Why will chlorine bleach (household bleach, Clorox) hurt my wood?
Many people cleaning wood use regular household (chlorine) bleach diluted
and/or mixed with another product. While chlorine bleach has it’s place and is
great for some applications, we do not use, nor recommend its use for cleaning
wood. While it does a quick and seemingly good job of taking the old dark stain
away, it leaves the wood damaged and actually does more harm than good for the
long run. Basically, it lowers the life of your decking, siding and other
exterior wood surfaces by destroying the wood tissue. The products we use are
not chlorine bleach based. They do not leave a slippery surface after being
properly removed and they do not harm your wood. Also, there are different
products for different wood types.
What is the process for cleaning and sealing my deck/pier/floating
dock?
First, the wood must be cleaned thoroughly to remove the dead surface and
any mildew and other foreign matter on the surface. This job varies in depth according
to the age of the wood and the amount of exposure to the elements. Sun and
moisture are tough on wood and, being in
Cleaning is done with a pre-spray on dry wood that is allowed a short
dwell time, and then removed with low water pressure. This destroys mold,
eliminates other foreign matter and dead/dry surface cells, exposing a natural,
clean surface.
Next, after a period of drying time, usually a few days at most in dry
weather, a coating can be applied.
My deck/pier/etc... is made of treated lumber. Why does it need
further protection?
Treated lumber will last a long time. The big factor is warping and
splintering. You have probably seen the difference in a deck that is new and a
deck that is old and not had any extra protection. The old deck will be gray or
darker in color and many boards will be warped and splintering. There may be
mold, mildew and other harmful agents at work. This can be cleaned as described
above, and made to look nearly new again. With proper protection from the
elements, the wood can be kept looking great for years.
A note on treated
wood…
If you are interested, check out the EPA’s site on Chromate Copper Arsenate (CCA) http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/
This was the standard mix
used to treat lumber up until very recently. It was discontinued due to health
concerns. It is still used on lumber in dimension 6” x 6” and greater for
ground and water contact. If you have noticed a color difference in some of the
treated wood you see these days, this may be the reason. Some of the new
treatments don’t create the greenish tint we were used to seeing.
What options are there in stains and sealants?
These are nearly as varied as taste is. There are sealants that contain
no stain and there are combined sealants with stain. There are many different products and
technologies on the market. Prices can range from $15.00 a gallon to as much as
$100 a gallon. Generally, the higher the content of solids or “active
ingredients” in the product, the better the product is for keeping your wood in
good condition.
There are solid stains for decks and siding that completely hide the wood
color, semi solid stains that color the wood, but allow some of the natural
wood color to show, and translucent stains.
Even if you prefer the gray/silver look of naturally aged wood, there are
stains that offer it. There are also high grade penetrating chemicals that
protect wood while allowing it to age naturally in appearance.
We would be glad to show you samples of some of the coatings we prefer
for decking and other surfaces.
How often do I need to think of maintenance on my exterior wood?
This depends on what has been done in the past, if anything. If your wood
has never been sealed and it’s structurally sound, it’s always a good time to
extend the life with a coat of sealer. If it has been maintained, the
maintenance schedule depends on the life of the product used. For sealers with
color stains, you may notice the color fail before the protective properties
fail. Usually even long warranted coatings need the color refreshed in about 3
years to maintain the best appearance.
Coatings on vertical surfaces last longer for obvious reasons. Semi solid
and solid stains usually give from 5 to 7 years. Maybe 10 years on sides that are well
protected.
Coatings with no pigment (stain) offer little to no UV protection from
sun damage. If you like the gray or silver look of weathered wood, you can use
a coating with no UV protection, only sealer, and allow the wood to age
naturally in appearance.
What maintenance is recommended for exterior CEDAR or REDWOOD?
We see a lot of modern architecture that incorporates cedar or redwood
siding/decking and cedar roofing. Not
only are these woods beautiful, they are durable as well. A lot of modern cedar
shake roofing is applied over water & ice barrier and the shakes are mainly
decorative.
Some cedar roofing is factory treated, while most is not. For the best
life expectancy, shake roofing should be cleaned and treated with a sealer or
sealer/stain about every 5 years. The cleaning process for cedar and redwood is
similar to other woods, but must be handled very carefully. Even more so on
shake roofing. For decking, gentle cleaning
What are those stains on my shingle roof?
The majority of roof stains
are caused by the air-born spores from black algae, fungus and mold. The
spores land on your roof and grow on the asphalt material the shingles are made
from. Some stains are caused by debris or rust from metal. If left untreated,
algae growth can cause your shingles to dry, crack and curl. With proper
maintenance, your roof should last at least as long as the warranty period. We
remove the stains with a product that specifically attacks the algae and
spores, allows them to be washed away and keeps more growth from forming for at
least a year. After application of the cleaner, the roof can be washed with low
pressure for immediate results. Or, several good rains will wash the roof
effectively. We will inspect your roof to determine if this service will be
beneficial. We do not recommend washing older roofs, and shingles should be in
good condition for any treatment. NEVER USE CHLORINE BLEACH (CLOROX) ON
SHINGLES.
Where
is ShineBrite LLC located?
Our home based business is
located on State Hwy 9 N in Coosa County. We are an hour or less from Birmingham, Montgomery
and Auburn. We are close to Alexander City, Lake Martin, Sylacauga, Ashland & Lineville. We have also worked on Logan Martin Lake.
Is
your business licensed and insured?
Yes, we are licensed in the
areas required and we have full commercial liability insurance.