COMPOSITE DECKS
Composite decks are all the rage but if you've noticed the advertising has changed a bit as the product has been exposed out in the market. From no maintenance to low-maintenance to even some maintenance. So what does this mean for you? It means you should not throw away those scrub pads just yet when you buy a composite deck.
Composite decking offers lots of advanatages over wood decks but expect to use a little elbow grease to keep yours clean. After all it's out in the environment so succeptible to problems. You may not be staining it every few years, but you still need to keep it clean.
MOLD
Composite decks are succeptible to mold. That's right mold. Take a look at some of the pictures we've seen on decks across the metro. The manufacturers say it happens because the decks are installed wrong and homeowner's don't keep them clean. But, we even met a man who cleans his deck with a blower several times a week and still had a mold spotted deck.
Click here to view a controllable slideshow and individual photos.
CLEANING
Mold is an industry problem, but each manufacturer addresses it a little differently. Some tell you to throw a 3-1 bleach solution on it to clean. We've heard from many consumers thinking that's simply way too much and consumers are concerned about the effect the bleach has on the deck itself and the plant life around the deck.
There is a company in Lawrence that offers a more bleach diluted product. Watch our story to see them in action cleaning a metro man's deck and decide for yourself. The company is Prosoco, and is featured on the Trex website as a possible cleaning solution. Here is the link to Prosoco.
http://www.psc-solutions.com/DC_Main.asp
In the video, we used Composite Deck Restorer and the sealer is Composite Deck Protector. For the deck you saw in the video, the company says it would cost $130 for materials and it should last you 1-3 years before you see mold spots again. I do not endorse products, we simply showed you this as a possible solution. The real test will be long term. The bottom line...it looks like you're going to have to do some cleaning on your composite deck. Nothing is maintenance free.
Trex has a pretty comprehensive website and informational brochure on the mold issue and lists the Prosoco product. Trex says low maintenance means you don't have to apply a sealer yearly to protect it.
http://www.trex.com/universal/technical_info/tech_mildew.asp
CALL THE MANUFACTURER
If you're unhappy, call your manufacturer. AERT manufactures ChoiceDek and it is in the KC area cleaning decks. The company can't help you if it doesn't hear from you, and I know some of you had trouble before getting help. I think we finally have their attention as there are deck cleanings and contacts now.
Let us know about your experience. Happy blogging! Jenn