We all know how important first impressions are, especially when it comes to creating satisfied customers! So as important as it is to avoid bend or buckle and to smooth rough spots, none of those things will be as obvious as serious as appearance-only issues such as fluctuations in color, ground-in dirt, mineral deposits, and water stains. So in this post, we’re going to discuss what you need to do to eliminate all those unavoidable but unsightly blemishes on your deck and to arrive at that pristine finished product at last!
Our Favorite Deck Cleaning and Brightening Products
Honestly, the best way you can achieve the finished appearance for your deck is to use a quality deck cleaner and brightener product. Basically, the cleaner includes abrasive properties, so it helps scour the boards and remove any dirt and gunk that’s so deeply ground in or baked on. Some of this stuff is so stubborn that it resists pressure washing, but a good deck cleaner will take care of it. The brightener can be applied to your clean deck; since this product includes acid, it essentially lightens, while removing any graying that has already taken place due to exposure to UV rays.
Some cheaper products use only bleach which can cause harm to the wood itself while also preventing it from being able to respond well to stains or oils. Higher quality products use citric acid and other ingredients that are more gentle not only to the wood but also to the soil and plants you have underneath and around the deck.
Products You Need To Apply as Part of Ongoing Maintenance
Your newly installed deck may be ready for oil once the cleaner is applied; you may wish to wait for a few days to see how the color changes when exposed to sunlight. If you think the colors still require more blending, you may wish to apply a brightener. Years later, you can also apply brighteners in order to refresh your deck’s appearance. Decking oil is also something you will want to reapply. For those reasons, not only do we consider decking boards to be unfinished products, but we also refuse to use the term “maintenance free”; in order to preserve the appearance of your deck, you will need to perform some regular maintenance.
In addition to top species of tropical hardwood decking, J. Gibson McIlvain also supplies our customers with premium deck cleaner and brightener. And there’s something else we offer that sets us apart from the competition even more: lumber education. Whether you’re in a quandary about which decking species to use, which fastening style makes more sense, or what size gap to use between boards, our lumber experts are ready and willing to help you evaluate your decking project based on its unique setting and your individual needs.
