Ridding Your Hardwood Deck Of Mold

Ridding Your Hardwood Deck Of Mold

Ridding Your Hardwood Deck Of Mold

You are sitting in your favorite chair out on your deck and enjoying a hot cup of coffee when you glance down and notice IT. Mold; and it's growing on your deck. Where did it come from? How can you rid yourself of this invasive troublemaker? If left untreated the mold spreads wider and deeper and can eventually rot your deck. The first sign of mold is nature's way of warning you that prompt action is needed.

Mold isn't just a surface problem. Unfortunately mold can seep deep into many domestic species of hardwood including pine, cedar, and redwood. Even some exotic species like bamboo and teak are susceptible to this natural phenomenon. Therefore, you can't just clean mold off the surface of your deck because the spores will still be left and will continue to grow. Imagine wanting to rid your garden of weeds. You get a pair of shears and cut what you can see. You stand back and admire your weed-free garden until you begin to notice small shoots of weeds growing right back. In order to rid them for good, you have to get at the roots. It's the same with mold. Treating the top of your deck is only half of the job. You must actually kill the mold so that it doesn't re-grow.

How to treat your deck is dependent upon where the mold is growing. Assuming that you have caught it before any rot has occurred, and it is growing on top of your deck, you should be able to remove the mold rather easily. There are a couple of solutions. Some homeowners choose to use a bleach-based cleaner to kill the mold. Bear in mind that bleach can lighten and dry out your hardwood. If this is a concern, you might consider using a sodium percarbonate based product. This will also penetrate the deck boards killing the mold spores but is less harsh than the bleach products. Mold cannot live in temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit so another option is to use a steam-power sprayer with water temps above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Only if absolutely necessary, slightly sand your deck surface, being careful because as this will hinder the penetration of deck oil. Once your deck has been thoroughly cleaned and all traces of mold have been removed, you will want to seal your deck with an oil-based wood sealer and re-seal at least every five years. This will help to repel moisture, which is one cause of mold.

To prevent future outbreaks of mold on your deck, there are steps that you can take. First, make certain that you have adequate gap spacing between your deck boards and that your deck is pitched away from any structure to allow for the proper drainage of water. You want to sweep any debris from your deck at least once weekly. This includes the removal of leaves and pollen that may be present in the gaps between each board.

If you discover mold growing below your deck, you have way too much moisture under there. Was your deck built too close to the ground not leaving room for adequate ventilation? Do you have standing water below your deck caused by improper drainage or bad grading? Keeping these thoughts in mind, you may have to landscape or re-grade that area. Make certain that you don't have bark mulch under or around your deck. Although attractive, this is a breeding ground for mold. Remove it at once and replace it with other options.

When taking on the job of ridding your deck of mold you will want to choose a warm day with lots of sunshine. The sun will help the deck to dry faster and the warmth will aid in killing the mold. Just remember to treat it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of it rotting your deck.

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