Quick & Easy Home DIY Manual by Matt Weber

Author:Matt Weber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Weldon Owen

PRO TIP

KEEP THE PRESSURE OFF Should you use a pressure washer to clean your deck? You can, but first you should check the industry association website of the wood species (pine, redwood, cedar) to determine if power-washing is recommended. Always use as low a pressure as possible, and try to never spray closer than 12 inches to the deck.

168 KEEP IT SPARKLING

With regular maintenance, the weathered look of decks usually can be revived with the application of the right deck cleaner. Even if your deck is several years old, it’s easy to restore the original color and beauty of the wood by applying a cleaning solution and wood brightener. (Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper use and to make sure you’re using the right product for your deck’s wood species.)

CLEAN IT UP Deck cleaners and restorers generally fall into one of three categories—chlorine bleaches, oxygen bleaches, or oxalic acid-based formulas. Chlorine bleaches are especially effective at killing mold or mildew spores—a common cause of discoloration and staining. Oxygen bleaches are effective at removing mildew stains and weathered gray residue from sunlight-degraded wood decks. Oxalic acid products are useful brighteners for a wood deck but not very effective for removing mildew.

CONTROL MILDEW If you do have a mildew problem, treat your deck using an oxygen or chlorine bleach and water solution (typically 1:3, bleach to water) and follow up by using an oxalic acid-based product to brighten the wood color. Products with oxalic acid and bleach are also available. They will work on deep stains, mold, and mildew, but these are commercial- grade products and should be handled very carefully (pre-rinse and/or cover plants, and shield siding and doors, to protect finish). Mold and mildew may require an additional round of scrubbing and application of both a bleach/water solution and oxalic acid.

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