Melbourne is the largest city in the Australian state of Victoria. It has a temperate climate with summers that don’t get too hot, and winters that don’t get bitingly cold. With bright and sunny springs as well, the Melbourne climate is always suitable for outdoor activities and builders keep this in mind while building standalone houses, row houses, terrace houses, town houses, or hotels. Under such a scenario, composite decking can come in very handy for use in outdoor construction requirements like those in backyard, porch, fence etc.

Composite Decking in Melbourne has some good benefits over conventional wood decking. These are durability, colour choices, aesthetic appeal, and low maintenance costs. Each of these positive qualities can be attractive in its own way, depending upon the appeal for it to the user. Low maintenance cost is something that everyone will count as a good benefit because all things that are exposed to natural elements will suffer some wear and tear over the years. The better one can maintain it, the more will be the durability of that object.

Insects and fungi are constant visitors to decks, fences, porch, etc., beside the exposure of these objects to long hours of sunlight and rain. Splashed mud, spilled objects, and bird excreta will cause dirt to accumulate over these decks over a period of time. But in the case of composite decking, treatments like water sealing, painting, staining etc., will not be necessary to maintain the structure. Simple maintenance tactics, as described below, will keep composite decking in pristine condition.

1. Sweeping the Deck

Regular sweeping to remove fallen leaves and accumulated dirt will go a long way in keeping the deck clean and giving it the appearance of a perfectly-maintained part of the building. The broom used should ideally be firm-bristled so that it will clean not just the surface but also the space between the planks to keep it open to let the rainwater flow through it easily and keep that space also clean. Extra-dirty spots can be cleaned using soap and hot water.

2. Pressure Washing

Pressure washing is ideal for cleaning areas that use composite decking. The pressure applied should not exceed 8 kpa (kilopascals), or its rough equivalent 1200 psi (pounds per square inch). Also, the user should maintain a minimum distance of 30 cm from the surface of the deck so that only the required pressure gets applied.

3. Scratches

Small scratches will not be easily visible, especially on certain types of embossed patterns of composite decking, and also because of its machined finish. In the case of larger scratches that may not be easily concealed, sandpaper can be used to scrub them away. Additionally, remember to sand with, and not against the grain of the plank. Further, it is important not to overdo the sanding and damage the pattern. While scrubbing furniture legs or BBQ stands, it is best to use pads or a mat to avoid contact.

4. Stains from Water

Newly-installed surfaces may contain water stains, caused by water evaporation, but they will disappear on their own in a couple of months.

5. Snow and Ice

Rock salt or calcium chloride is the best remedy to melt and remove lumps of snow, along with ice, from the surface.

6. Mould and Fungus

Periodic cleaning with a broom or brush will easily prevent mould growth. To make it fully clean and shiny, the deck can be washed using dishwashing detergent, and dried with a soft cloth.

7. Oil Stains

Tannin bleeds from timbers, grease and oil stains from lotions or foods can also create dirty decks. These should ideally be removed immediately using absorbent cloth, without letting them seep into the surface. After that, any commercial cleaning agent prescribed for decks can be applied for full removal of the stain. Finally, a finishing touch with soap and warm water will fully restore the composite decking material.

Conclusion

While using commercial cleaners, those containing bleach should be avoided as they may discolour the surface. The cleaning agent should ideally be tested on a small area first to see the results, and recommendations provided by the manufacturers should be followed fully.