How To Clean Your Composite Decking

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. Check out this video that shows how to apply deck stains quickly by using a car-wash style brush on a pole. This is my favorite method as it does an exceptional job and really makes the job go fast. DEFY Interior Clear Wood Finish is a durable, non-yellowing, acrylic-based, protective log and wood finish formulated for interior use. This fast-drying, low-odor finish beautifies and protects interior wood from common household chemicals, grease, water, scuffing, and abrasion. It also helps to prevent the penetration of fine dust and makes cleaning easier. Available in a beautiful satin finish, this product’s unique formula and clarity make it perfect for use over natural wood and woods previously stained with water-based and oil-based stains.

Seal The Deck

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.

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?
• Last question, I am replacing an older portion of wooden deck with Trex.
• 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?

A decking company recently contacted us for advice on how to prevent mold from growing under the deck. One of the biggest contributing factors to this problem is a simple step most people overlook during their regular cleaning – the gaps! Dirt and debris can build up over time collecting moisture providing the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Depending on your climate, the gaps between your deck boards should be cleared out at least once a year.

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.

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. To remove tannin stains from debris, such as leaves, apply a commercial deck brightener once the Trex decking is dry. Make sure to follow the manufacturer instructions, and check to see if the product contains bleach or acid. If it does, it will lighten the color of your Trex decking, so apply some on an inconspicuous area first to see if you like the look. On the plus side, most composite manufacturers use waste wood products as filler, primarily sawmill waste but also post-consumer recycled wood products such as used wood pallets.

When applied, it actually fuses with the decking creating an invisible shield protecting against mold and mildew. This technology has never been duplicated and if applied annually, you can rest assured that your deck will be protected year after year. Composite decking requires a little extra care when cleaning. Regular cleaning of dirt and debris can easily be done with a broom or a garden hose. For a deeper clean, always use a soft bristle scrub brush. Again, if you are using the right cleaner, less scrubbing will be required.

If you must pressure wash, just remember to keep it at the lowest pressure possible and no closer than 8″ from the surface. The cleaning process will work best if you initially select the right cleaner. I hate bleach because it kills plants and vegetation, and it’s terrible to work with. While it kills the mildew spores, it doesn’t necessarily remove them from the surface of the wood. Instead, I recommend using DEFY Composite Deck Cleaner. This cleaner is specifically formulated for cleaning composite decking, including Trex. A short video on how to properly use the cleaner can be viewed here.

Does Defy offer a product to allow me to stain my composite deck, such as Defy Extreme or another product, and therefore change colors? Last question, I am replacing an older portion of wooden deck with Trex. Should I seal the new deck boards with clear Defy Sealer before installed and avoid the past issues of black mildew/algae build up or is it necessary with newer Trex composites? I really like what I read about your products. Like other wood deck varieties, composite decking is quite porous. It's best to use an oxygenated cleaner that will sink deep into the material to clean the lower layers as well as on the surface. Pressure washing is not usually recommended for composite decking.

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. What’s more, composite decking comes in a variety of textures and colors that mimic different types of wood stains.

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On the surface, composite materials look mighty un-"green" with lots of unpronounceable chemicals, some of which can be highly toxic. So, are you trading convenience for some sort of health or ecological disaster when you select composite decking materials? But, neither are composites especially environmentally friendly. Capstock deck boards, with their plastic shell, fade less than uncapped composite boards. Most will fade a little bit because the exposed material is plastic, the fading is minimal.

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

If treated pine is properly sealed and maintained, it will last nearly forever. The difference is not how long a well-maintained deck will list but how much work is required to maintain it.

How To Paint Composite Decking

The mold protection, however, has been removed from the wood flour used in composite decks – not intentionally, but as a by-product of processing. In consequence, the flour provides a very friendly abode for mold and mildew which happily puts down roots.

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.