Decking cleaning

[Craphouserat]

Morning all

Our decking is looking rather weathered and sad - can't afford to rip it up and put new down. I'm assuming it was put down when the house was built around 10 years ago ( been in a year ).

Any products/techniques you have used and would recommend for cleaning/repainting?

Cheers

CHR

[speedyman]

jet wash it, bought mine back to life.

speedyman

[LaserTam]

^^^ This

[Fishtigua]

speedyman said:

jet wash it, bought mine back to life.

When jetwashing or scrubbing decks, go across the grain of the wood and not along the planks. It'll bugger-up the softer woods inbetween the harder strands otherwise.

[GetCarter]

When clean paint with decking stain containing microbeads ... Stops all that falling over hip replacement stuff.

[kingofherts]

Whatever you do - DON'T clean decking on a freezing day in weather like we're having at the moment with a pressure washer, the water will crack the wood and split it all , wait until it warms up a little (above 10c or so)..

Also, don't use a normal 'lance' if you don't want nice stripey lines all over your decking.

If you want to DIY, you can buy surface cleaner attachments from most DIY chain stores, although in my opinion a bit mickey mouse, they will do a better job that a lance will.
- Also, it's worth spending a tenner or so on some decking cleaning stuff, you brush it on first with a soft brush and then jet it all off. It brings any condition wood, painted or not back to as new condition if you follow the instructions.

If you want any more advice, PM me - I run a pressure cleaning company, and deal with cleaning decking all the time.

[Wacky Racer]

Fishtigua said:

When jetwashing or scrubbing decks, go across the grain of the wood and not along the planks. It'll bugger-up the softer woods inbetween the harder strands otherwise.

I learnt this to my cost...

(Don't have the pressure too high)

[Craphouserat]

Some good advice - thanks all. Will wait another few weeks and get it done.

Thanks again all.

CHR

[Craphouserat]

kingofherts said:

Whatever you do - DON'T clean decking on a freezing day in weather like we're having at the moment with a pressure washer, the water will crack the wood and split it all , wait until it warms up a little (above 10c or so)..

Also, don't use a normal 'lance' if you don't want nice stripey lines all over your decking.

If you want to DIY, you can buy surface cleaner attachments from most DIY chain stores, although in my opinion a bit mickey mouse, they will do a better job that a lance will.
- Also, it's worth spending a tenner or so on some decking cleaning stuff, you brush it on first with a soft brush and then jet it all off. It brings any condition wood, painted or not back to as new condition if you follow the instructions.

If you want any more advice, PM me - I run a pressure cleaning company, and deal with cleaning decking all the time.

Will keep this in mind - if I need more when I start I'll fire an email off.

Cheers

[Council Baby]

I've been wondering about this... I've got a large decked roof terrace in need of attention. Seems like it could be quite time consuming sorting it out. Any hints to make it easier seeing as we have a pro on the thread what about treating it to save having to do it again in a couple of years?

[chili1]

Oxy bleach.

I'd previously used a karscher lance, patio/deck cleaner attachment, bleach, cuprinol decking cleaner.....all got it reasonably clean but not "as new".

Cleaned my decking just after Xmas. Used pressure washer, oxy bleach scrubbed in and left for 30 mins, then rinsed off. Left it looking like new.

[GoneBananas]

I power wash mine at least once a year and have never treated it so the timber has gone white and it looks clean and weathered which I think looks good.

[arfur]

I used to have about 800 sq ft of decking, on multi levels.

I always started with "prepdeck" in order to fully clean the decking. Used it 2:1 usually, or neat if I really needed to cut into the wood.

Once applied, using a hand held pressure spray, then use a still brush to agitate it and then wash off with a presure washer with a rotor attachement.

Once all done, leave a week to dry out

And then re-oil it all using a paint roller and brushes

Used to take me about 4 days total every other year ...

[Fishtigua]

If you want a long lasting treatment for your decking to stop it from going green and slippy, we use Boracol on yacht decks.

The boron based treatment works really well and lasts when applied correctly. The B5rh is the milder one for domestic use, though if you have loads to do maybe invest in B10rh or the full-fat B20.

http://boracol-shop.de/?q=node/87

Search the web for your closest supplier.