Trex provides one of the best decking material that requires less maintenance. Unlike wood, this hardy composite decking won’t stain, warp, fade, rot or warp. However, the long seasons of snow fall and storms can leave behind debris, mold and dirt that can ruin its beauty. Let’s look at how to restore your Trex decking to get it looking brand new again.
Cleaning regularly is a recommended way of restoring a Trex Deck. Regular sweeping and a good cleaning with soap and water once a season will rejuvenate the deck color and keep it looking new all the time.
How to Restore Trex Decking – Steps
Apart from transforming your outdoor space, a deck provides a great area for gatherings with family or friends. Making sure you correctly maintain your composite decking should be enough to make it last longer and ready for use. While Trex decking does not need painting or staining, cleaning can help restore its color and looks.
Proper cleaning of a deck removes mold, sticky dirt and other type of stains. While Trex doesn’t require daily cleaning, doing it after a season of snow, storm or heavy use will restore its luster and color. Fortunately, cleaning a Trex decking doesn’t need any fancy material or products, you’ll simply need a water hose and soapy water.
Step 1: Clear the deck
Start by removing any moveable items from your deck. This include furniture, flower pots, rugs, electric appliances and any large debris. Hose down your deck to remove any small debris from in-between spaces. You may need to use broom to dislodge small debris such as tree leaves, pine and pollen.
When cleaning, ensure that all debris are removed in between deck gaps. If left behind, they can easily trap moisture thus encouraging growth of mold and mildew underneath your decking. Keeping these gaps clean also provides for free air flow which helps in keeping the underside of the deck dry.
Step 2: Apply a deck cleaner
Make your homemade deck cleaner by mixing 1 gallon of warm water and 2 tablespoons of ammonia-free dish soap and spray down your deck. Alternatively, combine half a cup of distilled white vinegar with a gallon of water and a cup of baking soda to combat mold stains. You may use a recommended deck cleaner but stay away from chlorine bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.
After spraying your deck with a cleaner or soapy water, use a soft bristle broom to scrub down any sticky dirt and stains. Trex decking is usually resistant to mold and most common stains. This even makes it easy to remove any stains that appear to be forming on the surface of the deck.
Step 3: Hose to rinse
Once done spraying the soapy water, hose down again with clean water to rinse away all the loose dirt and the soap solution. Do not leave suds to dry on your decking as this can create a cloudy residue. When rinsing, ensure you are using soft water. It is not good to rinse with hard water as it contains salts that can stain your decking.
You may also use a pressure washer with no more than 3100 psi with a fan tip. Composite decking is softer than natural wood and using a pressure washer at too high psi settings can result to chipping, cracking or fading. When used correctly, a pressure washer can easily remove stains or any sticky dirt.
Does Trex Decking Fade?
Fading is one of the major concerns with the appearance of a decking material. Decking boards losing their original color overtime is something most home owners get worried about. However, this concern has been genuinely addressed by Trex decking.
While early-generation of Trex composite decking would fade to a lighter color 12-16 weeks after installation, the newest line of composite decking fight weather and age with a protective shell. This has eliminated fading concerns and you even get a 25 year warranty against it.
The Trex decking protective shell not only prevent fading but also protect against warping, scratching, mold and mildew stains. This has been tested for years and home owners and businesses have gained confidence in choosing Trex decking boards.
While Trex decking is fade-resistant, this cannot be guaranteed if you are not taking good care of your decking. There are a number of things that may cause premature fading of your composite decking. They include the following:
- Inappropriate cleaning technique: Trex decking may lose its color when cleaned with ammonia-based cleaners, chlorine bleach, wire brushes or a pressure washer with high psi settings. Using hard water to clean can also lead to salt build up on the decking which can tarnish its appearance.
- Poor maintenance: Although low-maintenance, Trex composite decking needs some moderate level of maintenance. You should keep it clean by clearing debris like leaves, dust and any other material that may promote rot or growth of mold.
- Inferior outdoor rugs: Adding a rug on your decking can spruce up your outdoors but can be a risk to your composite decking. Rugs or padding made from inferior materials can damage your deck by releasing chemicals that promote discoloration. You can check out our in-depth article on maintaining and cleaning dirty rugs here.
- Heat: It is fun to brave a chilly evening around a fire pit on your deck. However, without proper protection a fire pit or grill can damage your composite deck. If not losing its color the material can literally burn or cause fire. Always use a recommended fireproof mat.
Final Thought
Trex deck is made to last in elements. This type of composite decking is a blend of plastic film and wood fibers which forms strong, stable and resilient material as compared to wood or pure plastic. To maintain its beautiful looks and color, Trex decking need regular cleaning using the right products.
Reference
Trex.com: Composite Deck Care & Cleaning Guide
half of my Trex decking is in the sun and half in the shade – after ten years the color is faded more in the sun areas – what can i do to even out the color!