The season here in the Pacific Northwest has again changed with a firm handshake, and it’s an excellent time to take stock of some maintenance issues in your outdoor landscape spaces.There are plenty of opportunities for pressure washing or broom cleaning!
Throughout the past ten years, we have installed countless decks, none of which have been cedar. 100% composite wood material is generally the choice, along with engineered wood, which I will discuss later. Composite wood is composed of recycled plastics and pulverized wood. Generally, composite decking is touted as a maintenance-free product, but we can use some TLC in the cleaning department annually due to our soggy, northwest climate. The algae will generally cling to northern-facing surfaces but, in time, can accumulate in other east, west, and southern-facing areas due to the lack of sun.
You can own or rent a pressure-washing unit or hire a professional if you don’t want to deal with the rain gear and mess. I’ll give you a few tips if you endeavor to take it on.
- Wear your rain gear!
- Be sure your hose is functional and will not spring a leak due to the sustained pressure being hooked up to the pressure washer.
- If you are new to operating a pressure washer, practice on a concrete surface first, if possible, using different settings. Get used to the kickback when you engage the nozzle-it can be startling at first if you have never operated one.
- Next, when you are ready to move on to your decking surface, be aware of the finish of the decking-they are all different, and many of the cheaper brands can splinter off if the pressure nozzle is too extreme or too close to the surface. This problem was more prevalent in the earlier composite decking, but you must still be careful.
- You will ideally want a wide nozzle as opposed to a narrow one. Take a practice run. Engage the nozzle in the air before you lower it down to the deck boards, roughly 6-12” above the deck board, and begin to clean the panels. Clean the boards in the direction they are running with the ‘grain .’The algae should lift off relatively quickly if the deck boards are wet. However, you may need to go over them back and forth 2 or 3 times. Once again, just be aware of the pressure and if it’s bearing down too close and striping off any of the finish on the deck boards.
If a pressure washer is not in the wheelhouse, grab that sturdy $20.00 push broom and a bucket of warm, sudsy water and get to work! It might take a little longer, but it can be a more manageable approach to getting the job done. Any nylon brush/ broom will work, but again, go with the ‘grain’ of the deck board, and don’t bear down too hard.
I should also note that depending on the brand and age of your composite decking, there could be complications with cleaning using either method, as some of these products were produced with less integrity and may decay prematurely. I recommend you speak with the manufacturer or the dealer before you endeavor to clean your decking using either method-disclaimer!
To follow up on a relatively new product to us in the states-engineered wood decking. We have only installed this on two projects, monitoring its strength and durability throughout the next few years. This is from the manufacturer: “Kebony is a patented technology that transforms sustainably sourced softwood into a durable and beautiful wood material through a process called furfurylation. In this process, the wood is impregnated with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural and food industry byproducts. The wood is then exposed to heat, causing chemical reactions that alter its cellular structure. As a result, Kebony wood becomes highly resistant to decay, fungi, and insects, making it ideal for outdoor applications.”
From what I’ve seen, it’s a pretty cool product because it looks like an exotic hardwood without the slash-and-burn methods that so many exotic hardwoods, such as Ipe, come with. It comes with a 30-year warranty but a lifetime expectancy, with the proper car of 50-100 years.
It was first engineered in Oslo, Norway, in 1997 and, by the early 2000, was being mass manufactured in many factories in various European countries. By 2009, it was starting to get some traction in the states and is now a sustainable wood decking and cladding product used widely in the construction industry. I thank a recent client for bringing this product onto my radar. It’s an excellent alternative for my clients who haven’t jumped to a composite type of material for different reasons and still have the authentic look of wood. Visit the Kebony website if you want to learn more about this product.
Quick shout out to the fabulous West Seattle Nursery, as they always create a fantastic holiday vibe from Halloween through the new year. They always have a great selection of trees, perennials, shrubs, and pottery, and West Seattle appreciates their staff and quality products. Check them out in person every day of the week! Thank you!
Lastly, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope to hear from you soon about the next outdoor project that Monetti Landscape Design & Construction, LLC can help you with. Except for a few days here and there when the weather is too lousy, we work all year round. If you are planning on a spring or summer project, the time is now to start work on that design so things are ready to go. Typically, drawing up a plan and rounding out the budget details can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks, depending on the scale of work.