Care and Maintenance
Preamble
A great feature of wood composite products is that you can have a great performing deck without the need for staining, oiling or painting etc, and the deck will continue to last without rotting, cracking or splinters. However, wood plastic composite products being 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…
click on the below topics to view details
Fading / Colour Softening
ModWood will undergo some colour change when exposed to the elements and this will primarily happen during the first couple of months.
When deciding which side of the ModWood decking boards to use you should refer to "Brushed or Smooth - Pros and Cons"
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; they can be cleaned fairly quickly with water-diluted Aqualis Composite Bright:
- 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 on 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.
A wash with Aqualis Composite Bright often assists in eliminating such marks and for those areas where water stain marks are an ongoing issue it should be possible to apply the Aqualis Composite Sealer to minimise the effect of water stain marks.
Mould
Mould colonies can develop on any outdoor area; this is generally due to air-borne spores landing in an environment that promotes mould growth. A slower-working, long-term and environmentally friendly solution is applying a product such as “Wet and Forget” – this works well but takes several months to take full effect.
A "quick fix" for this natural occurrence is the use of Aqualis Composite Bright plus Aqualis No Fungal Pro (must be used together) or SoSafe ESR pH Boosted NOTE: In all circumstances, Refer to the packaging for directions and usages.....
Possible results shown…
Image of 4 year old 88mm Silver Gum Decking
Scuffs and scratches
The following relates to natural grain collection only
Important- the brushed surface does not easily show scuffs and scratches. This side must be installed facing up if the area is 100% or has partially shade/cover. The smooth face can be installed where the deck is fully exposed to the weather.
- The initially darker side (smooth), due to excess lubricants on the surface of the product; will show scuffs and scratches more easily when new. By lightly rubbing on a decking oil with a clean rag the marks will be less noticeable e.g. Sceney's Natural decking oil. Exposure to the weather will see the board revert to its natural colour; thus hiding scuff and scratch marks.
- The "brushed" lighter side provides a more textured "timber-like" look and does not easily show scuffs and scratches. This face must be installed when the deck is either partially shaded or under 100% shade. The brushed finish can be wire-brushed or lightly sanded with coarse sandpaper to remove scratches. The area you brush will quickly fade out and hide your repair.
ModWood is a finished product-take care! To learn more about what can be done to repair please read Treating Scuffs and Scratches.
Tip – it is strongly recommended that all furniture on a ModWood deck has protective feet e.g. rubber stoppers applied to the legs to help prevent scuffing or scratching of the deck surface.
Silver Gum Weathering
During the weathering process Silver Gum may show some discolouration & this initial colour shift is a result of the wood fibres undergoing natural bleaching by the sun’s ultra violet rays. This is quite normal and occurs with all of our colours, however it is more noticeable with the lighter colours. Once the boards have completed the weathering process, typically 2 - 3 months after installation; ( The timing is highly dependent on UV exposure ) the colour will revert to its final silver/ grey colour.
Brushed or Smooth? Pros and Cons
Below are the pros and cons of using the different faces:-
BRUSHED (lighter coloured face up)
Pros
• Must be used for decks under roof/cover
• A more “timber-like” surface feel
• Better non-slip feel in wet areas (e.g. around pools)
• Does not show scratches as easily
• Heavy scratches may be sanded or wire-brushed out
• Less 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 water based clear sealed or coloured
• Can be sealed as soon as the decking is installed, especially under an alfresco roof line.
Cons
• 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 usually be cleaned)
SMOOTH (darker coloured face up)
Pros
• More “plastic” at the surface gives better resistance to dirt
and grime (stays cleaner)
• A more solid colour
Cons
• Will show a higher degree of fade over the first few months
• Smoother surface may feel 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
** For areas partially under roof/cover, the brushed / lighter side must face up. For fully exposed areas; either face can be used..
See our "Does ModWood Fade" in Q&A for further details.
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. Aqualis Sealer ( contact Aqualis directly and they can put pigment into the sealer ) is a rejuvenating stain and it is available in the ModWood colours.
In all circumstances you must follow instructions as stated on the packaging.
