Trex Deck Maintenance Do's And Don'ts

But I would like to find a painter who has actually "done" this before instead of hearing it from a rep or counter person. any input would be great - home is on the LakeShore of Michigan - Fennville. We have used them in the past but rarely in the last 8 years.

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

• What’s more, composite decking comes in a variety of textures and colors that mimic different types of wood stains.
• This V.O.C.-compliant, water-based product is fortified with zinc nano-particles, a natural deterrent to recurring black algae stains.
• 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.
• Although some capstock and plastic deck manufacturersNote 1 insist that their products do not fade, the empirical evidence is to the contrary.
• It’s aluminum decking and it’s far superior to composite decking.

we noticed, after about 1/2 of the job done that fibers were being removed. the result has a rougher appearance than the original finish.

Composite Sealer Reviews In 2020

If you apply too much sealer to the wood , wipe off the excess. We don’t think twice about wiping off excess stain when we stain interior wood, do the same if you over-apply sealer on exterior composite lumber. When you apply too much deck sealer and it puddles on the surface and dries, it looks bad. Secondly, over time those spots are likely to flake and peel.

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.

In fact, there are some mistakes that can actually increase the regular care required to maintain a composite deck. Here are a few tips to avoid the extra work and get the most out of your deck. Apply your composite deck cleaner.Your deck cleaner will come with detailed, specific instructions that you should follow carefully.

The dark gray and black spots are mold and mildew growing on the boards. Every composite tested grew bumper crops of mold and mildew. Composite decks have serious advantages for homeowners as opposed to wood. When you choose to go with composite decks, it requires some care and maintenance from your end so that it will last you a long time while looking great. But that can only be achieved with the use of the right sealer. Look no further; Defy Composite Deck Waterproofing Sealer is the only one you’ll need. Protect your composite deck from water, UV rays, graying, mold, and mildew.

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.

But if your deck is new, that shouldn’t be for a long time. In addition to simply being easier to work with, there are two main advantages in selecting a water-based product. Solvent-based products, or alkyds, will typically amber the color of the surface, whereas many of the water-based products are crystal clear and will not alter the color of the wood. Additionally, the alkyd resins in solvent-based products will serve as a food source for mold, mildew, and algae (what you’re trying to eliminate). Some water-based products utilize synthetic resins; these offer no food value for future mildew growth. Consider using DEFY Composite Deck Sealer – Crystal Clear; it has all of the above characteristics.

Glenn, if the composite deck is newer, you don’t want to seal it as the sealer won’t be able to penetrate. If it’s an older composite deck that’s absorbing water, you can use our DEFY Extreme Composite Deck Sealer. To make sure it’s able to be sealed just sprinkle a few drops of water on the deck. If the water just beads on the surface, then you shouldn’t apply a sealer as it won’t soak in. Keep in mind it’s a clear sealer so it may not hide the scuff marks.

We have wood fiber/plastic composite deck @ 4 years old. we used a power washer to do a deep, much overdue cleaning.

Once the surface is clean it can air dry for a day or so. Many homeowners are going with the composite type decks these days. Composite decks are usually made from a material containing some wood, plastic or another type of durable products. Though composite decks can be marketed as “maintenance free” they really aren’t.

Two products tested were General Purpose Staticide® and Heavy Duty Staticide®. Both are effective in greatly reducing static electricity on Trex decking surfaces.