Wood, Composites, Plastic Decking Discussed

Veranda Decking Care and Cleaning

 Cleaning and Care

How to clean and maintain Veranda Decking and Railing?
You will want to take time to wash with soap and water as necessary to remove surface dirt and chalk, which accumulates on the deck surface. This aids too in the prevention of build-up of pollen and debris that can cause mold and mildew growth

.Most cases soap and water will maintain the appearance of Veranda products. If grime, ground-in dirt, or rust marks become a problem, use a cleaning product with a phosphoric acid base.

Commercial pressure washers will also remove ground in dirt, mold and mildew stains. Careful pressure washing may be done annually at the beginning of the outdoor living season. Test on an inconspicuous area before pressure washing the entire deck. When pressure washing, be sure to use a spray nozzle and not a stream nozzle. Always pressure wash with cold water and keep about 1 foot away from the deck while washing.

To get rid of mold, use conventional deck washers or cleaners that contain sodium per carbonate and detergent.  Commercial pressure washers will remove ground-in dirt and mold or mildew stains. Test on an inconspicuous area before pressure washing the entire deck. When pressure washing, be sure to use a spray nozzle and not a stream nozzle. Always pressure wash with cold water and keep the spray nozzle about 1 foot away from the deck while washing.

Basic Deck Cleaning Agents:

1. Deck wash/cleaners usually contain sodium percarbonate and a detergent. Effective on
   normal dirt and grime, and bleaches out mold and mildew stains.

2. Phosphoric acid cleaners are effective on rust stains from metal furniture.

3. Commercial degreasers contain propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, and various detergents for removing grease and oil stains.

4. Spot removers/thinners can be used sparingly on particularly stubborn grease or oil stains but should be washed off quickly with water, as it will attack the grain pattern. They normally include petroleum distillates, xylene, methanol, acetone, or other organic solvents.

What do I do if I get stains on Veranda?
Veranda resists accidental staining better than regular wood decking because it is a plastic and wood composite. Many stains can be removed with household cleaners and degreasers. If your deck gets stained deal with it quickly. Don’t allow stains to penetrate the deck’s surface or bake on under direct sunlight. If you use a barbecue grill on your deck, keep a splatter guard underneath it, as grills are a major source of grease stains and burns. To prevent water from pooling in the surface of the deck and staining it, make sure the deck boards have gaps between them to allow the standing water to drain.

How do I repair Veranda if it gets scratched?
Just as wood-decking materials can get marred or gouged, the surface of Veranda can also be scratched. We recommend allowing normal wear marks to fade as they will blend in with the weathered color. If the brushed side of the deck board gets scratched, you can use a wire brush and brush in the same direction as the original grain. In doing so you will expose the non-weathered decking and so will experience a color difference. Replace severely damaged pieces.

Can Veranda be painted or stained?
While not recommended, Veranda can be stained after three months of exposure to various weather conditions. When staining Veranda, ensure that the stain is intended for use on composite wood products. By choosing to stain Veranda, a relatively low-maintenance product changes to one that will require more upkeep. Always test a small, hidden portion of the deck before staining the entire deck. Painting Veranda is not recommended as most paints will not adhere to the surface well and will rapidly begin to peel. Composite wood products do not accept paint or stain as well as wood, therefore, it will not have the same appearance as painted or stained wood.

If I apply stain to Veranda Decking and Railing, how long will the stain last?
Durability of stain products varies by manufacturer. Exposure to ultra-violet light and surface traffic will also affect the stains’ performance. Most manufacturers’ literature indicates re-staining about every two years.

Does Veranda require water sealing?
No. Veranda requires only periodic cleaning with soap and water. Deck sealants are not recommended or required.

Can I use ice melt products on Veranda decking?
We are not aware of any adverse effects from the temporary use of ice melting products on Veranda decking, however we recommend using an ice melt product that does not have as harsh of an effect to the surface. These types of ice melt products may indicate "will not harm concrete" or "will not kill grass". Ensure after the ice and snow melts that you brush off residue ice melt product.

