Decking Cleaning Bromley, Treating & Restoration Service. Deck Stripping & Sanding.
One of our most popular spring services. Decking cleaning and decking restoration’s best undertaken from mid-late April. We get very busy and usually book several weeks in advance for decking work. If you’re in Bromley, Beckenham, Chislehurst or Orpington and your deck needs cleaning, get in touch. Get booked in early…
Our full decking restoration service can include full deck stripping, sanding and treating. Our decking restoration service is now limited to Bromley and BR postcodes. This is due to time restraints and travelling.
Booking
Looking for decking cleaning, decking stripping or decking restoration around Bromley, Kent? You have come to the right place. In spring, we get booked up early for our decking restoration service. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. We have to book out around three days for your decking cleaning job, so dates go fast. A complete decking restoration usually requires more preparation and, thus, more time. It all depends on our lovely British Weather, as the deck needs to dry before it’s treated.
Deck before and after stripping and treating.
Time Scale
On day 1, we will do the initial cleaning. Then return the following day (weather permitting) to apply the first coat of oil. Depending on the oil brand, it is sometimes possible to apply two coats on the same day. Liberon oils applied wet on wet, with a 30min re-coat. If it’s a large area or you have balustrades or railings, then we would return on day 3 to apply the second coat. We have to book out the three days in case the weather turns. Stripping and sanding require more prep time, so extra time is required.
A deck has to be dry before it’s oiled. This is why it’s left overnight before re-treating. Our diary’s open for new season bookings once we get it. This is around the end of October. We can quote and book spring/summer work as far in advance as needed; it’s recommended to book early.
It doesn’t matter how big your deck is. We have cleaned and treated areas as small as a few steps to a 170sqM terrace with steps and balustrades.
170sqM deck cleaned and treated.
Pricing Structure
After careful consideration, we’ve had to restructure our deck work pricing. We get busier every year, and our decking restoration service is very popular. We pride ourselves on delivering the best workmanship for the most competitive price. Due to time restraints, we only offer our decking cleaning around Bromley and the BR area. Deck stripping and sanding can take several days, so we have had to limit the area we can offer our decking services.
A full decking restoration or one that requires stripping’s priced upon inspection. We like to assess most deck areas in person and give honest advice on making them look their best. Deck stripping takes extra time, so we prefer to view them in person to offer the best advice.
As there are different cleaning methods, we can offer various levels of service. For the best decking cleaning and restoration results, prep is critical. We offer a basic light clean to a full deep clean. The use of wood bleaches and brighteners can lift ingrained algae stains. Power scrubbing involves using an electric rotary brush to clean the wood. Surface buffing or sanding of smooth decks is beneficial. This helps remove any light surface splinters and fuzzies. We then finish it all off with a premium-grade deck oil in a colour of your choice of tint. You can choose from any level of service you wish with a decking cleaning solution to match most budgets.
Guideline prices can be found on our dedicated pricing page here.
The service levels we offer are as follows: –
- Just a Clean – (gentle pressure clean only)
- Basic Service – (gentle pressure clean) pre/post clean biocide chemical & Re-treat
- Deep Clean – Gentle pressure clean and a stain-lifting wood bleach and brightener, Re-treat.
- Deep Clean Plus – Gentle pressure clean, wood bleach and brightener, power scrub, Re-treat
- Deep Clean Full Service – As above but with the addition of a surface sand/buff.
All oiling labour prices are for treating the main horizontal deck surface only. Most deck boards have a small (around 5mm) gap between boards. The oiling process doesn’t include getting between the board gaps. The oil gets brushed between the gaps as we go, but we don’t make a point of working a brush in there. This damages our expensive deck brushes. If needed, we can treat the joints (some decks have larger gaps). This isn’t included in our general pricing structure as this requires a lot more time.
Balustrades and handrails are very time-consuming. There priced based on their size.
Contact us here or send us an email at dirtydriveaway@gmail.com
Got WhatsApp? Drop us some pictures. 07585 293902
Dirt Builds Up Fast
So you have moved into a new home with decking or recently had a nice deck laid. You may have noticed that your deck area isn’t as fresh looking as it once was. The wood has a subtle green tone in places as algae has begun to take hold. Has it become slippery over the winter months? Unfortunately, that expensive deck area won’t stay looking clean and new for very long. It weathers very fast and will soon begin to turn dirty and grey.
Winter months can take their toll on wood. Leaves and dirt from trees can cause the boards to become slippery over the wetter months. The best time of year for decking cleaning is late April to the end of August when the weather is warmer. The wood needs to be completely dry before the oil’s applied. So we need some half-decent warm sunshine to help it dry after cleaning.
Above is a job we undertook. It’s a hardwood deck made of red balau, built approx 3 years ago. Unfortunately, the contractor who laid it used the wrong type of oil. After attempting to clean, it was clear that the only way to revive this deck would be to use a power sander. It was all finished off in a premium clear UV oil.
Pretty Bad Shape
The customer who had the decking below was on the verge of having it all replaced. Instead, they decided to call us first to see if we could do anything with it. It was in quite a bad way, although it was not rotten. It was obvious that some flower pots had been residing on the deck for quite some time.
Flower pots and ornaments look lovely but can lead to rotting boards. The dampness beneath them cannot dry very well, and the excess water begins to soak into the wood. Over time, the boards start rotting. If a good quality oil was used, it may not have been so bad. Pots aren’t good for decking, especially during winter. It’s a good idea to keep pots on feet to allow ventilation.
