How To Clean And Restore A Composite Deck

While this is not common, static electricity can occur on walking surfaces in dry climates or in areas where dry winds and dust-borne particles lay on the decking surfaces. My composite deck has faded and seems somewhat beaten by the upstate NY weather.

Seal The Deck

The plastic in the composite mix is compromised, and water gets past the protective plastic and into the wood flour. Expect just the cost of composite decking material itself to be two to five times more expensive than treated pine decking. But, that's not the whole cost of a composite deck. Here are some of the other factors that add significantly to the total cost of a composite deck.

Remove Dirt And Salt

• What’s more, composite decking comes in a variety of textures and colors that mimic different types of wood stains.
• They do make deck boards that lock together.
• This V.O.C.-compliant, water-based product is fortified with zinc nano-particles, a natural deterrent to recurring black algae stains.
• It’s long-lasting, won’t splinter, and requires minimal care and maintenance, which is good for homeowners who don’t want to spend a lot of time on upkeep.
• Although some capstock and plastic deck manufacturersNote 1 insist that their products do not fade, the empirical evidence is to the contrary.

It’s made to use as a water tight deck above patios or other decks but we used it everywhere including our front porch. Don’t worry about the aluminum getting hot in the summer, it doesn’t get any hotter than wood or composite that’s laying in the sun.

Composite Sealer Reviews In 2020

If you apply too much sealer to the wood , wipe off the excess. We don’t think twice about wiping off excess stain when we stain interior wood, do the same if you over-apply sealer on exterior composite lumber. When you apply too much deck sealer and it puddles on the surface and dries, it looks bad. Secondly, over time those spots are likely to flake and peel.

Most are wood, but a substantial percentage are composite. My customers loved the Superdeck composite deck sealer, and the fact that "composite" was front and center on the label made it an easy choice for them. The best method for composite deck stain removal is to use the same method you would to remove mildew and mold from your deck. For tougher situations, applying a vinegar-water mix and sprinkling baking soda over the affected area should lift those stains. Just like painting, it’s important that you clean the deck of any dirt, debris, mold, mildew or grime. Make sure to follow the instructions on the label for best results. Adding deck stain for composite decking or a topcoat of paint can help restore the color and beauty while extending your deck’s already long lifespan.

Only apply as much deck sealer as the composite lumber can easily absorb. If you decide to not seal the deck, you will most likely need to clean it again every year or so. The reason why mildew grows on composite decking is simple. Follow these simple steps to clean mold on composite decking (cleaning Trex®). If your deck is constructed of older composite decking (installed prior to mid-2000), then you probably know what a big problem unsightly mildew growth has become.

The dark gray and black spots are mold and mildew growing on the boards. Every composite tested grew bumper crops of mold and mildew. Composite decks have serious advantages for homeowners as opposed to wood. When you choose to go with composite decks, it requires some care and maintenance from your end so that it will last you a long time while looking great. But that can only be achieved with the use of the right sealer. Look no further; Defy Composite Deck Waterproofing Sealer is the only one you’ll need. Protect your composite deck from water, UV rays, graying, mold, and mildew.

Allow the deck to dry.Let the deck dry for several days, and then see if any stains haven’t been cleaned away. You can leave them as is, but if you want, you should probably be able to remove them using coarse sandpaper. You can also try using a wire brush, but be aware that certain types of composite timber have a bad reaction to metal, which could worsen the situation. Try it out on an inconspicuous section of your deck first. Scrape.Take a heat gun and hold it at least 7 inches away from the surface. Then, take a wire brush and use it to scrape the area you’re applying heat to.

Thompsons Waterseal Deck Sealer Transparent Waterproofing Stain Review

Hard water is water with a high amount of mineral deposits like lime, silica and calcium. When the water dries, deposits are left behind, leaving unsightly spots on surfaces. This is not a defect of Trex products but an issue with the water itself. Generally these deposits can be cleaned with white vinegar on decking surfaces or use of Magic Eraser® on railing surfaces.

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Composite wood decks are also prone to fading, mold, and mildew. Just because it’s low maintenance doesn’t mean that you should omit the maintenance part completely. One of the most important and often excluded step in regular deck maintenance is to protect your deck against moisture intrusion. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is for composite decking! Any decking material exposed to the outdoors is susceptible to mold/mildew growth especially in climates with higher humidity levels. Water left pooling on the surface or inside your deck can create problems such as mold/mildew growth, deck rot, and warping.

So unless some sort of anti-fungal material is added, wood flour can be a very attractive home for mold and mildew. Manufacturers caution in their care instructions that keeping the deck free of pollen and debris that may be food sources for mold is important to assuring a mold-free deck. What they forget to tell you is that the wood flour itself is a food source for mold. So, if it is not protected, or the protection wears off, your composite deck becomes a giant smorgasbord for many species of mold and mildew no matter how clean you keep it. When composite deck manufacturers compare their products to wood decks, they always compare to unsealed wood decks. Generally, a sealed and maintained wood deck lasts about as long as a maintained composite deck.

I would never use the product again and will probably tear it out in the near future and switch to a different product. I have two little boys with mold allergies and it can't be helping them. When I contacted Trex they were absolutely useless even though they acknowledged they have the problem with mold staining. They blamed the installation even though there were no installation instructions available to the contractor when it was installed a number of years ago. From what I understand it gets the mold spots regardless of how it was installed. The supplier who we purchased the boards from no longer carries Trex due to its poor performance. This condition can be decreased greatly with the use of a product call ACL Staticide®.

I did not protect the deck with anything after the cleanup. Shortly after the cleaning I had my roof replaced. One of the shingles was dropped on the deck and stayed on it for some time. Now, 3 years later I have a very dirty deck again except for the spot where the shingle was. This spot is relatively nice and clean – I see the “imprint”, so to speak, of the shingle. Whatever material was coming out of the shingle ended up protecting the deck really well.