Snow And Ice Removal Tips For Your Deck
The Winter season can bombard your deck with high levels of moisture from rain, snow, and ice. When that happens, do you know the best way to remove snow and ice from your deck? By using improper methods, you can cause damage to the surface of your deck.
Getting ahead of the winter season
Homeowners want to make sure their decks are safe to use after heavy snow and ice storms. They want to be able to remove ice to safely walk on their decks and shovel the weight of snow to prevent cracks that can form from extended exposure to moisture. Snow and ice are also heavy on a deck and the weight of snow and ice could cause a deck to collapse if a deck has not been properly maintained.
To check the basic fitness of your deck, read the North American Deck and Railing Association’s or have an inspection done prior to the winter season.
Best practices for removing snow and ice from your deck
Because snow and ice are safety hazards, it’s essential that you remove snow and ice from heavy traffic areas on your deck even if you have used a high-quality waterproof sealant. So, what is the best way to do so without destroying the beauty of your deck?
Preventing Green Mold Moss And Green Algae Growth
You can save yourself time and money by being proactive – protecting your deck from mold, moss, mildew and algae before it takes hold. Here are a few simple ways to keep unwanted deck growths from moving in:
- Apply a deck stain or sealer: seal over your deck boards to keep moisture out. Thats a big deterrent for fungi and plants, which need damp environments to survive.
- Clean your deck regularly: fungi like mold and mildew feed on organic matter – and a deck covered in leaves, pine needles and dirt is like a buffet table for these deck pests. Regularly sweeping debris off your deck will starve out any potential fungal invaders.
- Choose composite deck boards: one huge advantage of composite deck boards are their protective shells, which keep water from seeping into your boards. Compared to wood boards, composite boards require less cleaning and less maintenance to keep fungi and deck growths away.
The more you know, the better your deck and backyard projects will be! Whether you’re looking at a brand new start or a fresh end-of-season deck renovation, give our deck designers a call at or send us an email at . Our deck experts will help you get the information, products, and tools you need for an awesome deck completely personalized to your needs!
Related Products
What Is The Best Way To Clean Decking
As already mentioned, the best way to clean decking depends on whether you have wood or composite boards. However, there are six basic steps for cleaning all decks.
A few helpful notes:
You May Like: How To Find Out If Your Home Has Mold
Other Mold Prevention Methods
Your first plan of attack is always preventing growth in the first place. To do this, you need to find out what is causing the moisture in your crawl space.
Check your dirt and your pipes. If your pipe is leaking, fix it. If the issues seem to be the dirt, you can place a dehumidifier or moisture absorber in your crawl space.
Here are a few other methods to help you prevent moisture in your crawl space:
- Add a plastic vapor barrier.
- Seal up your vents
You May Like: How Can You Detect Mold In Your Walls
If Necessary Sand The Wood
These cleaning solutions should take care of your mold problem, but if youve got some stubborn traces left under the surface, you have one last resort: sanding.
- Use 100-grit sandpaper to rub out the affected portion, taking care not to sand away too much of the surrounding areas.
- Repeat Step 2 to remove the dust and any loosened mold spores.
Read Also: Can Black Mold Make Me Sick
Not Getting Enough Sunlight
The absence of direct sunlight or shaded decks may encourage mold growth as the moisture doesnt evaporate, creating a perfect area for the mold spores to thrive. Shaded decks, especially when damp, also take longer to dry, fostering a breeding ground for mold and making them more prone to black mold growth.
Best Deck Cleaner To Remove Mold On Decks
Since weve published this article, we have received some input on the best deck cleaner for mold on decks. Here at DeckStainHelp.com, we take pride in the fact that we have become the Internets go-to source for all things exterior wood and deck restoration-related. Like before, we appreciate your input, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your deck stain projects.
Wood decks are not naturally resistant to mold. When speaking of mold on decks, mold is a general term people commonly use to describe what might be moss, lichen, green algae, mildew, or other types of fungal growth. Mold is like the universal word to cover anything green or spore-like growing places it should not be growing like on your deck. Mold on decks can cause problems besides just being treacherous to walk on when wet. The issue with mold on decks can range from completely unsightly to decay, wood rot, and major structural damage. The good news is that mold can be removed from decks using common deck cleaning methods.
