How to Fiberglass a Deck

Sweep any dust or debris from the surface of the deck, using a broom.

Put on a pair of rubber gloves and take a large handful of fiberglass filler. Add one to two percent catalyst to the filler and thoroughly mix it together, using your hands. After the filler becomes one consistent color, begin filling any knot holes or seams in the deck. Use a putty knife to smooth the filler out and let it harden for at least an hour.

Completely cover the deck with one layer of two-ounce mat without overlapping the edges of the mat. Cut the mat to size, using a razor knife, leaving two inches of overhang on all sides. Remove the dry mat from the deck and neatly stack it in a pile next to the deck, keeping the layers in order.

Fill a bucket with polyester resin and add one to two percent catalyst. Mix it together, using a stir stick. Wet out the area of the deck that you will begin at, using an eight-inch felt roller. Apply the first section of mat to the deck and saturate it with resin, using the felt roller. When the entire layer of mat becomes clear with no white spots, go over the entire layer with an air roller to remove any trapped air bubbles and flatten out the mat. Continue this same process until the entire deck is covered in fiberglass.

Trim the extra fiberglass from the edge of the deck, using a razor knife. Wait until the fiberglass begins to harden for this step and the fiberglass will be easy to cut. Let the fiberglass harden for at least two to three hours.

Sand any rough spots on the deck or on the edges of the deck, using 100-grit sandpaper. Blow off any dust from sanding and wipe the deck down with a rag dampened in acetone. Let the deck completely dry out.

Fill a bucket with gel coat and add one to two percent catalyst. Thoroughly mix the catalyst into the gel coat. Apply the gel coat as thick as possible but also as evenly as possible, using an eight-inch felt roller. Allow the gel coat two to three hours to harden before walking on the deck.