Composite Deck Care
Maintaining your composite deck is not a difficult task if you clean it regularly. Regularly washing your building’s exterior can prevent mold, and mildew, and rid it of any dirt. A composite deck is no different.
First and foremost is sweeping debris off of the deck removing all of the leaves, twigs, and loose dirt.
For older composite decking, we recommend a semi-annual cleanse with a composite deck cleaner. If your composite decking is a newer, higher-performance product it may only require a light cleaning with soap and water to keep it looking great.
Know Your Decking Materials
Always read the manufacturer’s information in regard to cleaning your new composite deck. But you’ll be happy to know that overall composite decking is easy to clean and maintain so that you can relax in your backyard worry-free.
Experts have suggested that composite decking should be cleaned at least twice a year. It is best to rinse the entire deck off when starting. As far as the weather goes, just try to catch a mild sunny day. When you’re in direct sunlight, it’s best to break up your work into small sections. This ensures that the cleaning product remains wet for a couple of minutes, which cuts down on the chances that it will dry up before you can rinse it off.
Sometimes all your decking needs is a rinse-off rather than going through a more extensive clean-up. You can use either a garden hose or a pressure washer, but remember not to use any nozzle that is over 1,000 psi.
Stains on Your Deck
Do your best to prevent cooking oil stains on your deck. To ensure this, you can use grill mats around the cooking area of your outdoor living space. These can be easily cleaned keeping you from tracking the grease or oil around the deck itself.
If a few stains make their way through, don’t panic. Simply use a multi-purpose cleaner to gently scrub them off the deck. Clean them as quickly as possible before they are fully dry.
Generally speaking, the best cleaner for composite decking is hot soapy water. Sometimes, that’s all that is needed to rinse the decking area clean. If there are stains on it, gentle scrubbing with hot soapy water should take care of them.
During the year you should spot-clean any areas that may have gotten muddy or are showing signs of mold or mildew. And if you do need to shovel snow off of it, DON’T use a metal shovel, use a plastic one.
And of course, if you would like a new custom-built deck installed either in wood or composite in your Holly Springs home, give Holly Springs Builders a call 919-346-0678. Our estimates are always free.