Choosing the best deck cleaner for mold on decks can be easy by doing an online search for oxygenated deck cleaners. Deck cleaners like Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner, Defy Wood Cleaner, and Messmers Wood and Deck Cleaner are just a few that are commonly used by professionals. To remove mold on decks is just a matter of using the right deck cleaner.
Don’t Miss: How To Remediate Mold In Basement
How To Prevent And Remove Mildew Home Methods
Your browser does not support the video tag.Wanda Eubank
Betty FeatherDepartment of Textile and Apparel Management
Mildew can be found on many different surfaces. It is a thin, black, or sometimes white, growth produced by mold. Molds are simple plants belonging to the group known as fungi. Though molds are always present in the air, those that cause mildew need moisture and certain temperatures to grow. They commonly develop in humid summer weather, especially in closed houses.
These molds grow on anything from which they can get enough food. In homes they develop most often on cotton, linen, rayon, silk, wool, leather, wood and paper. Many synthetic fibers resist mildew.
Molds that cause mildew flourish wherever it is damp, warm, poorly lighted and/or where air is not circulated in cellars, crawl spaces of houses without basements and clothing closets. It can also be found on draperies and rugs in basement recreation rooms, on shower curtains and on damp clothes rolled up for ironing. These molds are also likely to grow in a new house because of moisture in the building materials.
As the molds grow, they cause considerable damage. They leave a musty odor they discolor fabrics and sometimes they eat into them until the fabrics rot and fall to pieces. They also discolor leather and paper.
You May Like: Does Home Inspection Include Mold
When To Hire A Professional
If the mold is caught early and only covers a small area, you should be able to remove it with household cleaners. For extensive mold problemsespecially those in poorly ventilated areas, such as crawlspacesor for anyone with mold allergies or a compromised respiratory system, consider hiring a professional.
Experts recommend that if mold covers 10 or more square feet of the wood surface, a professional should take care of the problem. When large areas are affected, the wood might need to be replaced and the infested wood disposed of properly. Local public health departments can offer advice on mold testing and refer you to an expert mold remover.
Recommended Reading: Are Black Mold Symptoms Reversible
How To Remove Green Mold From A Wooden Deck With Oxygen Bleach
For years, people have used chlorine bleach to clean their decks and for removing mold. While this is a useful measure for killing fungi, it can cause damage to the wood fibers. A safer alternative to chlorine bleach for mold cleaning is oxygen bleach. This homemade deck cleaner utilizes the strength of oxygen bleach, Borax, and soap to remove mold.
Sweep dirt and debris off the deck before you begin this method. Add the water, oxygen bleach, soap, and Borax into the bucket and mix the solution well until everything has dissolved. Apply the bleach solution by dipping the brush into the bucket and sloshing the mixture onto the wood.
Begin at the farthest side of the deck and work your way to the other as you scrub the deck surface. Re-wet the brush as needed. Allow the solution to sit on the decking for about 15 minutes and rinse the entire surface using a garden hose. You may opt to follow this treatment with a deck brightener solution.
Treat The Area With Dish Soap And Warm Water
Depending on how much you have to clean, mix about 1tps dish soap to 1 cup warm water. I had about 20 slat ends to treat so I tripled those quantities and refreshed the mix every 4-5 slats to ensure I wasnt scrubbing super dirty water back onto the wood.
Use the toothbrush, and a fair amount of elbow grease, and start scrubbing away at the affected areas.
Repeat the rounds and honestly, this lifted off a lot of the mold for me. Its super effective.
Renee Kraus, founder of Renees Cleaning Services recommends using . If the mold has not penetrated the wood, use a teaspoon of Dawn in a spray bottle filled with warm water. Spray the affected area, rub with soft-bristled brush. Wipe dry with a towel.
Don’t Miss: What Is In Tilex Mold And Mildew Remover
Poor Placement Of Fans
Poor placement of fans can be another factor that leads to black mold growth. Often, kitchen, dryer and bathroom vents may be opening up into an area of your house instead of outside. This allows damp to build up inside of your house which can lead to black mold growth. One of the most common causes of black mould growths in homes is poor ventilation. Additionally, a large variety of building materials actually provide the perfect nutrients to aid black mold growth, which would explain why black mold on wood is extremely common.
