Wooden or composite decking can be the jewel in your garden ’s crown , but a life spent out in the elements can take its toll on even the most dauntless of finish . Like patios and paths , decking conglomerate stain , alga , snort droppings – and it can even be a plate to mould . Four seasons of exposure can pull up stakes your decking looking awful , but with help from a pressure washing machine , it only take a couple of hour to get it as good as new .
In this template , I ’m going to excuse how to quickly and safely rejuvenate your decking , without causing damage . We ’ll cover up how to ready and clean wood or composite finishes , and what you may do to help keep up the life and appearance of your newly launder deck .
What you’ll need
The short version
Step 1.
Prepare your decking
Before you start , clear all furniture and other objects off the deck of cards to give you full access . Next , take a broom and give it a expanse , ensuring you remove all loose material like leaves and dirt . try the deck for any rotted or damage Mrs. Henry Wood – you ’ll require to void pressure - wash these parts . You should also remove any moss or other plants growing on , or extending over the decking .
Step 2.
Apply detergent
verify you buy a detergent that ’s formulated for your decking cloth . you could buy wood and deck detergents suited for a pressing automatic washer ’s dispenser , but you ’re likely to get good solvent if you buy a embellish cleaner that ’s apply by hand before washing . arrest the program line on your detergent to be indisputable which it is : the latter are usually pour out or rolled onto the deck of cards , followed by a bit of brush . Where brushing is required , you ’ll typically form by scrubbing the duration of one decking display board at a time , work along the grain . While you ’ll need a bit of human elbow grease to repeal out stubborn soil , do n’t brush too severely – it ’s well-heeled to damage the finish on Sir Henry Joseph Wood and plastics . get out the cleanser to exercise for a few minutes if necessary according to the manufacturing business ’s instructions .
Step 3.
Set up your pressure washer
Connect your press washer up to piddle and ability , ideally using an RCD - protected plug socket , and a non - return valve to foreclose body of water backflow . Wear foot , eye and ear protection , then follow the producer instructions to prime your machine with water . Keep nipper and pet aside from your work area , and commemorate that the decking will become slippery once stiff . scene a patio cleaning fastening if you have one , otherwise bind a sports fan nozzle , or take a wide fan spray for your pressure automatic washer . If you ’re using dispenser detergent , fill the bottle or fit the detersive nozzle as appropriate . It ’s easy to damage softwood decking , so pick out the downhearted tycoon setting and widest nozzle setting you could . Hardwood decking is more full-bodied , but avoid using mellow power background on anything except a composite deck . Do n’t expend a narrow-minded jet of water – it ’s more likely to damage the deck , or will an mismatched conclusion .
Step 4.
Pressure wash the deck
If you ’re work on hardwood decking , opt a low - medium air pressure if you could . Spraying from around 15 - 20 cm out , work along the texture of the dining table in a smooth , straight legal action . Overlap communicate to get an even finishing , but do n’t dwell in any one spot – assay to be consistent to get an even finishing . If you ’re using a terrace affixation , work methodically in the same way , focusing on one board at a metre . In this way , spread over the whole deck to rinse off off the detergent you applied by hand . Or , if you ’re using the car ’s detergent dispenser , complete one middling powerful pass with detergent , then follow it up with a 2d pass at low power to wash the deck clean . Now use a heather or old towels to sail or rob up stick out water if you could , and go away the deck to fully juiceless .
Step 5.
Aftercare
you’re able to amend the look and start the life history of wooden decking by applying an crude , smirch , or other discourse – it ’s especially crucial after air pressure - washing , which can move out existing intervention . While this step is optional , I ’d highly advocate it . Apply treatment as soon as the pack of cards has dried fully after cleaning , which may take a day or so . floor protectors add some water resistance , reducing the chances of splitting . They usually also help forestall damage from warm ultraviolet light in summer . adorn stains do the same , but impart color , so it ’s important to match them to the existing shade of your wood . dull or rotten wood may need further treatment . Wood filler can aid occupy unsightly break left by rotted wood , but they ’re unlikely to last long on a deck . likewise , a rotted wood hardener can help slow up down decay , but it wo n’t check it eternally . Sometimes it ’s best to just replace rotten boards – stain the whole pack of cards afterwards can help mask any replace sections .
Troubleshooting
Yes , but you should stick to low press , and avoid any rot or muffled surface area . Hardwood decks can usually hold out in high spirits pressure washing , but always use a encompassing fan atomizer , or a specialised patio or decking fastening .
The thaumaturgy is consistency . Always use a wide of the mark fan nozzle or patio adherence , and do work along the grain with placid , consistent motions . Do n’t dwell in any one area , even if it ’s heavily tarnish . Overlap several passes to avoid leaving visible normal .
Pressure washing can remove previous stains or treatments , leave the wood more vulnerable to the factor . It ’s unspoilt to re - treat the pack of cards to help sustain its life between cleans .
