Care & Maintenance

The topics that are covered on this page are as follows:-

• General Cleaning
• Graffiti paint removal
• Mould
• Water Marks
• Scratches
• Fading
• Surface Coatings
• Brushed v's Smooth finish - Pro's & Con's

Preamble
A great feature of composite products is that you can have a great performing deck without the need for staining, oiling, painting etc, and the deck will continue to last without rotting, cracking, splinters etc. However, wood/plastic composite products are wood-based and will only look their best if given some degree of care. The amount of care/attention required on your deck will most likely be directly proportional to the local environment of the deck – an area surrounded by heavy foliage or prone to lots of dust will of course require more attention than a very open area without trees etc.

General cleaning: -a simple sweep of the deck area will generally prevent build-up of dirt and grime (or even leaves) that can lead to unwanted marks, stains and mould on your deck. Gaps between the boards should also be cleared of debris should this occur. As with timber, the longer your deck is dirty, the more work it will take to get it clean again.

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A wash with something like “sugar soap” or “sard wonder soap” solutions generally removes most dirt and grime.

A more vigorous product for removal of heavy stains is “Intergrain Reviva” – simply follow the directions on the pack.

For oil-based stains such as BBQ fat or sunscreen lotion, a dilution of degreaser such as “Kenco” works very well – again, follow the directions on the pack.  

Tip – if you have a BBQ on your deck, a good practice is to have a “splat mat" or "drop board” under the BBQ to catch fat spills rather than have them fall on to the deck.

Graffiti paint removal
Trials have shown that it is possible to remove graffiti paint with application of paint removal stripper. Please refer to directions as stated on product packaging.

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Mould: - we occasionally see instances of mould growing on deck. This is generally due to air-borne spores landing on the deck in an environment that promotes mould growth. A “quick fix” for this is via the use of Intergrain Reviva (follow the directions on the pack).
Click on images below to enlarge.

 

A slower-working long-term environmentally friendly solution is applying a product known as “Wet and Forget” – this works well but takes several months to take full effect.

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Water marks: - Water stain marks can show on ModWood boards. We have seen two types of water stains; both of which will generally disappear with exposure to a reasonable soaking of rain and general weathering; both of which can be cleaned fairly quickly with an application of diluted “IntergrainReviva”.                                                                                   
Water stains from wood tannins will occur in the early life of your deck as the natural tannins come out of the wood fibres at the surface of the ModWood. This will happen in the early weeks of your deck, and will depend on how exposed to the elements your deck is before the weathering process is complete. Water stains from water pooling or dripping can happen with ModWood just like it can with many other materials/surfaces such as timber flooring, glass, laminated tables etc. The visibility of the stain will be governed by factors such as how dirty the deck is and how quickly the water dries from the water pooling. Clean as mentioned above. Click here for photo’s of examples of the weathering process.

A wash with Intergrain Reviva often assists in eliminating such marks.

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Scratches: - Due to excess lubricants on the surface of the product, ModWood can show scuffs and scratches when new. By rubbing on light decking oil with a clean rag the marks will be less noticeable eg. Sceney's Natural decking oil. Exposure to the weather will see the board fade to its natural colour, thus hiding scuff and scratch marks. The “brushed” finish available in decking boards provides a more textured “timber-like” finish and does not easily show scuffs and scratches. This is recommended if the product is intended for use under 100% shade (for example decks under full cover). The brushed finish can be wire-brushed or sanded with coarse sandpaper to remove scratches. The area you brush will quickly fade out and hide your repair. To learn more about what can be done to repair scuffs and scratches please read the attached file.
Treating scuffs and scratches

Fading: - ModWood undergoes some fading when exposed to the elements. ModWood generally comes in "smooth" or "brushed" options for each colour. The "smooth" colour will fade approximately half way between its original colour and that of the "brushed" version. This will primarily happen during the first couple of months. Check our web site for indicative colour differences under "Care & Maintenance". The brushed surface shows minimal fade.

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Surface coatings: -most people do not use any coatings on ModWood, however it can be painted or stained at a later date should this be desired. Contact our office for information/advice.

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Brushed Vs Smooth finish – Pro’s and Con’s

Brushed
Pro’s

• A more “timber-like” surface feel
• Better non-slip feel in wet areas (e.g. around pools)
• Does not show scratches easily
• More suitable for decks under roof
• Heavy scratches can be w ire - brushed out
• Will appear lighter in initial colour
• Extremely little colour shift/fade over time - apart from embossing lines fading
• A more durable finish
• Surface temperature of brushed feels cooler than smooth
• Can more easily take paint or stain ,

Con’s

• Susceptible to "fatty" stains due to the exposed wood fibre.
• Will pick up dirt/stains/mould more easily due to wood fibres exposed (these can be cleaned)

Smooth

Pro’s

• More “plastic” at the surface gives better resistance to dirt and grime (stays cleaner)
• A more solid colour

Con’s

• Will show a degree of fade over the first few months
• Smoother surface feels a bit more “plastic”
• Surface temperature will get hotter - especially when new
• Smoother surface not quite as good for grip
• Cannot simply give a wire-brushing “touch-up” for scratches
• Needs to be well weathered before paint or stain will adhere properly

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