Decking

[Rosee]

Hi all,

My new garden has decking from the back door and the outbuilding....so the majority of the garden really barring the sides.

It's full of mildew and really slippery (I've done the splits a couple of times now...ow!) it's not so bad when it's dry but as soon as it's wet it's a death trap, I have an 18mnth old son so I want it to be as safe as possible for him.

Would jet washing it sort it? Anyone got any hints and tips on restoring it or should I just replace it?

Thanks x

[chris]

Yes, it's algae growing on it.

You can but non slip paint but I've no experience of it. I got rid of my decking for that very reason.


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[mothhawk]

Rip it up and use the wood to make raised beds.
Decking is best for countries with a lot less damp and rain than the UK

[andy_j]

if i had any spare cash, i'd cover mine with artificial grass. It's absolutely lethal

[Rosee]

Thanks guys, I know there's only soil underneath it, I've considered getting rid but other than more decking I wouldn't know what to replace it with, it's not a massive area and it has 3 doors which go onto it so I wouldn't want it grassed

It's so slippery lol, I look like in walking on a tightrope everytime I cross it haha

[Martin H]

The pressure washer will get the algae off no problem. There is also anti-alga stuff you can wipe on to slow down its re-appearance.

[Bigmallly]

If you are wanting to keep a hard area, I would thing paving slabs maybe safer for a youngster underfoot. Then again you may have head injuries to consider..........

[Rosee]

Thought about that too bigmally we'd need a step down from each door to ground level but I suppose that wouldn't be a problem, but I think (I'll be running outside to check once the little ones finished eating) that the fence sits on top of the decking so there'd be a gap under the fence (I think?) how would I deal with that?

[arpoet]

if you clean your decking as advised until you are almost down to the bare wood then re-paint twice with fence and decking paint, with fine sharp sand mixed into it.

[ancee]

There is that new decking stuff made from something other than wood - a sort of resin. Doesn't need maintenance, it's used loads in Canada. (I am sad, and watch a programme called 'Decked out' where these surfer dudes revamp backyards using this stuff and the results are amazing!) I'm not sure if we sell it here or whether it is less slippery though.
Alternatively we made our decking out of old scaffolding planks, we sanded them back and stained them. They are not slippery at all. They've been down about 10 months now and are weathering well. So far so good

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hi all,

My new garden has decking from the back door and the outbuilding....so the majority of the garden really barring the sides.

It's full of mildew and really slippery (I've done the splits a couple of times now...ow!) it's not so bad when it's dry but as soon as it's wet it's a death trap, I have an 18mnth old son so I want it to be as safe as possible for him.

Would jet washing it sort it? Anyone got any hints and tips on restoring it or should I just replace it?

Thanks x

Fill a 10ltr watering can containing 300 mls of j*e*y*s fluid with water and then water this solution over your decking and then just leave.(I use a weedkiller application bar) This will kill any moulds/algae and it should no longer be slippy. After a few days, give the decking a good scrub with a solution of water and detergent and then hose off. Pressure washer is brill if you have one.

Decking should last for many years and is expensive to replace but if you do go down that road, don't throw the old decking out. It is brill for making raised beds/bird boxes/ planters. If you're not into DIY, offer it on freecycle/freegle. Someone like me will bite your hand off.

[ancee]

Also, a lot of people don't think to TURN IT OVER!! It's all lovely and new on the other side, don't go and buy new stuff, turn the planks over and start again

[Bill HH]

In the absence of a pressure washer strong solution of bleach will kill the algae, I do mine once a year.Pick a dry day and leave it on for an hour or so. if you use a decking preserving paint it stops it returning (for a while)

[Dorothy rouse]

We jet wash ours once a year, with some solution designed to clean decking, then every other year or so, when the washed boards have dried out, treat them with decking stuff ( preservative ?). Ours is a balcony area, off the lounge, and I actually run the vacuum cleaner over the boards in summer when it's dry, get all the bits of rubbish up,sure thus helps not to get so slippy! People look up and wonder what I'doing!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Trouble is if you replace the decking with slabs you are quite likely to have the same problem.

I have to jet wash my patio's every spring to clear of the green algae.

You will find it comes away very easily with a jet washer.

Potty