Welcome back Decks R Us past customers!  (And new visitors too….)

In case you misplaced the follow-up kit we left with you- along with your signed Warranty by all the Amish Craftsmen who worked on your deck- we’ve included one of the more popular pieces in our follow up kit-

How to Maintain and Care for Your Deck

Azek decking is a Cellular PVC product that requires some cleaning
but does not require the staining and re-staining like wood decks

Cleaning Your Deck

We recommend one thorough cleaning every spring and fall.  By sticking with a regular cleaning schedule, your Decks R Us deck will keep that same new look for years.

Start by a thorough sweeping- removing any debris that may have built up there.  A thorough sweep job will clear away the rubbish and let you get down to the deck itself when you start cleaning it.  And if you let little clumps of leaves stick around to long, they could eventually discolor your deck. 

You can use some milder Household cleaners and bleaches on your deck as they can be effective to some extent but they have their limitations. Also, since they are not usually designed for deck cleaning applications they can present some handling problems.  

Some Free Expert Advice on Bleach cleaners on NEW decks:
We recommend you wait 2 years before using bleach on a new deck. Allow your deck to weather naturally first.

There are several deck cleaning solutions available at your local hardware stores. 

I just wanted to say that I just got done inspecting the work that has been done which seems to be about 90% and everything looks fantastic.
As the owner of a deck power washing and exterior wood restoration company I have worked on hundreds of decks and I must say that the craftsmanship that you provide is impeccable. From the quality of wood to the picture frame corners and hidden fasteners, this is one deck that I can be proud to own.
It was a pleasure working with John and dealing with the two fellows that built the deck. You guys did a great job transitioning from my old little 8x8 2nd story deck. Now I get to work some of my own magic to make the two look as one with the restoration of my old deck and the sealer/stain.

I will definitely refer Decks R Us to customers who are looking to build or add on to their existing deck.

Jim Noden
Decks Etc Power Washing

Make sure you read the instructions so you are selecting the right cleaner for the deck you have.

A good rule of thumb will to be look for these ingredients in your choice of cleaner: sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, and/or phosphoric acid.

 Power Washing can save a lot of elbow grease and time! For the Cellular PVC decking we recommend using TSP (trisodium phosphate) for a whole deck cleaner. This is a granular cleaner that can be purchased at most local hardware stores but not the big box stores. Follow the instructions on the box for the correct mixture, you can choose to add clorox to the mixture as well if you have any issues with algae or mildew on your deck as the bleach will kill the spores and slow the return of the algae or mildew. Just mix up the TSP, warm water, and bleach (if needed) and brush it on the deck with a stiff-bristled brush. At this point you can rinse off the deck with a garden hose or for best results use a pressure washer. Pressure washers are safe on almost all Decking materials, just make sure you are using a fan tip on the nozzle and not a staight tip, and keep the tip of the nozzle about 6 inches away from the deck floor. Cellular PVC and any type of wood decking are hard enough that you won't damage them too easily, however if you have a composite deck, especially one that is a few years old be very careful when using a pressure washer. 

 For isolated stains, try to start using soap and water and stiff brush. If that doesn’t work try using a mild household cleaner such as Spray Nine or Fantastick.   If it’s a really stubborn stain-  we’ve used WD 40 and that got it right off.  I recommend doing that in small spot to test so you don’t see it first.”

 For set-in stains and rust, first try the basic deck cleaners in combination with a pressure wash.  If the stain is stubborn, you may want to use a toilet bowl cleaner with phosphoric acid as it's main ingredient. With any of these cleaners, make sure you thoroughly rinse the deck imediately after use.

Do you have your own deck cleaning tips or suggestions for maintenance? Drop us a line and we’ll post your advice here and share with others.

Question? Drop us a line and we’ll be glad to get back to you. Maybe you thought of a something we should include here.

Some special advice from Decks R Us on your Wood Deck:

Foreman Elmer gives some expert advice on wood- “You chose wood, and hopefully someone explained to you that wood cracks.  Nothing you can do about it.  Right away, there will be some small  surface cracks that are hard to spot-but gradually you can see them.  You can minimize this by staining your deck 1-3 weeks after installation if it's a Pressure Treated deck. For the hardwwod decks like Ipe you may want to wait longer than that so the wood can open up a little to accept the stain. If you keep your deck clean- it won't stain up as much.  During the fall, be mindful of leaves collecting on your deck.  Try to get them swept off right away.  If you don’t, the leaves will get wet and eventually leave stains-whether it’s a wood or a synthetic deck.”  

Owner John says, “The biggest reason I think folks opt for a synthetic deck is the low maintenance.  With a wood deck, you’ll have to treat it every 2 years with a water sealant then with a stain.  Follow our advice above on how to give your deck a real thorough cleaning, then start with the water sealant followed up with the stain. 

Some special advice from Decks R Us on your Deck:

Make sure your furniture or anything you put on the deck has little feet.  If your furniture gets bumped moved around it will scratch the floor. Cheaper furniture may start rusting faster.  And the bad thing it will actually rust right where the furniture hits the deck- and show up on the deck. But find the rust culprit!  Check any metal furniture for the cause of your rust.  Repaint any metal furniture-especially underneath and the bottom. 

 “Use some felt/stick tape on the bottoms of your furniture to prevent scratching and maybe treat the furniture with Rustoleum.”

A common deck problem: mold or algae.

If you have potted plants on your deck- which is the best way to dress up your deck- consider raising the plants up off your deck by at least a few inches-like with a plant stand or a metal riser.    But to get rid of the algae- mold stain, make your own cleaning solution of household bleach, water, a brush and a little elbow grease. Mix a solution of 2 cups bleach and 4 cups water. Use a brush with the solution to wash away the algae. Wear rubber gloves, and rinse the area thoroughly after you're finished.

If your grill is on your deck, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure- put something like an oversized welcome mat or door mat so any drippings don’t fall directly onto your deck.  

Get Raymond’s Secret Recipe for a home made deck cleaning solution… Drop us your email address and we’ll send an effective home made solution for a deck cleaning formula.

Winter Deck Care

You won’t really damage our deck if you leave a few inches of snow on there-especially with our Mid Atlantic Winters where the snow will melt in a short time.  If you have significant build up on your deck, you are wise to shovel it off, just like you would your roof.  If you want to remove snow and ice from your deck, be mindful not to chip the surface with a shovel and never use an ice pick.  A plastic shovel is safer than a metal one.  Ice melt or rock salt are both safe to use on your deck- but just like your concrete- use in moderation so as not to cause any pitting or discoloration.  “As soon as the ice melt has done its trick sweep it off right away- so it doesn’t pit the material.  Oh- and run shovel in the same direction of your planks so to reduce any scuffs. “