Use and Care Manual

Care and Maintenance
Veranda
®
ArmorGuard
™
and Fiberon
®
Horizon
®
Decking
Important Considerations
• Ensure minimum 6" of ventilation under the deck and required spacing between decking boards.
• Improve drainage or grade soil to eliminate standing water under decks.
• Direct downspouts, downspout extensions and splash guards away from decks.
• Position dryer vents away from decks.
• Maintain a deck that is dry and clean.
• Clean your deck as often as needed, at least twice each year.
• Use extreme caution with pressure washers and use at pressures less than 1,500 psi at 12" above deck surface.
Pressure washing is not recommended when mold/mildew are present on the deck.
• Keep debris out of gaps between the decking boards so rain showers can remove pollen and organic debris between
cleanings.
• Minimize the use of wet mulch up against the deck structure.
• Items stored directly on top of the deck surface, such as ower pots, prohibit water evaporation and can cause some
staining on the deck surface.
Ventilation
Make sure there is adequate and unobstructed air ow under the deck to prevent excessive water absorption. Improve
drainage or grade at areas where standing water may gather. For decks with limited ventilation, 6" of clear ventilation is
required between bottom of joists and fascia to grade.
Mind the Gap
If the gap between decking boards is less than 3/16", organic debris such as leaves, seeds or pollen can settle on the deck
and clog gaps. Water can pool, steeping organic debris that forms a “tea” or of tannin which may stain your deck. This
organic debris is a strong food source for mold. Keeping the gap clean is the easiest way to keep the deck clean. If gapping
becomes clogged, use a garden hose, a spatula, putty knife or similar tool to remove debris.
Clean Your Deck
Clean your deck as often as needed, at least twice each year to remove pollen, organic debris, dirt or stains. Generally, a
broom or a blower will work better than a hose for removing scattered organic materials like leaves. For general cleaning, use
soap and water or mild household cleaners.
Masonry Construction
It is important to protect decking during masonry construction. White or hazy residue from mineral deposits (eforescence)
can leach out of stone and masonry materials after water evaporates leaving the deposits behind. Minerals from soils in
certain arid and mountainous environments can also cause a hazing affect when deposited on the deck surface.
This can only be prevented with complete and secure coverage of the decking surface area during the construction phase or
installation of the decking after the masonry construction phase. To minimize this affect during masonry construction, keep
materials dry and allow masonry and cement to cure properly.
For mineral deposits left on the decking surface, periodic cleaning is required to maintain visual attractiveness. Fiberon
developed Fiberon Composite Deck Cleaner specically formulated for, and effective in cleaning dirt, clay, mud, soil, mineral
deposits and masonry and stucco residue. Be sure to follow the label instructions. Do not mix recommended cleaning
products together as harmful chemical reactions could occur.
Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew are common environmental conditions. Molds grow on decaying organic material such as wood, leaf decay
and pollen. Tiny and lightweight, mold spores travel easily through the air. Different climates experience varying degrees of
these conditions depending on the amount of moisture and heat present.
To thrive, mold and mildew need air, water, elevated temperatures and a food source. There is no way to eliminate all these
conditions in the environment. A wide variety of building materials including concrete, wood products, vinyl siding and many