How to Properly Clean Your Trex Deck

In Michigan, it seems like we’re going to get to summer weather without much of a spring.  We think we must be there now, right? This is a repost for those of you that have a TREX deck in the Midwest. If you’ve purchased one (hopefully from Miles Bradley in Michigan or Chicago), then you know how beautiful and low maintenance it really is.

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When spring cleaning your house, don’t forget about your Michigan deck. Leaving stains or improperly cleaning your deck can lead to the warranty on your deck being voided out. Miles Bradley recommends that you watch the video below to learn the proper steps to clean your Trex composite deck. Whether you’re in Novi, Northville, or anywhere in Michigan, winter probably left you with a deck that needs a good cleaning.

How to Properly Clean Your Trex Deck Without Voiding Your Warranty

Has the weather and use taken a toll on your Trex Composite Deck? You can clean your deck and give it that new look again with little to no effort at all. We recommend Olympic Deck Cleaner, with Olympic Deck Cleaner a hose, sprayer, and an optional scrub brush you can clean your whole Trex Composite Deck in one afternoon.

Trex composite decks are strong reliable decks that will maintain it’s beauty for years. But even the most reliable deck, will need cleaning from time to time, weather, people, animals, and overall wear and tear take their toll on any deck. With a good cleaning and proper maintenance, you can keep your Trex Composite Deck looking great for years to come.

Platinum Trex Deck Builder

If you are looking for the best deck builders in Michigan or Chicagoland, please contact us or request a quote today! Alternatively, please call Miles Bradley today at 248-478-8660 in the Detroit Area or 847-920-7601 in the Chicago Area. We are a Certified Trex Platinum Contractor!

How to Take Care of a Composite Deck

Do you have a composite deck but don’t know how to properly take care of it? Because composite decks are made from wood byproducts (i.e. wood chips, sawdust) and plastics, they require less maintenance work than other wood decks. These types of decks come in a variety of styles, colors, and grains to choose from.

Taking care of your deck isn’t a hard process at all. The first thing you should do is to grab a broom and dustpan and begin sweeping your deck. Sweeping frequently will help keep your deck clean. As you’re sweeping, make sure to sweep all of the debris off of your low-maintenance deck. Pick up any leaves or sticks that might be stuck within the cracks of your deck board. Composite decking material cannot be sanded nor refinished so if you see any stains on the deck, be sure to address them quickly so that they can be removed.

Composite Deck Cleaning

Next, scrub your deck with soap and hot water or composite deck cleaner. Use a deck brush while scrubbing the surface of your composite deck. The deck brush that you use should have soft bristles to make your deck even smoother.

Finally, rinse off your low-maintenance deck using the water hose. Make sure all of the soap’s residue is removed. If your composite deck has any marks on it, use nail polish remover, rubbing it in a circular motion, on a wet cotton ball to get it off. Once finished, allow your deck to dry.

Miles Bradley Building and Remodeling, INC specializes in building composite decks. If you’re interested or have any questions, contact us at any one of our locations.

How To Maintain A Trex Deck In The Fall

Fall is the perfect time to perform deck maintenance. Not only is the weather much cooler than the Summer weather but it is also the perfect time to perform safety checks before the Winter. Trex decking is incredibly low-maintenance and also hassle-free! Caring for Trex decks is extremely easy, especially in the Fall. Only occasionally do you have to perform any maintenance. Here are a few simple tips on how to maintain your Trex deck in the Fall. 

Simple Maintenance Tips To Maintain Your Trex Decking

• Avoid Standing Water. Standing water can cause the Trex material to fade or even weaken over long periods. Make sure that any excess water is drained or cleaned off before it can cause any lasting damage to your deck.
• Sweep Regularly. Items left on your deck for long periods can discolor the planks. Especially in the Fall when the leaves are falling constantly. Be sure to sweep regularly or whenever you see stray leaves on your Trex deck.
• Clean out your gutters. If the gutters get too full, water can drip and overflow onto the deck. Furthermore, you want to make sure that the gutter drain does not flow onto the Trex planks. This can cause color fading and material discoloration over time.

