Any gap between wood and composite structure can lead to a lot of fungi growing. Mould can be a cause for prominent health issues and allergies or slips/fallouts on the deck. Therefore, it is important to prevent mould from happening and recognise the early signs.
Mould grows out in different forms, colours, shapes on the wood deck board surfaces. Here’s how you can learn to clean the mould and algae from the wood decks to prevent slips and falls on the deck.
Here are some basic signs:
- Mildew
- Algae
- Moss
Once you start noticing all these signs, then you need to clean the moss and mildew from the composite & wooden deck boards.
Learn the Steps to clean Mould from Wooden Decks
To remove mould from painted or stained lumber:
Step 1: Make sure that the area is completely dried out. Put on protective gloves/goggles if preferred.
Step 2: The next step is to do some cleaning, take a vacuum cleaner (with a hose), or broom and lightly clean all the dirt from the area. Once this is done, then dispose of the dirt quickly.
Step 3: Take one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent, mix it with ¼ gallon of tap water.
Step 4; Use a soft-bristled brush/old toothbrush and scrub out the affected area gently until the mould disappears.
Step 5: Take a dry cloth & wipe the complete area.
Step 6: Fill your spray bottle with pure vinegar and spray it over the cleaned area.
Step 7: Let it sit for an hour and wipe the area again with a dry cloth.
Steps to remove mould from untreated decks:
Step 1: Make sure that the area is completely dried out. Put on protective gloves/goggles if preferred.
Step 2: The next step is to do some cleaning, take a vacuum cleaner (with a hose), or broom and lightly clean all the dirt from the area. Once this is done, then dispose of the dirt quickly.
Step 3: Put 2 ounces of dishwashing detergent, 500 ml of bleach and ¼ gallon of warm water, mix all of these in a bucket.
Step 4: Take a hard-bristle brush or a scrubbing sponge to wash out the affected area, until the mould disappears. After this, leave the area and let it air dry!
Step 5: If you can still see the mould/discolouration, then you can use fine-grit sandpaper to clean the surface where the mould is present.
Steps to clean the Mould from Composite Decking:
Step 1: Make sure that the area is completely dried out. Put on protective gloves/goggles.
Step 2: Take 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent, and mix it with ¼ gallon of warm water in a bucket.
Step 3: Use a soft-bristled brush and scrub the affected area until the mould fades out.
Step 4: Wipe out the complete area with a dry cloth, make sure that there is no moisture left.
Step 5: Fill the spray bottle with vinegar(undiluted) and spray it over the cleaned area.
Step 6: Wait for an hour, and then wipe out the area clean using a dry cloth.
Important Note: Never use a pressure washer on your composite deck, as it can damage your surface.
How to remove Moss/Algae from Wooden Decks from stained, painted or untreated wooden deck:
Step 1: Create a deck cleaner solution by mixing a gallon of warm tap water, and 3/4th cup of chlorine + bleach in a clean bucket. In case the layer of moss is very strong, then you can add ⅓ cup of ammonia-free laundry detergent powder for better cleaning.
Step 2: Pour the cleaning solution on your deck, and let it sit on the moss/algae affected area for 20-30 minutes.
Step 3: Take one hard-bristled brush to scrub away the moss/algae from the surface of the deck.
Step 4: Rinse your wooden deck with a garden hose/tap water by removing the solution/moss residue. Here you can use a power washer, but make sure that you use a fanning nozzle to prevent the paint, stain, or wood.
Step 5: Let the area dry out completely.
Steps to remove moss/algae from composite decks
Step 1: Create a cleaning solution, combine 1 gallon of warm water with 3/4th cup of chlorine bleach in a bucket.
Step 2: In case if the composite deck has a strong layer of moss, then you can add an extra ⅓ cup of ammonia-free laundry detergent powder.
Step 3: Pour the cleaning solution on your composite deck and let it sit over the moss/algae for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Take a brush with hard bristles, and scrub the moss/algae with your deck board.
Step 5: Rinse away the wood surface with a garden hose and tap water to remove the residue.
Important Note: Do not use any pressure washer, as it can damage the surface of your composite decking.
There you go, now you can clean your deck by yourself, get rid of all the algae/mould formation from the composite/wooden decks.
This is some occasional maintenance required to keep your decks in the best of condition. Also, the frequency of the maintenance depends on the climatic conditions where you live, and that’s why you need to choose the best deck material for yourself.
Learn More: How to clean and maintain your custom deck in 2021
Looking to build your dream Deck? Contact JVK & Sons Today!
We at JVK and Sons Construction look forward to helping our clients. We care and value your time and investment. We serve across the suburbs of Brisbane, chapel hill, Fairfield, Wavell heights, Carindale, and the neighbourhoods of Donnybrook Moggill.
Our decking experts are ready to work, and we provide services for:
● Timber Decking
● Composite Decking
● Merbau Decking
In case if you have any inquiries then you can get in touch with us and get a free assessment today.
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