A guide to power washing your composite deck.
Anyone who owns or is considering installing composite decking will know that the primary benefit, after decking longevity and beauty is how simple it is to maintain. No more stripping, sanding and painting.
The truth is, a little TLC is all that your composite deck requires to keep it looking stunning all year round. However, if you’ve ever used a pressure washer on timber decking you may be hesitant to use one on composite having seen how easily decking edges can become splintered and damaged. So before you power wash composite decking, here’s a couple of tips to ensure that you don’t damage your boards. A few moments’ careful preparation and planning will ensure a stunning outdoor living space for you to enjoy for many many years to come.
Here’s Some Tips On How To Look After Your Composite Deck:
Clear The Deck
When deciding to power wash composite decking, it is important that you remove all furniture, lifting carefully to prevent scratching and scraping. Sweep any debris such as leaf litter, dirt, build up, dust and grit, taking care not to scratch the deck. This ensures you can access all sections of the deck easily giving room to move about.
Under Pressure
Once decks are clear of furniture and debris you can clean off any stubborn decking stains, algae and dirt with a jet power washer. Do not use a pressure washer with greater than 3100 psi pressure and do not hold it any closer than 25cm above the composite decking boards as doing so, you will be more likely to damage your boards. The sheer force of the water pressure can cause the surface of the decking boards to splinter, causing long-term damage.
Use The Force
Even with a lower pressure power washer, the direct force of a direct stream of pressure can cause damage to your composite decking. To mitigate the risk of this, use a fan attachment. These can be bought separately and work to spread the flow of the jet over a wider area, reducing the amount of focused pressure being directed.
Go With The Grain
Whether you are cleaning woodgrain or grooved boards, the simplest approach is to clean following the grain of the board. Work in a left to right motion, following the length of the boards, cleaning one at a time; this will aid drainage. Dirt residue, leaf mulch and superficial moss and algae will be more well established in grooved decking boards.
Scrub Up
After removing any excess debris and dirt, apply Owatrol cleaning solution or a basic household detergent for a squeaky-clean finish. Owatrol Compo-Clean is water-based, kind to the environment and safe to use. Use undiluted – it’s easy to use and produces results in as little as 5 mins.
