Composite decking is a man-made building material that can be used to create beautiful decking areas in your garden or outdoor space.
As it is made from a mixture of wood fibre and plastics, you get the same great finish but with less maintenance. It is also more durable, so it can outlast traditional timber decking.
That being said, you still need to make sure you take good care of your composite decking if you want it to look great and last for years to come.
If you’ve recently had composite decking installed in your garden or if you’re considering this for the future, we’re here to help.
Below, we’ll share some of our top tips for composite decking aftercare, so you can keep your outdoor space looking great now and well into the future.
Keeping your composite decking clean
One of the best ways to keep your decking looking fresh is to make sure you clean it regularly. And the good news is this doesn’t have to be hard or time-consuming.
You can simply use a stiff broom to sweep away any debris or loose dirt. This can reduce the need for a deep clean and can be done every few weeks or weekly for the best results.
You should also consider power washing your composite decking regularly too, but just be sure to keep plenty of distance between the nozzle and the decking. If you’re worried about damaging it, you can always do a small test patch first.
This power wash doesn’t need to be done as regularly as the sweeping, but perhaps once a month to keep it looking clean and tidy.
But what happens should you get a stain on your decking?
Well, in a situation where something has been dropped or you’ve noticed a stain, there are a number of ways you can tackle this issue. We’ll look at some of the most common stains and how to clean these in the next section.
Removing oil stains
If somehow your decking comes into contact with oil, you’ll want to get rid of this stain as quickly as you can. You should clean this with some degreasing agent and then rinse with soap and water.
However, if you don’t notice the stain right away and it has begun to sink in, you might wish to use fine sandpaper or a wire brush to gently remove the marks. Just make sure you follow the grain of the decking as you do.
Removing rust stains
Whether it’s an old paint tin, bike chain or toolbox, there are a number of ways your decking might come into contact with rust. In these cases, a scouring pad used gently can help to remove this.
If the rust is particularly heavy, you might wish to use a cleaner that contains lemon acid; just be careful it’s not too harsh. Again, it might be useful to do a test patch first.
Removing grease stains
If you use your decking for entertaining, particularly for cooking and barbecues, you might find grease stains become an issue.
If this happens, a degreasing agent or soap should do the trick. You can use a wire brush to clean the decking and again, just be sure that your strokes follow the grain of the boards.
Once you’ve cleaned this, you should rinse it off with warm water.
Removing wine stains
Similarly, if you find that your entertaining leads to the odd wine stain, don’t panic. A cleaning agent and scourer should help to get rid of this. If the stain is heavier, consider a very mild bleach and warm water solution. Just be sure to test this before soaking your whole decking.
Dealing with scratches
If you start to notice lots of small scratches are ruining the look of your composite decking, these can be removed. Using fine sandpaper and following the grain, you can gently buff these away. A wire brush could also work, but just approach with caution and never be too rough.
Apply composite deck stain
Finally, even the most careful and attentive person won’t be able to protect their decking from the elements. Over time, rain and sunlight can take their toll on your decking. Not to mention heavy foot traffic if lots of people use this area.
The good news is, applying an appropriate composite decking stain can refresh the look of your decking and better protect it against the elements. Just be sure to double-check that you’ve got the right stain before applying.
The last thing you want to do after taking such good care of your decking is ruin it at a later stage.