How To Clean Composite Decking

Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Composite Deck

Stay at least 8 inches (20.32 cm) away from the deck surface at all times and spray in the direction of the wood grain to avoid possible damage. Pressure washers can damage the boards of your deck if they're not used carefully. Never point or spray the full pressure at yourself, another person, or pets. Small pieces of flying debris can also cause harm or damage.

Taking Care Of Composite Decking Home Guides Sf Gate

Solid decking helps reduce the risk of internal moisture build up and is generally stronger. If you are looking to purchase decking, read more about different types of composite decking including hollow and solid variations, to help make your choice. If you’re organised, you can get it all done in just a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. Get it done during the summer, when your decking is at its driest and any water you add will evaporate quickly. For dull or weathered wood decks, choose a “brightening” or restorative cleaner.

Perhaps you’ve seen sap coating a freshly cleaned car that’s parked under a tree. The spots show up easily on the high-gloss surface of a car paint job, but are tough to detect on a flat finish such as your deck boards. A power washer can be used for RINSING ONLY with TimberTech Deck or Porch. Spray in the direction of the grain pattern, never across the grain, to avoid damaging the product.

How To Power Wash Composite Decking

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Your deck should have, at minimum, 6 inches (15.24 cm) between the wooden planks and the ground beneath for ventilation. This allows the water to drain off the deck and into the soil without the wooden planks being forced to sit in the soggy ground. There should never be standing water underneath your deck. If the oil based stain has set and mild dish soap isn’t removing it, try an oil stain remover product like OSR or Pour-N-Restore. You can buy these products at home improvement stores.

How Long Do Composite Decks Last?

• Although the surface looks solid, composite decking is actually quite porous.
• Therefore, it needs an oxygenated cleaner that can reach deep into the material and clean insidethe deck as well as the surface.
• When purchasing a cleaner, always check the label and NEVER use a Chlorine Bleach based “deck cleaner”.
• Chlorine Bleach is extremely corrosive and will “eat” any material it’s applied to.
• If the active ingredients read – Sodium Hypochlorite, it contains Bleach.

To prevent this, keep the surface of your deck as clean and dry as possible. Make sure your deck has effective drainage around its perimeter and between the deck planks. However, if the soap-and-water cleaning doesn’t remove a particular stain, don’t default to a chemical cleaner. Depending on the stain or cleaning issue you have, you may be tempted to apply a chemical cleaner to the stain to clean your deck. To avoid this damage, make sure you use a shovel with a plastic or rubber edge. This removes the snow safely without scraping or harming the deck’s surface.

Can I Use A Pressure Washer On My Composite Decking?

If this is the case, then the wood fibers, or concentrated areas of them in the decking easily could support the growth of mold and mildew. The mold and mildew also can feed directly off of the wood fibers in your Trex decking. The dark spots on your deck, based on the photo you sent me, appear to be mold and mildew. Mold and mildew feed on natural materials such as wood fiber, natural sugars, dirt, dust, grease, oils and food. If you have trees or other vegetation near your deck shading the decking, these might be manufacturing airborne sugars that coat the deck.

Infographic On Cleaning Composite Decking

Never exceed 1,500 PSI when pressure washing your deck. You don’t want to damage or score on your beautiful deck surface. Some manufacturers allow higher than 1,500 PSI, but always check their guidelines before using higher pressure. This ensures the spray is not concentrated enough to damage the deck’s surface. Whether your deck is brand new or a decade old, we know all decks get dirty - spilled food, possible mold, a drink stain, etc.

Composite decking is engineered to be durable and low maintenance, and it is easily cleaned using everyday household items. Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with deck cleaning best practices, download and save our Care & Cleaning Guide for future use. Working in one smaller area at a time, saturate with the diluted cleaner and allow it to stand on the surface for seconds. DO NOT allow the cleaner to dry or evaporate before scrubbing. A garden hose will work for spot cleaning, but regular power-washing will be necessary to cut through accumulated mold, mildew, and staining. A power washer can be used for rinsing only, with a water pressure not exceeding 1,500 psi. For more information, see the our Care & Cleaning Guide.