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Decking cleaning for timber and composite boards
Softwood, hardwood and composite decking cleaned along the grain at low pressure — restoring grip and tone without leaving the lance marks a rushed job leaves behind.
The problem
Why decking turns green and slippery
Decking sits horizontally, holds water in the grain and in the gaps between boards, and spends much of the North West year damp. That is ideal for the thin algae film that makes a deck treacherous underfoot from autumn onwards.
The greying is separate. Timber that has weathered loses its surface tone, and debris packed into the board gaps stops the deck draining, which keeps the boards wetter for longer and speeds the whole cycle up.
Timber is far softer than paving, so the method matters more here than almost anywhere else on a property. Too much pressure raises and furs the grain and leaves permanent stripes across the boards, which is why cleaning is done along the grain at a pressure the board can take.
What the service involves
Decking cleaning lifts the algae, grime and greying film from timber or composite boards to restore grip and appearance, working with the grain and at a pressure the boards can take.
Timber is softer than most exterior surfaces. Too much pressure furs the grain and leaves permanent lance marks, so the method is chosen for the board, not the calendar.
Our method
How we approach decking cleaning
- 01
Assessment
We identify the board type and condition, check fixings and joists where visible, and look for soft or rotten timber.
- 02
Protection
Planting, adjoining paving and painted surfaces are protected and loose items moved.
- 03
Pre-treatment where needed
Where algae is heavy, a suitable treatment is applied and left to work.
- 04
Controlled cleaning
Boards are cleaned along the grain at low pressure, with gaps and edges detailed by hand.
- 05
Rinse and clean-up
The deck and surrounding area are rinsed and cleared of debris.
- 06
Inspection and aftercare
We review the boards with you, report loose fixings or decay, and advise on drying before any oil or stain is applied.
Real result
Before and after
What's included
Every decking cleaning visit
- Pressure matched to timber or composite
- Anti-slip algae treatment
- Grooves and edges hand-detailed
- Oiling and sealing available after drying
- Restores grip on boards that have become slippery
- Brings back the tone of the timber or composite
- Clears debris from board gaps so the deck drains and dries
- Prepares the surface for oiling or staining if you choose to treat it
What affects your quotation
Why we price each property individually
- Whether the boards are softwood, hardwood or composite, and their current condition
- Deck area, levels, steps and balustrades, and whether garden structures are included
- How heavy the algae film is, since a pre-treatment needs dwell time rather than more pressure
- Access to the deck and how much furniture, planting or screening has to be worked around
- Whether you intend to oil or stain afterwards, which is a separate visit once the timber is dry
Every quotation is prepared for the property in front of us. Tell us the surface, rough size and access and we will confirm the method and the price.
Surface care
Timber and composite considerations
- Cleaning is worked along the grain at low pressure; heavily weathered timber can still fur and may need a light sand.
- Soft or rotten boards and loose or corroded fixings are reported rather than cleaned over — those are a repair item.
- Old oil and stain finishes often clean off unevenly, so stripping or recoating may be the honest answer.
- Some marks in composite boards are within the material itself and will not lift however carefully the deck is cleaned.
- Timber has to dry thoroughly before any oil or stain is worth applying, so treatment is always a later visit.
How we reduce the risk
- A walk-round inspection before anything is switched on, so existing defects are noted and shown to you
- Method, pressure and nozzle selected for the substrate rather than a single setting used everywhere
- A small test area in a discreet spot where the surface is unusual, delicate or of unknown age
- Adjacent surfaces, planting, air bricks, vents and paintwork protected or avoided as appropriate
- Anything we find part-way through — a loose slab, a failed joint, a cracked tile — raised with you before we continue
Being straight with you
What cleaning cannot put right
- Rotten, split or cupped boards
- Failing joists or substructure
- Weathered silvering that has penetrated deep into the timber
- Permanent staining within composite boards
Keeping the result
- Let the timber dry thoroughly before applying any oil or stain
- Keep board gaps clear so water drains rather than sitting on the surface
- Clear leaf litter and standing debris through autumn — organic matter is what feeds regrowth
- Book a lighter maintenance visit before growth re-establishes rather than waiting for it to look bad again
Where a surface would genuinely benefit from protection once it is clean and dry, ask about exterior surface sealing.
Before we start
How we plan the job on the day
The right method for the surface, not simply more pressure. Before anything is switched on we look at what we are actually cleaning: the material, the contamination on it, the condition it is already in, and whether there is cracking or earlier repair work that needs treating carefully.
We also check the practical side. An outside tap is preferred so we do not have to run hoses through your home; where an indoor tap is needed, we agree a safe hose route, take the hose out carefully and keep the connection monitored and secure. The water flow affects how quickly our equipment or water tank refills. We look at where the water will travel, whether there is a suitable drain or gully, and whether anything is likely to pool. Access, nearby walls and render, planting and delicate areas are all noted so they can be protected or worked around.