Veranda Composite Decking is sold exclusively through Home Depot stores. Veranda Decking is produced regionally by Universal Forest Products, Inc., Fiber Composites, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, and McFarland Cascade.

Veranda decking is reversible with a combed finish on one side and an embossed, wood grain finish on the other. Choose from three classic deck colors — redwood, cedar and gray — in 8-, 12- and 16-foot lengths.
 

Stylish, new universal handrail with uniform moulded matte finish, reversible to use as top or bottom rail of railing system. The handrail is available in 8’ lengths.
 

Installation Instructions
Veranda™ composite decking and railing offer performance advantages compared to standard wood decking without added complexity or extra steps. Refer to the following link for simple instructions on how to make your Veranda installation go smoothly – from the first time you use the products.

Veranda Decking & Railing Installation Instructions (pdf - 417 KB)

As with any building project, installing Veranda turns out best when you think through the entire process in advance, familiarizing yourself with the materials and their application. Please review the following tips before starting work on a Veranda deck. For additional installation support, call 877-463-8379.

The appearance of this product changes when viewed from different ends. To achieve the most consistent color, install all of the boards in the same direction using the end tags as a point of reference or install all of the boards with the arrows on the product stickers pointing in the same direction. Installing boards in opposing directions will create contrasting light and dark shades of the deck board color and is not covered under warranty.

Prior to construction, check with your local regulatory agency for special code requirements in your area. For best results, follow these simple installation instructions, paying close attention to gapping, spacing and fastener requirements. Joist Span - 16" on-center for residential perpendicular applications. Residential parquet patterns, diagonal or herringbone designs all require joist spacing 12" on-center. Contact Veranda product support at 877-463-8379 for commercial applications. Side Gapping - 1/4". End Spacing - allow a minimum of 1/16" gap for every 20 degrees F° of difference between installation temperature and the hottest temperature expected. Additional blocking may be needed for support (see Figure 1). After all of the decking has been attached, snap a chalk (use white or yellow chalk, blue and red chalk will take extra time to wear off the surface) line flush with or up to 1-1/2" out from the deck framing and trim with a circular saw.

Veranda decking, like all wood and composite decking products, requires proper ventilation and drainage in order to ensure its longevity. When using a minimum 2x6 joist standing on edge and the suggested 1/4" side gap, there should be a 2" clear space between the bottom edge of the joists and grade in order to allow for proper ventilation. Adequate drainage is also needed to prevent water from pooling under the deck.

Fasteners
For ease of installation, we recommend using 2-1/2" corrosion-resistant, composite wood deck screws (i.e., TrapEase™ by OMG). These screws help prevent the common "mushroom" effect that sometimes occurs when using standard fasteners. It can also reduce the amount of pre-drilling and countersinking. If using ordinary coarse thread deck screws, the best results are achieved by pre-drilling a pilot hole and countersinking prior to driving screws. Screws should be driven flush with the Veranda surface. Do not over drive. Use 2 fasteners per deck board at each joist. For any decking where two boards meet end-to-end over a joist, add additional blocking (see Figure 1). Always pre-drill a pilot hole at board ends when using either composite or wood screws.

Color Variation
Like most composites, Veranda composite decking and railing will have slight color variations from piece to piece. This is due to naturally occurring variations in wood fibers and polymers. Purchasing all required decking material at one time is recommended as manufacturing runs can produce slightly different colors. Do not install if color variation is not acceptable. Veranda will lighten somewhat over time, and color variation is not covered by the warranty. This color tone shift is dependent upon exposure to sunlight and other environmental factors and is generally completed in 60-90 days. Gray products may turn a light brown before changing to lighter gray.

Veranda Composite Decking is sold exclusively through Home Depot stores. Veranda Decking is produced regionally by Universal Forest Products, Inc., Fiber Composites, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, and McFarland Cascade. The products described on this website are manufactured by Universal Forest Products.

See Veranda Decking Part 5 Warranty, Fasteners, more 

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