Installation Guide

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GENERAL INFORMATION

TREX

DECKING AND RAILING GENERAL CARE AND CLEANING GUIDE

(COMPOSITE AND PVC)

*Strait-Line is a registered trademark of Irwin Industrial Tool Company.

**Use of products containing bleach or acid will lighten the surface of Trex. Use in an inconspicuous area to determine whether you like the effect.

Neither product will affect the structural integrity of Trex.

*** Pour-N-Restore is a registered trademark of Edgewater Industries.

NOTE: Trex does not recommend the placement of rubber or vinyl materials such as those in grill mats, rubber-backed welcome mats, vinyl or PVC potted

containers, etc., on the surface of Trex Escapes® for extended periods of time. Over time, additives in the rubber and PVC products have a tendency to

migrate from these materials to Trex Escapes, resulting in discoloration of the surface.

All exterior building materials require cleaning. Trex recommends basic cleaning with soap and hot water or a

commercially available deck cleaner twice a year. This will help maintain the beauty of Trex decking, fencing, railing,

and trim.

PROBLEM SOLUTION

Dirt and Debris

Clean deck to remove dirt and debris. Soap and hot water is all that is needed.

Chalk Lines

Most colored chalks are permanent. For Trex use either baby powder or Irwin Strait-Line

* Dust-Off

Marking Chalk available at Irwin.com

Visible Printing

The printing on the side of Trex decking boards are required by building codes. With careful

installation, most printing can be hidden. Visible printings can be lightened with acetone.

Water Spots, Leaf

Staining and Wood

Tannins

Tannin leaching occurs naturally in Trex and all wood-based products. Allow for at least

12 weeks of normal weathering. This process may be hastened through the use of a product

containing oxalic or phosphoric acid, commonly known as Deck Brightener.**

Ice and Snow

Calcium chloride or rock salt, available in many home centers, will melt ice on Trex decking. Rinse off

when first practical. Use caution when removing snow or ice with a snow shovel, and NEVER use a metal

snow shovel on a Trex deck. A shovel may scratch the deck, which is not covered under warranty.

Scuffs and Abrasions

Scuffs and abrasions can fade or disappear naturally after 12 - 16 weeks of weathering. This can be

accelerated with a product containing oxalic or phosphoric acid, also known as Deck Brightener.

Rust Stains, Ground-

In Dirt and Grime and

Pigment Staining

Use a cleaning product containing oxalic or phosphoric acid base, also know as Deck Brightener, to

lighten or remove rust or dirt. Product may need to sit on the stain for 10 - 15 minutes before rinsing.**

Oil/Grease/Food

Rinse the stain with hot water as soon as possible. Use Pour-N-Restore

*** (pour-n-restore.com)

as directed for any remaining stain. (Test in a small area ﬁrst as Pour-N-Restore may remove some

of the colorant from the decking surface.)

Mold and Mildew

Semi-annual (spring and fall) cleaning of your deck is important to prevent the buildup of pollen and

other debris that can support the growth of mold. Use conventional deck washes or cleaners that

contain sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and detergent (refer to Mold Technical Bulletin on page 9 for

speciﬁc recommendations).**

NOTE: Trex Escapes® can be effectively cleaned by using a hose and warm, soapy water with a soft

bristle brush.

Using a Pressure

Washer

Trex does not recommend the use of a pressure washer. The use of a pressure washer with a greater

than 1,500 psi and/or applied closer than 12" (30.5 cm) from the deck surface could damage

the decking surface and will void the warranty with respect to any condition caused by the

pressure washing.

Sanding

Trex does not recommend sanding. Sanding will change the appearance of the surface of Trex

material and will void the warranty with respect to any condition caused by such sanding.

Disposal

Trex decking and railing products should be disposed with normal construction debris or household

waste. DO NOT burn Trex products.

MOLD TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Mold is a lower form of plant life that can settle and

grow on any surface, including Trex

decking. Mildew is

a form of mold that grows on damp surfaces.

Mold spores, transported by air, insects, animals, and

water, are similar to seeds, but you can’t see them

until colonies form. Because mold adapts easily to its

environments and has a large number of species, it

is hard to control and impossible to eliminate totally.

But it will not affect the structural performance of Trex

decking.

To form visible colonies, mold needs food, moisture,

and temperatures between 40° - 90°F (4°C - 32°C).

Trex decking is not itself a food source but spilled dirt

and debris from ﬂowerpots and gutters can nourish

mold. If the gaps between deck boards are too small or

clogged, the decking can also supply moisture.

Refer to gapping instructions on page 20.

How to Remove Mold from Trex Composite

and PVC Decking

All exterior building materials require cleaning. Trex

is no exception. Periodic cleaning of Trex decking will

remove dirt and pollen that can feed mold. If mold

colonies appear, clean the deck with a commercial deck

wash containing a detergent and sodium hypochlorite

(bleach). The chemical will remove the mold but also

lighten the wood. In some cases, it will take several

treatments to remove the mold colonies. Even if the

spots are no longer visible, mold spores that could

re-grow may still be on the surface.

The following brands of deck cleaners are effective in

removing mold:

lympic

Premium Deck Cleaner*

» Expert Chemical

™

** Composite Deck Cleaner and

nhancer (expertchemicalinc.com)

Always apply these products to a dry deck. Applying

them to a wet deck will signiﬁcantly reduce the

bleach’s effectiveness. N

ER mix any other cleaners

(ammonia, phosphoric acid, etc.) with bleach.

» For a non-chlorine based alternative, you can use

traMean

,*** but you must scrub the deck with a

oft brush immediately after you apply the cleaner.

If you prefer an eco-friendly product, the following will

reduce the appearance of mold on the decking surface:

» Corte-Clean

**** Composite Deck Cleaner

(corteclean.com)

Mold spreads easily and may return in some

environments despite proper cleaning and preventative

measures. Mold does not damage Trex and will cause

no structural harm.

How to Remove Mold from Trex Transcend

Decking

If you allow debris such as pollen and dirt to remain on

the deck surface, mold can feed on the bioﬁlm. Use a

hose and warm soapy water with a soft bristle brush to

remove the food source and mold.

* Olympic

is a registered trademark of PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc.

** Expert Chemical

™

is a trademark of Expert Chemical, Inc.

*** UltraMean

is a registered trademark of Rhino Hide.

**** Corte-Clean

is a registered trademark of Corte LLC.