Dirty and Very Weathered
Dirty Decking Given New Lease of Life
The decking was pre-treated, scrubbed, given a gentle pressure clean and then re-oiled. A vast improvement from when we started. We have found from experience that people leave it too late to treat their decks. Most oils will offer protection for around 2 years (depending on the number of coats applied). We recommend two coats of good-quality oil for the greatest protection. Of course, it won’t stop the area from getting dirty.
New Decks
Remember that when a new deck’s laid, it is usually left untreated. This allows the new boards to weather naturally. Wood needs time to adapt to the environment; fresh wood often moves and swells with humidity.
New softwood boards should have around two months, and hardwood boards around six months. We find that the problem is that this weathering period is often forgotten or not advised. Then the following year, you’re left wondering why your new deck has gone green and not looking as it did. Don’t forget to treat it…
Old decks, issues, splintering and what are those fuzzy bits?
We get lots of enquiries about our decking cleaning service. People ask for advice or help after attempting to clean it themselves.
Old Decks
If a deck’s left unprotected, then the chances are they will begin to rot in places within a few years. One of the biggest culprits for rotting boards is plant pots. When placed onto the wooden boards, the excess water doesn’t drain away. As this water can’t dry it gets absorbed into the wood and over time will begin to rot. If you want pots on your deck, then for the area’s longevity, place them on pot rollers.
Splintering
One of the most significant decking issues that we encounter is splintering. This is usually after an over-enthusiastic customer has pressure-washed it themselves. The only reason the wood would splinter is either too much pressure or you’ve used the lance too close to the wood. There is no easy fix for this and sanding the surface is the only way to smooth it. The biggest issue is there’s no dedicated tool available to get into the grooves. It will be hands and knees and some elbow grease to get rid of those splinters.
Fuzzy Bits
Another issue that’s not quite so obvious, but will become obvious if using a clear oil are wood fuzzies. It doesn’t matter if you use a pressure washer or not. You can get fuzzies even after a little scrub with a stiff brush.
Those fuzzies are pretty much dead wood fibres. As wood ages, it forms a natural grey defence known as patina. When the woods cleaned it removes some of this patina, and these fibres remain as fuzzies. There often left on the surface of the wood after cleaning. The only real option is to either sand/buff them out or live with them. If you’re using a coloured oil then you will hardly see them. The best way to remove them is by using a Scotch-Brite pad. This buffs them out without scratching the wood, but you’ll need a big machine buffer for entire decks. They won’t come out the grooves though.
Deck fuzzies are just dead wood fibres.
Utilising our rotary floor scrubber, we can sand/buff these fibres from the surface of your deck. The only real need for this service is if you want a clear natural finish. Anything with colour will dye the fibres and make them less visible. This only removes surface fuzzies and won’t get into the recesses on grooved decks.
Rotary floor buffer
Some of our Decking Cleaning Work
A recent deck cleaning job we finished near Bromley. The area had become dirty and very slippery when wet. Decking cleaning is not that expensive, the cost comes with the oil used to treat the wood. A good quality oil should last around 2 years, sometimes 3 if it has 2 coats. We cleaned and treated this deck with natural oak premium oil. A rinse down with an anti-fungal wash before winter can help keep the area slip free.
Oil vs Stain – Deck Stripping
Decking cleaning isn’t complicated; it takes time. Some people use wood stains on their decking areas. Wood stain is, well, that, a stain or colour. You can scour the internet looking for advice on decking treatments. Some will say staining is easy and cost-effective and gives excellent results. Yes, it can be a quick and straightforward solution, but once it goes down, it is a nightmare to remove. Read the small print on the tins and a lot say the same. Strip to bare wood before re-coating; not as straightforward as you thought.
You will find that stain begins to wear on high-traffic areas very fast. Sections of the deck that are open to the elements will flake and peel. Removing stain from these areas with a pressure washer is quite effective. Yet hidden areas such as beneath pots or furniture will need the use of strippers and extra prep work.
We’re licensed and certified to use “professional” grade strippers. These types of strippers can lift old wood stains in minutes.
There are specific deck stains, but if the area is not cleaned and prepped first, it won’t adhere. Even after six months, wood stains can begin to flake and peel. Once a deck’s stained, it can be very hard to remove without a lot of stripping agents. You cant overcoat on top of the old wood stain. Oil won’t adhere well, and all traces of old flaking and peeling coatings must be removed. We only use good quality oil, oils are now available in a variety of tints, from natural, dark oak and even black.
The oil penetrates the wood and offers far superior protection against the elements than stain. A good oil will soak into the wood giving deep protection. Water should bead on well-oiled wood and give around two years of protection.
Have a look at this video. The wood had been stained.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmtk8JB038c
We offer a full decking cleaning service with clean and retreat to complete restoration, including deck stripping. Our deck cleaning services extend from Bromley to all BR postal areas. Call us to discuss your requirements, and we can quote you the work. We only use good-quality oils from Osmo, Barrentine, Manns & Liberon. Expect to pay around £45.00+ for a tin of good oil. If you’re in Bromley or the surrounding areas and your deck needs cleaning, get in touch.
We have used many different oil brands over the years; each has its merits and weaknesses, the most common being dry time. Osmo offers the widest choice of colours in a range of natural wood shades. Osmo has the most profound pigment base out of all the oils, offering the most significant coverage and depth of colour. This is helpful when trying to cover over stubborn stains or marks.
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