Composite Decking Maintenance: What Homeowners Should Know
One of the best things about composite decking is it is easy to preserve the appealing style of your outdoor living space. A little bit of care and cleaning throughout the year will ensure your composite decking looks its best for as long as possible.
Getting Rid of Dirt and Grime
A deck exposed to nature will inevitably gather dirt and grime. Regular, gentle cleaning with a garden hose will remove the majority of dirt and grime. To protect your composite decking, use a hose with water pressure of 1000 psi or less. If it has been a while since your last cleaning and there is stuck-on dirt and grime, it is recommended that homeowners use a deck cleaner with the mild cleansing ingredient sodium hypochlorite.
Removing Rust Stains
When metal furniture becomes older, it may leave rust stains on the surface of your deck. Usually, this problem can be addressed by simply applying vinyl or plastic tips to the bottom of the furniture to prevent staining. For existing rust marks on the surface of your composite decking that cannot be removed by scrubbing with water, it is recommended to use deck cleaners containing oxalic acid or phosphoric acid. These deck cleaners are formulated to protect the surface of your decking while removing rust stains.
Grease and Oil Stains from Outdoor Cooking
Hot oil and grease can cause damage to the surface of your deck, so it is recommended that homeowners place grill mats in areas where they do outdoor cooking. If your composite decking does end up with a stain from grease or oil, it is important to clean the area right away using a degreasing agent, such as Super Clean® Multi-Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser. After using the degreasing agent, rinse the area with clean water to remove any lingering astringents.
Suntan Lotion Spills
Sunny days call for suntan lotion, and occasionally spills happen. Suntan lotion is not a troublesome cause of staining if it is wiped away quickly, but a suntan lotion spill that goes unnoticed can cause damage over time. When a suntan lotion spill happens, wipe away the spill and scrub gently with water. If further cleaning is needed, use a mild degreasing agent, such as Dawn® Soap.
Mold and Mildew
Regular rinsing of your deck with a garden hose will prevent most if not all mildew development on your deck, but if it has been a while since the last rinsing and mold or mildew has developed, these stains can be removed with the right cleaning products. Recommended cleaning products will contain sodium hypochlorite, for example BEHR® Premium 2-In-1 Wood Prep No. 63, or Mold Armor® Deck Wash.
Additional tips for cleaning and care from Envision can be found here.
Build with Envision Composite Decking
Ease of maintenance is just one of many selling points of Envision products. When a contractor selects Envision composite decking for their clients, they are choosing to build with the most beautiful composite decking on the market. Envision is here for contractors as well as clients, with helpful tips and excellent products that make life easy.
