

Q. I have been checking my rain gutters during rains, and not much water is coming out the downspouts. In a very heavy rain, water overflow at some points. The gutters or downspouts are not clogged. How can I fix this?

A. It sounds like the gutters are not properly sloped so that rainwater runs to the downspouts. You can check this with a level or by running some water into the end opposite the downspout with a hose and watching to see if the water runs down the gutter to the downspout.

If the gutters are not properly sloped, you’ll need to remove some of the brackets that hold them to the roof eave and drop the downspout end enough to correct the slope.

This is tricky work and must be done from a ladder or scaffold. If you have any doubt about your ability to do it safely, it is best to hire a contractor.