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You might be asking yourself the question, ‘can you jet wash composite decking?’ You already know that our composite decking looks great, but keeping it clean can help keep it that way, season after season. As well as keeping your decking looking spick and span, proper cleaning and maintenance can also help extend its lifespan. Therefore, it’s important to understand how to clean your composite decking safely and effectively.
Jet washing is a method that’s useful in all sorts of outdoor settings, providing powerful cleaning without you having to get down on your hands and knees to start scrubbing. It’s not appropriate for all surfaces though, so you might be wondering whether it’s safe to power wash decking and if there’s a chance that it might damage the composite materials and finish of your decking boards.
In this article, we’ll address any concerns you might have and answer the question, ‘Can you power wash composite decking?’
There are many reasons why people choose composite decking. It looks great and is tough and durable, with more resistance to weather, rot and warping compared to traditional timber decking. The blend of recycled wood and plastic is also eco-friendly, making composite decking a sustainable choice as well as a long-lasting one.
It’s very low maintenance compared to timber decking, but it does need an occasional clean to keep it looking its best and extend its lifespan. Our cleaning composite decking guide tells you everything you need to know about how to clean your decking manually. However, you might also choose to clean your deck with a pressure washer.
It is generally safe to pressure wash decking as long as you take a few precautions such as making sure that the jet washer is on a low setting, holding it the correct distance from the decking, and not doing it too often. Damaging composite decking with a power washer can affect the warranty, but our guide will tell you everything you need to know to jet wash decking safely.
Before you start blasting away, taking a bit of time to prepare will save you headaches later.
This isn’t a case of ‘more power equals better cleaning’. For wooden decks, you want something around 1300-1600 PSI. Any stronger and you risk carving grooves into your deck boards or splintering the wood.
I’ve seen too many DIYers reach for industrial-strength washers and then wonder why their deck looks like it’s been attacked by a rabid badger. Electric models are usually perfect for home use – powerful enough to clean but not so beefy they’ll damage your wood.
You’ll need:
Pressure washers, also known as jet washers and power washers, use a motor and pump to draw in water and express it through a nozzle at high pressure. Too much pressure can damage some materials and surfaces, however, including composite decking. Before you power wash decking, you should make sure that you know how to set up and operate the pressure washer and ensure that it is set correctly.
For composite decking, it is recommended that pressure washers are used on a low setting in order to prevent the composite materials from wearing over time. Pressure washers should also be set as low as possible if used to jet wash wood decks, which tend to be less durable than composite decking boards.
Before you start jet washing, you should definitely clear the area on and around the decking. Moving potted plants, patio furniture and other items helps make sure that you clean parts of the decking that are otherwise covered up. However, you can also protect them from getting wet with spray or damaged by the force of the pressure washer. Even at the lower settings that you should be using on composite decking, jet washers can still be powerful and could potentially damage your plants and other items.
Before turning on your jet washer, you should prepare the area for cleaning. As well as moving delicate items out of the area, this can also include sweeping up larger pieces of debris such as leaves using a broom or a blower if you have one. If there is a build-up of stubborn or excessive dirt, spraying the decking first with soapy water or a specialist composite decking cleaner can help loosen the dirt, letting you get the best results from your jet washer.
Ensure you keep a safe distance when pressure washing your decking, as you could damage the boards if you use a pressure that is too high or hold the nozzle too close. You should always check the instructions for your jet washer, but in general you should maintain a 30-40cm distance between the nozzle of the pressure washer and the decking. You should also try to hold the nozzle at around a 45-degree angle and use a sweeping motion when cleaning.
You can clean your decking more effectively with a bit of planning beforehand. In general, it makes sense to start at the section of decking closest to the house and to spray away from the house, to prevent spray, run-off and debris from hitting any windows, woodwork or patios. If you have a multi-level decking with steps, platforms or sunken areas, you should also start at the higher areas and work down. This will prevent run-off and spray from re-dirtying areas you have already cleaned.
Power washers can be great tools for cleaning decking and other outdoor areas, but they should always be used sensibly and according to manufacturers’ instructions. On materials such as composite decking boards, they should also be used on lower settings to ensure that they do not damage the surfaces.
Even so, you might still encounter some tricky areas or other issues depending on the design of your decking and how dirty it is.
A pressure washer can be great for reaching tight spots and areas that are difficult to reach or get into with a bulky brush by hand. In some tricky areas such as corners and edges though, a suitable brush attachment for the jet washer can help you to get a great finish. Try to use a soft brush to gently scrub tight or tricky spaces while keeping the pressure low.
It’s always best to clean up spillages as they occur, but there are lots of reasons why this might not be possible or convenient. You might be in the middle of entertaining or not even be aware that a glass of wine or a child’s juice box has gone over. Other stains may be caused by mould, mildew or prolonged contact with dirt.
Stubborn stains are often one of the main reasons why people might consider jet washing their decking, but sometimes even a jet washer needs a helping hand. A dedicated decking cleaning product is specially designed to break down stubborn stains, mould and algae without damaging the boards. Always use the product as directed by the instructions and then rinse away to get rid of stubborn stains. If needed, you can then continue to jet wash the rest of your decking.
Using a jet wash on composite decking can dislodge dirt and pieces of debris that can remain as you move on to other areas. Rinsing the deck thoroughly after you have gone over it with the jet washer can help remove debris and prevent residue build-up that can attract more dirt or mould over time. If your pressure washer has a suitable spray setting, you can use this for rinsing, but a hosepipe or even buckets of clean water can also do the job. You might also want to use a brush to get rid of any areas of standing water.
Once it’s rinsed, you can allow your deck to dry naturally. One of the great benefits of composite decking over traditional timber decking boards is that it is so low maintenance. It already has an attractive and durable finish and doesn’t need to be stained or painted. Timber decking requires more extensive maintenance, and if you are applying stain or sealer after cleaning, you should leave it to dry for at least 48 hours. This can help prevent mould from any moisture trapped in or beneath timber boards.
The golden rule: wait until it’s bone dry. This usually means 2-3 days of decent weather. Try to rush this step and you’ll end up with stain that peels or flakes off by next season.
Want to be sure? Pick up a moisture meter from any decent DIY shop. You’re aiming for 12-15% moisture content for best results.
Sealing is what keeps your deck looking good between cleans. It creates a barrier against water, UV damage and all the other stuff that weathers your wood. Our guide to sealing a deck walks you through choosing the right product and applying it properly.
Like staining, timing matters – the wood needs to be completely dry first. Skip the sealing step and you’ll find yourself pressure washing again much sooner than you’d like.
We hope that this article has answered the question, ‘Can you jet wash decking?’ You can jet wash composite decking, but you should always take care when doing so, making sure that you use a low-pressure setting and that the nozzle is held a safe distance from the boards.
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance solution for your outside area, our composite decking is tough, durable, weather-resistant and looks stunning all year round. Order your free sample pack today or get in touch with our friendly, experienced team to explore Dino Decking’s extensive range of composite decking products and the colours and configurations available.
Our sample pack contains a sample piece of each colour currently available. Order your free sample pack today to compare the colours and get a true feeling of the Dino Decking range!
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