Do you think that models cannot affect the composite decking materials? Well, think again. Mold is one of the natural environmental occurrences, and in the right conditions, it can show up almost anywhere. As it is not a product defect, most Toronto deck contractors do not cover it under the product performance warranty.
To keep your deck safe from the mold, you have to take proper steps. Choosing the capped composite materials for decking is perhaps the smartest step you can take to prevent mold growth. Other than this, here are some tricks that you can use to keep mold away from the decks.
What Is Mold?
To make sure that your deck stays safe from the molds, you have to understand what the mold is in the first place. Mold spores are lightweight and airborne. That means it can easily land on your deck if there’s any mold in the surrounding environment. Once the spores reach your deck, it takes a few key ingredients to grow.
The Key Ingredients For Mold Growth
There are four key things that molds and mildews require to grow. They are; water, air, 40-100 degrees Fahrenheit temperature, and a food source. The leaves, pollens and other organic materials are an excellent food source for the mold. That means by keeping your deck clean you can stave off the growth of the molds substantially.
Clean The Deck
As we have pointed out before, you have to clean your deck regularly to minimize mold growth. While you can clean the deck as often as you would like, Toronto deck contractors recommend that yearly twice cleaning is mandatory.
However, you should consider the climatic conditions of your area and clean your deck accordingly. Apply a mold inhibitor while cleaning the deck to stop future growths. After your deck has been cleaned thoroughly, you have to take care of it just like you take care of other furniture of your home.
Should You Power Wash a deck With Molds?
The Toronto Deck Contractors firmly indicated that power washing any deck that has been affected by mods would only enhance the problem. The force of the power washer pushes the molds further down the pores of the decking material. It could later make the condition of mold in your deck worse.
If you still want to use the power washing technique to clean the mold, you should apply the cleaners at least twice to make sure that the roots of the molds are neutralized. Before deciding about the power washing, you should also keep in mind that the process can damage the deck surface. So, while utilizing the power washer, be extremely cautious not to damage your deck in any way.
Products To Use
You should choose products that are heavy duty and mildly alkaline. Chlorinated products also remove the mold and mildew effectively. The best thing about these products is that they are bio-degradable.
So, these are some of the basic ways to stop the mold attacks on your decks. You can get in touch with Toronto deck contractors to understand the precautionary measures you should take before cleaning the deck. It would help you to clean the deck easily and more effectively in the long run.