Base Coating When all the edges are complete, the main field areas of the deck can be coated (Figure 9).

Figure 9. At the main deck, a bedding coat of fresh resin is applied in 4-foot bands using a short-nap paint roller, covered with a full-width sheet of fiberglass mat, then rolled again (left). Clean sand is then spread over the still wet mat to provide a nonskid surface (right). Using a new batch of resin and hardener, the deck is coated in 4-foot sections. First, resin is rolled onto the plywood using a paint roller with short-nap throwaway covers; then a 4-foot run of 2-ounce mat is laid, "wet out," and rolled to remove any air. The mat is precut to save time, and the edges are frayed to feather the joints and make them less visible. The mat is non-woven, so fibers can be pulled out by hand to thin or fray the edge. Before moving to the next 4-foot section, clean sand is broadcast by hand over the still-wet surface to create a nonslip texture. Work proceeds in 4-foot increments until this first coat is complete. The fiberglass doesn’t fully set up for about 8 hours (faster if it’s in direct sunlight), so the surface should be protected from all traffic, including children, pets, and curious passersby. The resin will cure completely in several days.