Alberta’s annual climate and wide variety of weather conditions can wreak havoc on outdoor fixtures so durability is as important as the aesthetic appeal of your deck. Many homeowners have turned to vinyl as a great low maintenance option for their deck project. Vinyl is resistant to water damage and stains and doesn’t require the level of annual care and preventative maintenance that wood requires. With routine maintenance, it will keep looking its best.
Routine Care
Most find that scheduled cleaning of the deck two times per year is sufficient to keep their outdoor living and hosting space looking sharp. The procedure is an easy one as well, no need to hire specialists to attend for a maintenance call.
First, sweep the deck to clear any loose debris or dirt. For best results, sweep with the direction of the grain of your vinyl to avoid resistance in dirt and debris removal. Once swept, spray the deck with a hose to rinse any loose debris that may have been left behind from sweeping. From there, one gallon of hot water with a quarter cup of dish detergent is all that is required for cleaning. Scrub the deck with a soft bristle brush, providing full coverage across the surface of your deck. Once completed you can give the deck a second rinse with the hose and allow it to dry.
When cleaning you should be sure to avoid harsh chemicals, pressure washers or abrasive brushes as these can create a damaging affect on your vinyl surfaces.
Intense Cleaning
One of the challenges with any outdoor space is that moisture can create mildew. Mildew is a form of fungus and like mold, can become problematic not only for aesthetic reasons but also a health consideration. Mildew is often associated with moisture-rich plant life, so the more trees and shrubbery in your yard and around your deck, the greater the risk of mildew forming on your deck surfaces. Additionally, as many decks find themselves covered under a thick blanket of snow for a large part of the year, any end of season leaves or plant material that has not been cleared, may have an opportunity to develop into a plant stain or mildew condition for months without detection.
Left unattended, mildew can spread and detract from the appearance of your deck. The good news is that it can be easily addressed with natural cleaning solutions. Household vinegar, applied with a sponge has proven to be one of the most effective cleaning agents for this condition. Apply the vinegar to the affected area and let stand for a few minutes to allow it to penetrate the mildew formation and then wipe clean with the sponge. For stubborn stains that may have set in and not been caught early, it is recommended the apply the vinegar solution but allow the vinegar to stand for a longer period, even up to an hour to produce the desired cleaning effect.
Whenever mildew is spotted, it is a good idea to apply the vinegar solution not only to the areas where visible formations have started to appear, but across the whole deck and in corners and crevices as well. This will address any early mildew formations that are not yet apparent to the naked eye and serve to prevent the growth of mildew.
Do You Have Questions?
For any question you may have about care of your existing deck or your vision for an upgrade of your current outdoor space, at Alberta Vinyl Decking & Railing, we are just a phone call away to address your inquiries and lend our expertise to help you produce the desired result on your next deck project.