How To Clean Your Composite Decking

Will the Defy deck cleaner likely get the black stains out of the composite deck pores that still remain? If the stains can be removed and I then apply the clear Defy sealer, what likely will be my deck color? When dry the current light tan color becomes much closer to the original saddle when wet with water, so would my Defy sealed deck once dried be colored more like it is now when dry or wet? Another option I’d like to pursue is changing colors from the tan/cedar tones to a weathered gray.

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

• Another option I’d like to pursue is changing colors from the tan/cedar tones to a weathered gray.
• When dry the current light tan color becomes much closer to the original saddle when wet with water, so would my Defy sealed deck once dried be colored more like it is now when dry or wet?
• Does Defy offer a product to allow me to stain my composite deck, such as Defy Extreme or another product, and therefore change colors?
• Will the Defy deck cleaner likely get the black stains out of the composite deck pores that still remain?
• If the stains can be removed and I then apply the clear Defy sealer, what likely will be my deck color?

Make sure to scrape along, not against, the grain. The heat gun serves to soften your decking so that your brushing can more easily blend the scratch into the decking material. The brush will expose the non-weathered surface beneath, which will be another color.

Composite Sealer Reviews In 2020

Manufacturers are silent as to how often re-staining may be required but our experience is that it should be done every 3-7 years, or at about the same schedule as a wood deck. You can cure fading and discoloration on some composite decks by staining them using a specially formulated composite deck stain. But, if you stain your deck, you will have to periodically re-stain it to keep it new looking, just as you would a wood deck. So, you end up with a choice, a faded, old-looking but clean deck or the chore and expense of regular re-staining to keep it looking new. Uncapped composite decking is porous and can be stained. Plastic is not porous and will not accept stain. Once capstock decking has faded, that is the color you must live with.

You may not think a composite deck needs to be sealed or protected. It may not be as susceptible to the elements as a wood deck, but the truth is that a composite deck is prone to many of the same problems. Composite decks are normally part wood and part plastic so they are prone to mold, mildew, fading, and graying due to both sun and water damage. To help increase the longevity of a composite deck it should be protected with a composite deck sealer. Here at DeckStainHelp.com, we take pride in the fact that we have become the Internet’s number one resource for true, honest deck stain reviews. Decks created from earlier-generation Trex products should not be pressure washed, because doing so may damage the decking materials. Instead, clean with warm, soapy water as noted above.

If done incorrectly, it can be a big mistake. Pressure washing too close or using too much pressure can be ruinous for your deck. Composite decking material is softer than natural wood and therefore can be “etched” more easily. Once the material has been “opened up”, this can lead to a host of other issues including chipping, sun damage, and mold staining of the plastics inside the opening. Once mold has stained these plastics, it can be extremely hard to remove. In most cases, a garden hose should be sufficient for regular duty cleaning.

It seems to be waterlogged-doesn’t repel at all. Is there a product that can help restore it? We don’t know the exact year it was installed or the manufacturer.

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.

Eventually, it will discolor your deck, damage the surface and exacerbate any mold/mildew issues that can occur. Avoid this costly mistake and choose a non-toxic, sodium percarbonate based cleaner. While you may be tempted to wait until your next routine cleaning to remove the food, it should be done immediately or else staining might result. About 3 years ago I cleaned it which got rid of the natural (mildew and/or algae I guess) stains and discoloration.

Keeping the pressure washer under 800 psi, wash off the cleaner by going along the grain. Maintain a distance of at least 8 to 10 inches from the surface of your deck, and make sure to keep your spray moving. Clean stains.The debris and furniture may have left stains behind, which you will want to remove. Clean these stains using whichever cleaner is most appropriate for your decking. If you’re not sure about how to clean a particular stain, test the cleaner out on a part of the deck that is not visible. Use a plastic shovel.When shoveling snow on your composite decking, make sure that your shovel has a plastic blade, which will minimize the chance of scratching the surface of your deck. Clean the deck with Messmer’s Composite Deck Cleaner, or another high quality wood cleaner of your choice, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

If You See Green, It's Time To Clean: Even Composite Decking Requires Regular Care

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®.

Choose an appropriate stain and sealer , such as the BEHR Premium Solid Color Weatherproofing All-in-One Wood stain & sealer, to begin the application process. Use either a quality pad applicator, brush, roller or sprayer to apply the stain and sealer evenly over the whole composite surface. Again, follow the instructions on the product label for best results. 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.