Abstract: A decking coating composition applicator (10) including a receptacle (16) which can receive a paint container (12) containing a coating composition, the receptacle including an air vent (28) and a liquid aperture (30) arranged such that they both penetrate a valve (66) on the paint container when the paint container is in the receptacle, thereby immersing both the air vent and the liquid aperture in the coating composition in the paint container and an applicator surface (18) fluidly connected to the receptacle such that the coating composition can be supplied to the applicator surface, the applicator surface comprising a pad portion (82), and a bristles portion (88), in which the bristles portion is positioned outside of an area defined by the pad portion.