If there is no outside tap, it helps to mention it when you enquire. It is easily worked around, but it is better known in advance than found on the morning.
Photographs and existing damage
A clear record of how we found it
We often photograph the area before we begin — split or lifting boards, loose fixings and worn areas. It gives an honest record of the property's condition, and it gives you a genuine before-and-after comparison once the work is finished.
If we find a defect, we would rather point it out than quietly clean over it. We will show you what we have found, adjust the method around the weaker area where that is sensible, and if continuing could do more harm than good we will stop and talk it through. Sometimes the right advice is to have another suitable tradesperson look at it first.
We would rather work carefully around a problem than knowingly make it worse.
What to expect
Realistic results from the surface you have
Cleaning can make a very large difference, but it cannot undo age. Weathering, worn surfaces, permanent staining, previous repairs and colour variation may still be visible afterwards. What we aim for is the best sensible improvement from the existing surface, and we will say so before we start if we think the result will be limited.
Decking and the paving around it wear differently, so they are quoted and cleaned on their own terms. See patio cleaning.
Why us
Why Refresh Revive?
White Glove Standard™
The same documented standard of workmanship and finish on every single visit.
Surface-Specific Cleaning Methods
Soft washing, pure water or controlled pressure — matched to the material, never guessed.
Before & After Photography
Every job recorded so you can see exactly what changed, including work at height.
Professional Equipment & Safe Chemistry
Commercial-grade equipment and correctly dosed products, applied by trained operatives.
Honest Advice with No Pressure Selling
If a treatment isn't right for your property, we tell you — and explain why.
10 Years of Industry Experience
A decade of hands-on industry experience brought to every assessment and clean.
Where we work
Decking cleaning from our Bolton, Greater Manchester base
We cover Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the wider North West for homes and commercial premises of every type, with much of our multi-service work in the premium Cheshire and south Manchester areas below. Check the towns we cover or ask if you are just outside them.
Related work
Often booked at the same visit
Driveway cleaning
Block paving, Indian sandstone, porcelain, concrete and tarmac restored with rotary surface cleaning and hand-lanced detail.
Read more →Patio cleaning
Patios brought back to their original colour, with jointing and planting protected throughout the clean.
Read more →Roof cleaning & moss removal
Moss removed from tiles and slate by hand, then soft washed with an appropriate treatment or soft-wash treatment. No high pressure is used on your roof covering.
Read more →Render cleaning
Soft washing for K-Rend, silicone render, painted render and pebbledash — the method is chosen after we assess the finish, so the coating is not worked mechanically.
Read more →Soft washing
Low-pressure soft washing for rendered and painted elevations — algae, lichen and black streaking treated at the root. For render and walls, not roofs; roof moss removal is a separate service.
Read more →Gutter clearing
Gutters and downpipes cleared by high-reach vacuum, with camera evidence of every run before and after.
Read more →Gutter, fascia & soffit cleaning
UPVC gutter faces, fascias and soffits washed down using pure water and soft brush heads.
Read more →Pure Water Window Cleaning
Professional exterior window cleaning using a purified-water reach-and-wash system for a clear, streak-free finish across glass, frames and sills. Safe high-reach cleaning from ground level, with no harsh detergents and no ladders resting against the property.
Read more →Stone & paving cleaning
Natural stone, flagging, York stone, limestone and porcelain cleaned with the care each material needs.
Read more →Conservatory cleaning
Conservatory roofs, frames, finials and box gutters cleaned so the light comes back into the room.
Read more →Wall & brick cleaning
Brickwork, stone walls and boundary walls cleaned of algae, staining and atmospheric grime.
Read more →Pressure washing
Controlled high-pressure cleaning for hard surfaces that can take it — paths, steps, yards, forecourts and walls.
Read more →Swimming Pool Surround Cleaning
Pool surrounds, coping and surrounding paving cleaned and de-slimed. This service covers the surround only — not pool water, liners, filtration or internal pool systems.
Read more →Quotation journey
How quotations work
- 01
Choose how to enquire
Use the Get a Free Quote journey or the Send Photos on WhatsApp option.
- 02
Share useful details
Describe the surface, condition, access and the work required. Photos can help show the area.
- 03
Confirm the scope
The suitable approach and your quotation are based on the information available and the work required.
The final quotation can depend on size, surface, condition, access, treatment required, complexity and additional services.
Next step
Get a free quote for decking cleaning
Send us a few clear photographs, your location, the surface or area you want cleaned and a short description of the problem. We normally respond within one working day with the method we would use and the price. Where a job needs a closer look, we say so rather than guess.
Prefer email? Send your photographs and details to info@refreshrevivecleaning.co.uk or call 07549 064190.