These days, composite decks are becoming increasingly popular all over the world, mostly because they are durable, efficient, and more importantly, it requires less maintenance and cleaning than some other options on the market. However, this doesn’t mean that you do not need to take care of it from time to time.
But, if you never maintained and scrubbed your deck by yourself, you may be wondering – are there some tips that will help me make the entire maintenance process easier and less time-consuming? Simply said, there are, and those tips are exactly what we’ll discuss in this article today. Let’s take a look at the list:
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1. Firstly, Gather Your Equipment And Tools
Before you choose to do anything else from this list, you should gather all the tools and equipment you’ll need. For washing it, you’ll need a plastic container, a gardening hose with a customizable nozzle or a low-pressure washer, as well as a sanitation solution and a sturdy brush with a long pole.
Keep in mind, there is a wide range of solutions manufactured specifically for washing composite decks, hence, guarantee that you purchase it. If you end up choosing the wrong product, you might end up staining the entire area, which could result in some really expensive repairs.
2. Next, Remove Everything From The Area
When you gather all the things you’ll need for the maintenance process, your next task is to remove everything from the cleaning area. So, remove all the furniture, flower pots, grill, and decoration. By doing so, you’ll assure that nothing gets damaged while you’re cleaning, and more importantly, it’ll allow you to entirely and properly wash the area.
You might not want to simply move the items close to the area where you’ll work since they could still be damaged. Nonetheless, if you don’t have a place to store or move all items during your maintenance, you could always purchase plastic sheets that you can then use for covering and protecting the items that you removed.
3. Get Sweeping!
You should use a sturdy broom for removing any leaves, debris, dirt, or branches from the floor. Why do you have to do this? Well, it is necessary to do this before you apply the liquid to it since dirt will only get everything dirtier instead of cleaner. Additionally, doing this will save you a lot of effort and time.
4. Rinse it First
Once you’re done with sweeping the area, you should fill your bucket with lukewarm water and soak the surface. This will eliminate any remaining rubble and it will prepare the surface for the solution you opted for. Again, ensure that it is one specifically made for composite decks.
5. Prepare A Mixture of Water And Solvent
Pour warm water and the solvent you opted for in a bucket and mix the two together. When it comes to the concentration, it should be the same or at least similar to how you wash your dishes in the kitchen sink. You may want to mix a bit of the solvent into the water and add more if you think needed.
6. Get Scrubbing
According to the experts from thecompositedecking.co.uk, you should use a strong brush that has a longer handle in order to clean your deck. Why should it be longer? Well, if you use a shorter one, you’ll literally need to get on your knees in order to maintain it, which will be more uncomfortable and time-consuming.
When you are ready, soap the brush into the mixture and start scrubbing. You should first scrub the entire floor properly and then you may want to use a bit more pressure when you’re going over it for the second time since this will eliminate any persistent grime or dirt from the material.
7. Rinse it Off
When you are satisfied with how everything looks, you should use your gardening hose to rinse off any soap and dirt that is left over. If you see that there are some grime spots left, you could use a smaller brush and work on that area specifically, and do not forget to rinse those areas too.
8. Let it Dry And Then Return The Furniture
Before you can actually return the furniture and other items to the area, you should allow it to dry completely. If there are any pools of water that do not want to go away, you can use an old rag for taking care of it. This might also be a good moment for switching up where you’ll place your furniture and décor.
Are There Some Mistakes I Can Avoid Making?
Before we conclude this article, it is worth mentioning all the mistakes you should definitely avoid making. So, when you are getting ready to maintain it, do not make the following mistakes:
- Using The Wrong Solvent – one of the most common mistakes people make is using random solvents for washing their composite deck. Again, you should always, I repeat ALWAYS use a solvent specifically made for composite materials since others can literally damage your boards.
- Utilizing a High-Pressure Washer – most experts won’t recommend you utilizing a high-pressure washer for maintaining it. If you do, it can completely ruin the boards, which will in return cause other problems such as staining, chipping, and it might also cause your boards to become discolored. Always use a low-pressure washer.
- Not Washing The Gaps – the holes between each of the boards are literally ideal for mold and fungus growth, which is why you must ensure that you pick them as well. Additionally, dirt and debris will get stuck in the holes, which could easily create annoying stains on the boards.
Conclusion
Cleaning a deck made from composite materials can be daunting and time-consuming if not done properly and with the right equipment and tools. And, if you choose to follow the aforementioned tips, you’ll certainly make everything less time-consuming and less daunting for yourself.
So, now that you know all the steps you’ll need to take in order to properly maintain your deck, you should not lose any more time. Instead, return to the beginning of this list and start with the first tip we mentioned – which is ensuring you have all the necessary things for cleaning.
