CleverDeck Care & Maintenance Recommendations
CleverDeck composite decking is virtually maintenance free, needing only periodic cleaning to keep it looking great however just like timber it can scratch and stain so please read the following notes.
Quicklinks
- Initial Weathering
- Water marks
- Scratching
- Painting
- General Cleaning
- Staining
- Miscellaneous
- Mould and Mildew
Initial Weathering and Removal of any Residual Tannins
Your CleverDeck composite decking boards are made from a combination of recycled plastic, hardwood flour and rice husks. When new there may be some residual tannin in the wood flour component of your decking boards. This tannin will leach out of the board the first few times that the deck board is wet and will appear as a stain after the board has dried. This (tannin) stain can be removed by washing with water if required otherwise it will normally disappear after the board has been wet/dried several times.
You will also notice a softening of the surface colour as the board is exposed to the weather over the first 4-12 weeks. This natural weathering effect varies across the colour range.
Water marks
Your CleverDeck composite decking boards should be installed on a sub frame that allows for a fall of approximately 4mm for every metre. This will ensure that any residual water will be able to run off the deck and not sit on the boards making a puddle. If water does pool on the deck boards and then slowly dries off/evaporates a water stain may result, the stain is easily washed off but it will be likely to reoccur each time a pool of water is left to dry on the deck boards.
Like any floor in your home CleverDeck composite decking looks best when it is kept clean. Cleaning with a broom or mop should be undertaken regularly. The frequency of cleaning should be based on the amount of organic debris that ends up on your deck via overhanging or nearby vegetation as well as general dirt and grime that builds up from regular foot traffic.
A thin film of oxidised material will also build up on your deck over time if it is not used or cleaned regularly. This may show when you wash the deck by discolouring the water. Strong colours like Mahogany and Slate Grey will turn the cleaning water a similar colour particularly if they have not been washed for some time and the oxidised layer is allowed to build up.
You can use a pressure washer to clean your deck but do not run this at greater than 8Kpa (1200 PSI) or position the nozzle within 300mm from the deck surface otherwise this may mark the surface of the deck.
CleverDeck has a fungicide added in to the formulation to help reduce the incidence of mould or mildew growing in the boards. However as mould spores are transmitted through the air they can easily grow on any surface under the right climatic conditions. We recommend that you regularly sweep your deck and periodically wash any dirt and debris from the surface making sure that twigs and leaves do not build up between the boards. Regular cleaning will help to reduce the likelihood of mould or mildew growing on the deck surface.
If mould or mildew does develop on the deck we recommend that the deck is cleaned with the appropriate solution. If mildew starts to grow on your deck (typically characterised by a green tinge) we recommend that you sweep the deck with a stiff bristled broom and then wash down the surface of your deck thoroughly using a solution of warm soapy water. If mould starts to grow on your deck (typically characterised by black/grey spots) we recommend that you apply a solution of “Wet & Forget” to the surface of your deck making sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for use.
Just like timber, CleverDeck boards can be scratched by sharp objects. Fortunately the machined finish and grain pattern on the surface of CleverDeck is designed to hide most minor scratches. Claw marks from medium to larger dogs, sharp stones caught in shoe treads etc. can scratch the surface of your CleverDeck. These surface scratches are normally more pronounced on newer decks and from different angles depending on the light. Washing with a power washer normally disturbs the surface fibres enough to further camouflage these scratches or else they tend to become less visible over time. Be careful not to drag furniture or heavy items across your deck as this action may lead to significant scratches on the deck surface. We recommend that a protective mat or furniture pads are used to protect against contact from sources such as furniture legs, BBQ’s or planter stands. Larger scratches can be removed by lightly sanding the face of the board. Please note that over sanding of your deck boards may remove the embossed grain pattern.
CleverDeck composite decking has an open fibrous surface that will stain if oil, grease, wine, red clay, leaf matter (tannin) or rust is allowed to remain on the surface and penetrate the fibres. The best method of removing stains relies on cleaning the area immediately after the stain occurs (before it soaks in to the cellulose fibre). A strong solution of detergent and hot water, applied immediately after the staining has occurred will remove most stains. Handy Andy by Clorox Australia has been found to work well on general food and drink stains when applied undiluted and scrubbed in to the stain and then left wet for 10 minutes before washing off the solution with water. If immediate cleaning is not possible or the stain has high fat/oil content wet the surface of the deck and sprinkle Standard OMO washing powder directly over the stained area, leave for 24-48 hours and then scrub the area with hot water and wash off. For heavy staining several applications may be required. High pressure washing may also help to remove the stain however caution is required when using high pressure washers as explained in the general cleaning section above.
Always allow proper ventilation and respiratory protection when using chemical cleaners. Make sure that you follow the manufactures recommendations when using any cleaning products.
If all else fails, you can lightly sand the face of the deck board to remove the stain. Please note that over sanding may remove the indented grain pattern from the board.
Constant metal contact may produce rust stains on your deck. You should use a protective mat or plastic caps to protect against metal contact from sources such as furniture legs, BBQ’s or planter stands.
In order to avoid heavy grease staining if a large amount of cooking oil/fat is likely to fall from your BBQ on to the deck a protective mat placed over the decking and covering the area immediately around your BBQ is highly recommended.
Painting, surface sealing or “wet look” coating
CleverDeck does not require any painting over the life of the product. If you want to change the colour of the decking we recommend that you take a sample or off cut of CleverDeck to your paint supplier and test the suggested surface coating before purchasing and before applying to the whole deck surface to ensure that a suitable bond between the deck and the finishing coat is achieved. The paint will not penetrate the surface of the material like traditional wood. Always wait until the surface weathers before painting to provide more cellulose exposure for the paint to adhere to. If over time you would like to darken the existing deck colour or apply a coating to seal the deck surface or add a sheen please call us on 1300 484 308 or email John@carrollswholesale.com and we will provide you with the options available to you in your area.
Make sure that heavy items are well supported and positioned so that they are sitting above the joists/ substructure. Constant loading on any individual deck board without immediate joist support may cause that board to sag. CleverDeck is not suitable for use as a structural support.
Click below to find out more or contact us on: John Carroll 0414301515 and Colin Carroll 0421273887
Email for a price or more information: John@carrollswholesale.com, Colin@carrollswholesale.com