9 Composite Deck Cleaning Ideas

You may need to wait a few days for the deck to completely dry depending on weather conditions. Cover plants, grass, concrete, trim, and any other areas you don’t want stained.

Composite decks made in the last 5-10 years may not need sealing for a long time. Our composite deck sealer is ideally suited for composite decks that are 15 or 20 years old, that have issues with mold or are absorbing water. This year we has moss and mildew and noticed some black growing. In the past 2 weeks we Have worked to get the deck back to a fresh clean look. The water does not quickly absorb when we spray the deck. We want to preserve the work we have just completed. We just want to put the proper sealer or top coat on.

Can You Stain Or Paint A Composite Deck?

Composite decking is designed to resist water and the rot associated with wood decking. You should, however, still do what you can to minimize standing liquid like puddles.

If you decide to replace it, look at other brand names, some are more coastly than others. With a few household chemicals, you can easily clean your deck as you prep to paint. For basic debris and dirt cleaning, use a soapy water mixture and a low pressure power washer or soft bristle brush. For removing mildew and mold, you’ll want to mix in two parts vinegar and one part water into a bucket and sprinkle some baking soda on the infected areas. Michele, until the deck starts absorbing water, you may just have to clean it every so often.

The Disadvantages Of Composite Decking

Woodrich Cleaner & Brightener For Wood Decks

For snow removal, choose a plastic shovel instead of metal. As you can see, there are various things that you’ll have to do in order to properly and efficiently clean and restore the composite deck on your property. However, by doing so, you’ll have a deck that looks amazing, and more importantly, you could ensure that you don’t need to wash it often. How will this composite decking stand up to 10 inches of standing snow 6 months out of the year?

If the previous stains are still in tact, you may need to use our Stain Stripper instead of the cleaner. Kathy, most of the issues with mold growth were on older Trex decks built in the early 2000s. You don’t need to seal new composite decks as they aren’t porous enough to accept a sealer.

The Best Ways To Clean And Restore Composite Deck Boards

• I hate bleach because it kills plants and vegetation, and it’s terrible to work with.
• A short video on how to properly use the cleaner can be viewed here.
• The cleaning process will go best if you select the right cleaner to begin with.
• While it kills the mildew spores, it doesn’t necessarily remove them from the surface of the wood.
• This cleaner is specifically formulated for cleaning composite decking, including Trex.
• Instead, I recommend using DEFY Composite Deck Cleaner.

Although composite decking can be “less maintenance” than other types of decking, this certainly doesn’t mean “maintenance free”. In fact, there are some mistakes that can actually increase the regular care required to maintain a composite deck. Here are a few tips to avoid the extra work and get the most out of your deck. Clean stains.The debris and furniture may have left stains behind, which you will want to remove.

If you were going to use our DEFY Extreme Clear, we would recommend removing the Sherwin Williams product first. With that being said, solid color stains are difficult to remove. Unless you want to sand the deck down to bare wood, or use something like a paint stripper, you may want to stick with a solid color stain. The reason why mildew grows on composite decking is really pretty simple. Composite lumber is made up of a combination of both plastics and wood fiber/flour. The wood flour is a food source for the mildew to grow on and without some type of mildewcide to prevent its growth, it will flourish during times of higher temperatures and moisture. But the fix is pretty easy if you just follow a few steps.

Over a period of time, the effect of static will dissipate naturally on the decking surface. 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.

Not only are we manufacturers, we're contractors too. Our rule of thumb is avoid the “heat of the day” and direct overhead sunlight when working on your deck with any cleaning chemicals or coatings. Do your cleaning when the deck is cooler in the morning for best results! This makes Spring and early Fall one of the best times to clean your composite deck so check the weather forecast and wait for a cool, non-humid morning to start this project. Pour yourself a tall cup of coffee, put on some tunes and get started. Luckily for us all— advancements in deck building have made affording, installing and maintaining a deck easier than ever before! Contact the trex deck cleaning & maintenance experts at All Surface Restoration today to receive a free estimate at surface restoration.com/contact or call .

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While composite decking does not need much work in the way of maintenance, you should still care for your deck. Doing so will help the material keep its like-new look longer.