Care & Cleaning

»  SwiftDeck and LinkDeck Wood Tiles

»  EzyTile Porcelain & Stone Decking Tiles

»  ResiDeck Wood Composite Decking Tiles

All HandyDeck deck tiles are designed to provide years of enjoyment with minimal maintenance. However to help keep the tiles looking at their best, there are few steps you can take to keep the tiles in their peak condition.

SwiftDeck and LinkDeck Wood Tiles

Cleaning

»  To remove loose dirt and other surface debris, brush the surface of the tiles with water and a stiff brush

»  A mild detergent may be used if necessary

»  Leaves or other debris falling between the gaps in the tiles can normally be removed with a vacuum cleaner

»  Tiles can be hosed down, pressure washed or disassembled to clean underneath if necessary

Preserving the appearance of your wood deck

Like any exterior wood products, SwiftDeck and LinkDeck wood tiles will gradually fade to a silvery gray color over time. The rate at which this will occur depends largely on the degree of exposure to direct sunlight, the climatic conditions and the frequency at which any preservative treatments are applied. To keep the appearance of your deck at its optimum condition, we recommend taking the following steps:

As soon as convenient after installing the wood tiles, apply a good quality decking oil with a brush or roller. Decking oils which contains trans-oxide pigments or other proprietary UV absorbing or reflecting compounds and have a high solids content are preferred for longer term results and extended periods between applications of the decking oil/sealant. These specialized products will help maximize the durability, beauty and value of your decking tiles and assist in maintaining the original wood color as long as possible. Products that could be considered include:

PPG Olympic Maximum Semi Transparent Stain

Flood CWF - UV Penetrating Oil Finish

Penofen Penetrating Oil Finish

Behr Weatherproofing Wood Sealer

Thompson's Water Seal

Messmers's UV Plus for Hardwood Decks

Defy - Deck Stain for Hardwoods

Further applications of decking oil or sealant should be undertaken at regular intervals depending on the degree of exposure of your deck to direct sunlight, local climatic conditions and the recommendations of the manufacturer of the decking oil/sealant used.

EzyTile Porcelain & Stone Deck Tiles

Cleaning

»  To remove loose dirt, brush the surface of the tiles or clean with water and sponge

»  A mild detergent may be used if more intense cleaning is necessary

»  Any debris that may accumulate between the tiles can normally be removed with a vacuum cleaner

»  Tiles can be hosed down or disassembled to clean underneath if required

Caring for your deck

» Care should be taken to avoid heavy or sharp objects being dropped on the tiles

» Avoid hammering on the tiles or exerting excessive pressure by sharp objects on the edges of the tiles

» Legs of metal chairs or tables should be protected with rubber “feet” if placed directly on the tile surface

» If any tile becomes damaged or broken, the tile should be removed immediately to avoid possible injury

Whilst the granite and porcelain tiles are designed with a slip resistant surface and with gaps between the tiles to eliminate water pooling on the surface, due care should be taken when walking on the tiles in wet weather.

To provide maximum protection from oil and water-based stains, and to maintain the attractive appearance and slip resistance of your EzyTile slate tiles, it is generally advisable to the tiles with a high quality sealer. We suggest sealing EzyTile slate tiles with a good quality, invisible, fully breathe-able impregnating sealer rather than a topical sealer.

Whilst we do not recommend any specific products since we have not tested the many products available, we suggest you may wish to consider the products offered by the following companies:

Stone Technologies Inc -: Stone Sealer

Aqua Mix - Aqua Mix Stone Enhancer

Dry Treat Inc - Stain-Proof

Dyna Metro Inc. - Impregnator 4110

Stone Care International - Stone Spray-N-Seal

ProSoCo - Stone, Tile & Masonry Protector

Miracle Sealants Company - 511 Impregnator

HMK Stonecare - HMK® S42

Glaze'N Seal - Stone Sealant Impregnator

Sparles Southwest - Stone Glamor

Although granite resists wear-and-tear exceptionally well, and its mineralogical structure is not influenced by freeze-thaw cycles, it is nevertheless a semi-porous material, so unsealed granite can absorb water or grease, potentially creating permanent stains. Sealing EzyTile granite tiles with an impregnating type sealant such as those listed above, which closes off the pores so that stains can't get in, can therefore be advisable in many situations.

Since sandstone is more porous than slate or granite, it's always a good idea to seal the tiles with a penetrating type of sealer that will not only repel water to some extent but resist stains. Some commercial products you may wish to consider include:

Dry Treat - Stain-Proof

Miracle Sealants - 511 Impregnator

Custom Building Products - Sealers Choice Gold

Glaze 'N Seal - Stone Seal Impregnator

Stone Technologies Inc - Stone Sealer #1

ResiDeck Wood Composite Deck Tiles

ResiDeck Decking Tiles are designed with the same low maintenance properties as wood composite decking. Whilst one of the main attractions of wood composite materials is undoubtedly their low maintenance requirements, the following points should be observed so that your ResiDeck tiles remain in optimum condition.

Although wood composite with not turn gray or rapidly fade on exposure to harsh sunlight, you can expect your ResiDeck tiles to fade in color by about 10% during the first few months of exterior exposure. Typically however any further fading will be minimal.

Any dirt and grime can simply be washed off with a high-pressure water hose. For mold and mildew we do not suggest using a cleaner containing sodium hypochlorite but use a specialist composite wood cleaner. For all other stains, use a deck cleaner like Flood's Dekswood® can be useful. Any spills of grease, wine or similar stain forming liquids should be washed off immediately to reduce the risk of long term staining.

Whilst composite wood is renowned for its excellent resistance against twisting, warping and cracking, it does not feature a high resistance to stains, mold or mildew. If your ResiDeck tiles are likely to be used in a situation where staining could occur, we suggest applying a good-quality sealer specially designed for composite wood as soon as practical after you have installed the tiles.

Whilst we are unable to make any specific recommendations, we suggest you could consider one of the following products: (the manufacturer’s brief description of their product is included).

Superdeck® Composite Deck Sealer uses advanced non-yellowing UV and water resistant polymer technology to protect against, mildew stains, BBQ stains, UV rays, dirt, grime, water damage and color fading. Composite Deck Sealer also contains a highly effective, multi-functional biocide to protect the sealer's surface from mildew and algae growth.

Composite Deck Finish is an oil based penetrating product combining natural and synthetic resins with plastic adhesion promoters plus trans-oxide pigments to protect plastic and wood fibers from the sun's UV rays. Composite Deck Finish beautifies and protects weathered composite decking while helping to protect the surface from stains. It also contains fungicides, to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew on the surface of the coating.

Composite Deck Protector is a ready-to-use, water-based protective treatment for composite decks. It’s specially designed to bring water and stain repellency to composite decks without changing the decks’ color, texture or appearance. Treated decks resist penetration by water, oil, grease and other contaminants, making it easier to keep decks clean and attractive. The cured sealant resists mold and mildew stains.

Sun Frog Stain Guard Composite Deck Finish is a waterborne, high solids coating using polymer finish technology and combining a broad-spectrum fungicide with UV resistant ingredients. The coating protects decking from stains, dirt and UV fading, while the biocide protects the finish from molds. When used as directed, it produces a nearly invisible, though initially slightly glossy, tough protective finish.

Penofen Knotwood resists most stains and dirt, provides 99% UV protection, adds color to faded composite wood and contains a high-grade mildewcide to retard mold. Simply wipe up spills with a damp cloth.