Clean It With Sodium Percarbonate
To remove mold from a deck, you need to clean the surface first with a cleaner that contains sodium percarbonate. If you dont have any, you can use a mixture of bleach and water. Bleach on wood can be damaging but you need to get rid of the mold as early as possible. Once you get rid of the mold, make sure you recoat the surface with a protective deck stain. For composite decking, a proper sealer is necessary to increase its protection against mold.
Also Check: Does Mold Cause Health Problems
White Mold On Walls/drywall
White mold grows on your walls or drywall in the presence of moisture and low lights that breed its food. It can develop anywhere on your building walls, including the basement, bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, and other poorly ventilated rooms. Surprisingly, you can also find white mold growing on your tiled walls.
You can see visible growth of this mold on your damp painted or wallpapered walls that are peeling. Accompany signs include stale smells, moist cracked paints, and dusty or swollen walls.
White mold growth on your drywall can be dangerous to the health of those with allergy symptoms. Its spores can spread from the walls to humans and cause health risks. So, before it strikes, act fast to strike it first.
Read Also: How To Clean Mold Off Canvas
The Difference Between Mildew And Mold
The most common type of mold found in homes is mildew. Mildew is a surface mold that grows in warm, damp places like basements, laundry rooms, and shady porches. Mildew begins as a gray or white powdery colony and eventually turns black or brown. To test whether the wood is covered with mildew or just dirt, dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in household chlorine bleach. If the stain lightens or disappears after two or three minutes, it’s mildew. If not, it’s probably just dirt.
Mildew can discolor and slowly harm wood surfaces. But there are much more dangerous molds that can damage the structure of your home. If a fuzzy or slimy black or green mold is visible and the drywall or wood underneath is soft or crumbles, there is irreversible rot. The damaged surfaces must be removed immediately.
You May Like: How To Get Black Mold Out Of Wood
Black Mold On Wooden Floors
Black mold manifests itself in the form of black spots. If you have wooden floors, you probably should be on the lookout for these toxic and damaging fungi. When your wooden floor comes into contact with moisture, it creates an excellent breeding ground for fungi growth. It does not only stain the floors but also growths beneath the surface and causes wood discoloration, rot, and warp. Immediate attention is paramount to prevent extensive damage and kill the black mold. Take a look at our in-depth guide to remove mold from floors.
Causes Of Mold Growth Outdoors
Mold grows best in a damp environment, so a deck that is frequently exposed to rain or snow is an ideal breeding ground. Mold infestations can be triggered by environmental causes such as leaf litter, pollen in the air, and fertilizer overspray. Mold will have an easier time growing on wood that hasnt been properly sealed.
Mold spores thrive in areas with little exposure to sunshine, so keep an eye out for this problem if you have a deck. Why does green mold grow? Find out in this article.
Also Check: What Kills Mold In The Body
Mold Mildew And Algae Stain Remover
Some products are EPA certified for use around gardens, plants, and other landscape features. However, they shouldnt be applied near water sources, rivers, or lakes. The concentrated formula is diluted following the manufacturers instructions. For some products, one-gallon makes 6-gallons, so one part product to 5 parts water and the 6-gallons treats up to 1200 ft². It should be applied using an attachable hose spray bottle, pump-up sprayer, bucket and mop or broom, or a hand-held sprayer for small spots.
Wet & Forget products contain no bleach and arent acidic or caustic. They should be applied on a morning with mild temperatures and no chance of rain for at least four hours. Spray or mop the solution on, and youre done. There is no rinsing or scrubbing needed. Dark or extreme stains should receive a second soaking 4 to 5 weeks later.
Note: For quicker results with moss or thicker organic stains, remove as much of the material as possible without damaging the deck surface. A pressure washer may prove helpful. Apply the diluted stain remover to the surface once the top layer has been removed.
How To Get Rid Of Black Mold On Hardwood Floors
If you have black mold on your hardwood floors, dont panic! While it can be unsightly, there are a few simple ways to get rid of it.First, start by sweeping or vacuuming the affected area to remove any loose mold spores. Then, mix up a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and use a sponge or brush to scrub the moldy area. Be sure to wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated space when using bleach.Once youve scrubbed away the mold, rinse the area with clean water and dry thoroughly. You may need to repeat this process a few times to completely get rid of the mold.If you have persistent black mold problems, you may need to replace the affected floorboards. If this is the case, be sure to consult with a professional before proceeding. Mold can be dangerous if not handled properly, so its best not to take any risks!
You May Like: How Do They Test For Mold Poisoning
