Mold And Composite Decking Must Knows

How To Clean A Composite Deck, Remove Mildew, Mold, Stains

Some manufacturers may require you to use a particular product in a particular way to protect both the look of the deck, and your warranty. From premium hardwoods to treated lumber, like high-end IPE, traditional wood offers no capping or surface protection against mold or moisture damage. In fact, when hardwoods start to get moldy it's difficult to effectively clean the deck boards and remove the attached spores.

It's Not Always The Same Mold, Same Mold With Composite Decking

These decks are in the same environment, except my wood decks are in full shade. Jomax mixed with bleach has been great for painted rails and other surfaces, but it was the least effective on timbertech mildew.

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When did you purchase the home and was the deck recently done. If there is mold, you will have a problem with virtually all warranties. I returned all the uncut boards to the lumber yard for credit. There are serious inherent design problems with the composite decking product.

• It will kill the mildew spores, but doesn’t necessarily remove them from the surface of the wood.
• I really like what I read about your products.
• I hate bleach because it kills plants and vegetation and it’s terrible to work with.
• The cleaning process will go best if you select the right cleaner to begin with.

Dirt, Grime, Tannin, And Mildew Stains

I have also used the Timbertech cleaning product mixed with bleach, and it was more effective, but not as effective as PSC cleaner mixed with bleach. If it was surface mildew, it would be coming off without having to clean and soak it repeatedly. To remove mold from a deck, clean the surface with a deck cleaner containing sodium percarbonate or a mix of bleach and water. We are not fans of bleach on wood but sometimes this is best to help get rid of the mold. If you use bleach, mix at a ratio of 1 part bleach to 5 parts water. Use a stiff brush or pressure washer to clean away the mold, dirt, grime, and graying. After cleaning a wood deck, the surface should be recoated with a protective deck stain.

This cleaner is specifically formulated for cleaning composite decking, including Trex. The previous posts about it and oxalic acid are pretty accurate.

At Fiberon, our patented cap layer is called PermaTech®, and it contains a special formulation of biocides, anti-oxidants, and other proprietary ingredients. This unique blend of ingredients helps the composite decking resist staining and fading, as well as inhibits mold growth. And while no one can guarantee a deck will never develop mold, a capped composite board does provide significant advantages over wood and uncapped products. Capped polymer and 4-sided capped composite decking provide homeowners with a great alternative to traditional composite and wood decks that are susceptible to mold and mildew. While composite decking is known for being a step up from wood decking, not all boards are created equal.

How To Clean Mildew And Mold Off Composite Decking

This product is activated when it gets wet (i.e. when it rains) and helps to keep the mold growth at bay for longer periods of time; therefore, fewer cleanings are required. You would only apply this product when needed, but no more than six times per year. Even so, we do recommend Fiberon composite deck owners clean their decking with an approved cleaner at least twice a year.