Anti-Slip Coating
For those areas where anti-slip/improved grip is critical Aqualis Composite Traction is a product that can be applied.
It is P4 compliant (AS/NZS 4586-2013) and a grit additive for P5 requirements is also available.
Refer to the packaging for directions and usages.
Graffiti Paint Removal
Trials have shown that it is possible to remove graffiti paint with application of Aqualis Strip-Ease.
Refer to the packaging for directions and usages.
Chalk lines
It is best to avoid coloured chalks that are used in construction as most coloured chalks are permanent! Best alternative is white chalk (Irwin Strait-Line Dust Off) or baby powder:
- Test on a small off-cut if unsure to confirm that you can clean chalk off successfully.
- Contact the chalk manufacturer before use should you require further information…
Can static electricity build up occur?
Static electricity is an everyday phenomenon. A build-up of an electrostatic charge is possible when walking over ModWood decking when wearing synthetic shoe sole material. If you touch metal, water, or another person when your body is highly charged, the charge is discharged quickly as the material is highly conductive. In this case you may feel a shock. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is especially problematic in dry, windy climatic conditions and low relative humidity. To minimise the effect of ESD by installing an anti-static mat.
Can audible tones occur between ModWood decking boards?
A grooved timber or synthetic decking profile has the potential to create wind harmonics, depending on the site and the decking orientation to the wind direction. Winds also need to reach a minimum velocity before the harmonics will start.
ModWood Xtreme Guard offers a square edge decking profile which will assist those sites where harmonics are a potential issue.
Customers are advised to contact ModWood who will assist with suggestions to minimise the noise level.
Pets
Xtreme Guard with it’s acrylic outer coating is more robust in regards to withstanding pet waste and its effects. Many surfaces can be affected by pets doing their business where they should not. There are several products available through supermarkets and hardware outlets to assist. Some clients have had success with “urine free” and “pet loo” products.
Laying mats over decking
Laying a mat over decking boards for extended periods may be problematic if the boards under the mat cannot ventilate and dry out.
This may result in board surface bubbling and/or splitting if the boards are unable to fully dry out.
When placing a mat over the deck boards you are protecting those boards from UV. You will find when moving the mat for maintenance i.e. cleaning that those boards will be of a darker colour compared to the surrounding boards.
To minimise this occurring try to move the mat if possible so the boards do receive exposure to UV.
By using the brushed side up (lighter colour side) of the Natural Grain Collection this will make this less of an issue.
External links
Following are some products we are aware of that are suitalbe for use with the ModWood Natural Grain Collection:
The Professionals Choice - Aqualis Coatings
sosafe.com.au
wetandforget.com.au
www.sceneys.com.au
www.irwin.com
In all circumstances you must follow instructions as stated on the packaging.
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General Cleaning
A simple sweep of the deck area will generally prevent build-up of dirt and grime (or even leaves) that could lead to unwanted marks, stains and mould. 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.
In all circumstances you must follow instructions as stated on packaging; a wash with something like "sugar soap" or "Sard Wonder soap" liquid solution will generally remove most dirt and grime. We have found that Aqualis Composite Bright or SoSafe ESR pH Boosted are good products for general cleaning.
For oil-based stains such as BBQ fat or sunscreen lotion, a water-dilution of degreaser such as “Kenco" works very well - again, follow the directions on the pack. Please note Kenco will lighten the pigment colour of the decking boards - follow instructions as stated on packaging exactly.
ModWood is relatively maintenance free but regular sweeping and periodical cleaning is important in keeping any outdoor area looking great. Do not use high pressure cleaners on ModWood.
- BBQ’s: 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. Aqualis Composite Sealer can also be applied to those areas which are subject to fat and oil staining marks.
- Pot Plants: It is advisable that they do not sit directly on the deck boards; raise them as you may get stain marks from overflow. You can keep the area clean by using warm soapy water. Occasionally you may need to move the pots around to minimise shadow marks.
Care and Maintenance Hard Copy.
Xtreme Guard Care & Maintenance Hard Copy.
Further reading at "Frequently Asked Questions".