Why Should You Get Trex Decking?

Trex decking is a hassle-free, low-cost, and eco-friendly decking material. Made from 95% recycled materials, Trex planks contain special three-sided shell protection. This allows the planks to retain their beautiful look for many years in the color of your choice.

Here at Miles Bradley, our distinguished installers are experienced and certified Trex Platinum Contractors. We know how to install Trex and make it look its best. To get your new deck installed, contact us today and request a free quote. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to Take Care of Wood Decks

Owning a wood deck can add to your home’s outdoor beauty. With its warm and welcoming space, it could be used as the stage for fun outdoor activities. Wood decks have many perks to them, but being exposed to different weather climates can hinder them from being inviting. Learning how to properly take care of your wood deck can help avoid it from becoming weathered and damaged. These helpful tips will help to keep your wood deck in tip-top shape.

Wood Deck Cleaning Tips

The summertime brings lots of outdoor events, but also warm, dry weather. Now is a great time to do an inspection around your wood deck. Pay close attention to any planters, downspouts, or anything close to sources of water. When inspecting your deck:

1. Look around for signs of rotting-this includes the stairs, the perimeter post, and on top/underneath the deck. Grab a flat-blade screwdriver and gently push it into the area that’s being inspected. If you can push your screwdriver in about a quarter-inch or more, you most likely have rotted.
2. Do an inspection of the ledger-pay close attention to this, as this is one of the most important pieces of framing because it attaches the wood deck to the house. If a ledger is damaged or broken, there’s a huge possibility that your deck will collapse. Your deck’s ledger should be attached with not just nails, but lag screws.
3. Be sure to check the remaining posts, beams, and joists-if you notice that any of the hardware is rusted, please make sure to get them replaced as soon as possible.
4. Look for rotted decking boards or cracks-not all cracks are threatening, BUT if you find any damage, replace the piece. If you choose to not deal with it now, over time it’ll get worse. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Inspect the railing-give your railing a good shake to make sure that nothing is loose. If you notice that your railing is damaged or loose, simply remove the fastener and fill in the crack with an exterior-grade adhesive.

Taking care of your wood deck will help it to look brand new again. Before making any repairs to your wood deck, be sure to properly wash it with a pressure washer to remove any wood fibers or dirt from it. If you are interested in getting a deck installed in your backyard or have any questions about your wood deck, please don’t hesitate to contact us or you can fill out a free quote. Miles Bradley Building and Remodeling enjoys seeing our customers satisfied.

Prepare Your Deck For Winter

If you are looking to save time and money when cleaning and setting up your deck next spring, now is the perfect time to get a head start on preparing your deck for the winter. There are a few precautionary steps that you can take which will eliminate the surprise and/or expense come spring

• Thoroughly clean your deck. Before doing anything else to prep your deck or patio for the winter, cleaning the entire deck is a must. Using a formulated deck cleaner, wash away dirt, dust, mold, or mildew from corner to corner.

• Smooth your decks finish. Walk around your deck and search for cracked or chipped areas of your deck’s finish. You will want to fix these problems as they will worsen and possibly damage your wood come spring. Depending on the type of finish you have on your deck will determine the proper products for removing areas of finish that need to be restored.

• Restore your deck’s finish. After you have removed the unwanted finish from your deck, you will want to restore it before winter comes. If you leave them unfinished deterioration of the deck’s wood will occur, causing the need for wood replacement.

• Seal your deck. Using a water repellant wood sealer, cover your entire deck. The water-repellant will prevent sitting water from damaging the wood. Moisture spikes during the winter, as snow and ice tend to sit on decks. Not sealing your deck can cause wood to crack or warp from moisture.

Following the above steps can significantly save you from costly repairs. If your deck is already in need of replacement contact Miles Bradley Building and Remodeling in Michigan or Chicago, IL today, and ask about our low maintenance decks, eliminating the need for winter preparation!