Composite decking is sold as low maintenance, not no maintenance. Here is what you actually need to do to keep it looking great.

What You Do Not Have to Do

Let us start with the good news. Composite decks do not need to be stained, sealed, or sanded. You will never have to pull splinters out of your kids' feet. Boards do not rot, warp, or split when properly installed.

Compared to a wood deck, composite cuts maintenance time down by roughly 80 percent.

Wash It Twice a Year

Composite decks should be washed at least twice a year. Spring and fall are the natural times to do it. Use warm soapy water, a soft-bristle brush, and rinse with a garden hose. That is usually all it takes.

Heavily used decks or decks under trees may benefit from quarterly cleaning.

Pollen and Tree Sap

Yellow pollen in spring is part of life in Georgia. It washes off composite easily with a hose and a soft brush. Tree sap and pine pitch are stickier. Mineral spirits or a composite-safe spot cleaner usually handles these without damaging the cap.

Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first to make sure it does not affect the color.

Mildew Spots in Shaded Areas

Even composite can develop mildew in damp shaded spots, especially under deck furniture or beneath trees. A solution of warm water and a small amount of bleach scrubbed gently with a soft brush usually clears it up.

Keep furniture moved a few inches every couple of months and sweep regularly to prevent mildew from getting started.

Avoid Pressure Washing on High

Composite is durable but the cap stock can be damaged by aggressive pressure washing. If you do use a pressure washer, keep it under 1500 PSI, use a wide tip, and stay at least a foot from the surface.

A garden hose with a spray nozzle handles 95 percent of routine cleaning.

Keep Snow Removal Gentle

We do not get a lot of snow in North Georgia, but when we do, use a plastic shovel rather than a metal one. Avoid rock salt or de-icers with chloride, which can damage the cap. Calcium chloride or sand is safer for composite.

A few small storms a year is rarely a real maintenance issue here, but it is worth knowing the right approach.

Protect from Hot Coals and Open Flames

Composite is heat resistant but not fireproof. Never empty hot coals from a grill or fire pit directly onto the deck. Use a metal grill mat or grill pad under any open-flame appliance.

These small precautions prevent the few real damage scenarios that affect composite.

Long-Term Performance

With basic care, a quality composite deck looks great for decades. Most premium composite carries 25 to 50-year warranties because the manufacturers know how well the products hold up.

If you are deciding between wood and composite, the maintenance difference is one of the strongest arguments for composite.

Pro Tips From Our Crews

• Wash twice a year with mild soap and water. That is usually all it takes.

• Move furniture every couple of months to prevent mildew under the legs.

• Avoid pressure washing above 1500 PSI on composite cap stock.

• Use plastic shovels and chloride-free de-icers in winter.

• Never empty hot grill coals directly onto composite. Use a grill mat.

Composite decks really are low maintenance, but low maintenance does not mean zero. The customers who get the most life out of their composite decks are the ones who keep up with the basic washing schedule and avoid the few real damage scenarios. Do those things and your composite deck will look great decades from now.

Common Questions From North Georgia Homeowners

What if my composite deck has visible fading?

First-generation composite without cap stock did fade significantly. Modern capped composite holds color very well. If you have older composite that has faded, replacement is usually the right answer rather than trying to restore the original color.

Can I paint or stain composite to change the color?

We do not recommend it. Composite is designed not to absorb finishes, which is part of what makes it low maintenance. Paint or stain on composite typically fails quickly and looks bad. If you want a different color, replacing the boards is the better path.

Serving North Georgia

We design and build custom decks, screened porches, covered decks, pergolas, and outdoor living spaces across North Georgia. That includes Pickens, Cherokee, Gilmer, Fannin, Dawson, Forsyth, Bartow, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Union, and Gordon counties. If you are anywhere in our service area, we would love the chance to come walk your property and talk through what we can build for you.