Restore Your Faded Composite Decking

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? Sealing composite decking is beneficial if you have material that was manufactured prior to 2010. Older composite deck material was not as resistant to stains & UV color fading as newer material. Application of an invisible water & stain barrier will prolong the stain free appearance of composite decks.

Preserve Your Deck

In some cases, additional scrubbing with a deck brush may be required to remove stubborn stains. If your deck is constructed of older trex composite decking (prior to mid-2000) then you have probably have experienced constant appearance of unsightly mold & mildew. Many of the older composite lumber products were made without any type of mildewcide included in their composition. This causes unsightly black mold spots to develop rapidly. Composite decking material is made up of a combination of both plastics & wood fiber. The wood fiber is similar to saw dust, which creates a food source for mold & mildew to grow during periods of higher temperatures & moisture.

Buyers Guide: The Best Deck Cleaners

Now that a little time has passed and some research has been done, these expansive claims are just not holding up. Decks created from earlier-generation Trex products should not be pressure washed, because doing so may damage the decking materials. Instead, clean with warm, soapy water as noted above.

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

Another option I’d like to pursue is changing colors from the tan/cedar tones to a weathered gray. 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.

A gentle cleaning solution formulated specifically for cleaning composite materials is required. The cleaner is used conjunction with a high volume, low-pressure wash to rinse away dirt, grime, mold, mildew and other stains. Most composite decking manufacturers recommend cleaning biannually using composite friendly cleaning agents and cleaning techniques. Pressure washing is not usually recommended for composite decking. Pressure washing too close or using too much pressure can be ruinous for your deck. Composite decking material is softer than natural wood and therefore can be “etched” more easily. Once the material has been “opened up”, this can lead to a host of other issues including chipping, sun damage, and mold staining of the plastics inside the opening.

• Once mold has stained these plastics, it can be extremely hard to remove.
• In most cases, a garden hose should be sufficient for regular duty cleaning.
• Composite decking material is softer than natural wood and therefore can be “etched” more easily.
• Once the material has been “opened up”, this can lead to a host of other issues including chipping, sun damage, and mold staining of the plastics inside the opening.

First, you want a water-based sealer as opposed to a solvent. These are easier to work with and have two main advantages over solvent-based materials. Solvent-based products, or alkyds, will typically amber the color of the surface; many of the water-based products are crystal clear and will not alter the color of the wood. The alkyd resins in solvent-based products will also serve as a food source for mold, mildew, and algae (what you’re trying to eliminate). Some water-based products utilize synthetic resins, which offer no food value for future mildew growth. Lastly, selecting a product with zinc nano-particles is especially beneficial. Zinc is a natural combatant to mold growth and will have a profound effect on delaying the re-growth of mildew.

How To Clean Trex Decking

Once mold has stained these plastics, it can be extremely hard to remove. In most cases, a garden hose should be sufficient for regular duty cleaning. If you must pressure wash, just remember to keep it at the lowest pressure possible and no closer than 8″ from the surface.