EVA-LAST Composite Decking
All Eva-tech™ composite products by Eva-Last® are designed to improve your lifestyle with their low-maintenance, high-performing features. Eva-tech™ composite decking is an eco-friendly alternative to wooden decking that gives you the look and feel of timber without the upkeep hassles. Although any exterior product will need some care to maintain its appearance and functionality, the cleaning requirements for Eva-tech™ are minimal. All you will need are common household cleaning supplies to ensure the long-term performance of your Eva-tech™ composite deck. There’s no need for harmful chemicals or expensive specialized maintenance products.
We at Eva-Last® are here to help you in any way we can. Please submit any Eva-tech™ cleaning, care, or other questions to [email protected], or contact us directly through our website, www.eva-last.com
Before you start
Eva-Last® Installation Guide. Establishing a solid substructure and installation are the first and most important steps to creating a long-lasting deck. Installation guides can be downloaded from our website, www.eva-last.com. Please consider the following points for the longevity of your Eva-tech™ deck:
- Whenever possible, aim to make your Eva-tech™ deck installation the last phase of your overall construction process. If this is not possible, your deck shouldbe properly covered at all times with a sheet of tarp or construction-grade plastic to avoid damaging the surface.
- Ensure that masonry/cement construction is set properly before installing the decking material. Better yet, in- stall your deck after all masonry/cement construction has been completed. It is important to protect decking during masonry construction. White or hazy residue from mineral deposits (efflorescence) can leach out of stone and masonry materials after the water evaporates, leaving the deposits behind. This can only be prevented with complete and secure coverage of the decking surface area during the construction phase, or installation of the decking after the masonry construction phase.
- Minerals from soils in certain arid and mountainous environments can also cause a hazing effect when deposited on the deck surface. These deposits may be due to rainwater mixing with runoff from roofs, soil/dirt, pathways, etc. When water evaporates off a deck it can leave behind a haze that can be washed away easily if tended to reasonably quickly. If this haze is left for a long period of time, it can build up and create layers, making it more difficult to clean.
- A high-pressure hose with a fan tip may be necessary for the cleaning and care of Eva-Last® products. Use at pressures under 1500 psi and at a distance of at least 300 mm away from the surface when spraying.
- Swimming pool chemicals can be harmful to the surface of your deck. If swimming pool pH levels are not kept normal, the swimming pool water can become highly saturated and create a corrosive environment which will damage the surface of the decking boards. The best practice is to maintain a normal pH pool that does not have high saturation.
If chemicals that are not for normal pH level balance in a swimming pool are used on the deck, they can stain or mark the deck. See `Decks around pools’ for more detailed info.
Cleaning your deck: Using a hard-bristled broom or high-pressure hose
What you will need
STEP 1:Apply soapy water to your profile with a sponge.
STEP 2:Sweep the liquid over your profile using the hard-bristled broom, making sure to remove all dirt and residue from the gaps between the decking boards. Sweeping in the direction of the grain is best.
STEP 3:If residue and/or dirt are still evident on your deck, a high-pressure hose is very effective in removing stubborn and unavoidable organic waste.
NB: Use a high-pressure hose with a wide fan tip at pressures under 1500 psi. Remember to keep the hose at least 300 mm away from the surface when spraying.
For best results, spray your deck with the high-pressure hose whilst simultaneously brushing it with a hard-bristled broom and soapy water. We recommend pressure washing your deck once a month to keep it looking clean and well maintained.
Please exercise extreme caution, as pressure washing can damage your Eva-Last® deck if done incorrectly. If you notice any changes to the surface of your deck, stop immediately and contact Eva-Last® by visiting www.eva-last.com or e-mailing [email protected]. 
Caring for your deck
- Maintain a deck that is dry and clean.
- The best way to keep your deck free from stubborn stains is to clean them off as soon as they occur. Oil, grease, and food should be removed as soon as possible. Eva-tech™ deck boards have exposed wood fibers, which can absorb these materials and stain. If staining does occur, it may be necessary to sand stubborn stains lightly to remove any marks. Avoid the buildup of organic matter on your Eva-Last® deck, cladding or beam systems. Leaves and sticks that get stuck in gaps inhibit ventilation, natural movement and retain moisture.
- Use a splat mat underneath your barbecue/grill area to help protect your deck from fatty marks and stains.
- Direct downward gutters away from your deck, cladding, and architectural beams.
- Position dryer vents away from your deck. Do not enclose dryer vents with cladding or beams.
- The soil beneath your deck should be porous to eliminate standing water.
- Never use metal spades or tools with sharp edges on the surface of your deck or cladding.
- It’s best practice on any flooring surface to pick up objects when moving them, rather than dragging them.
- Apply floor protectors underneath the feet and legs of your furniture to avoid marks and scratches being transferred to your deck. These protectors are inexpensive and can be bought at most hardware stores.
- When using a ladder on your deck, be sure to place a piece of plywood firmly beneath it, and secure the plywood to the surface of your deck to disperse the load of the ladder feet. Be sure to follow the ladder manufacturer’s instructions and safety tips.
Troubleshooting
Note: The above conditions are considered to be normal maintenance and are, therefore, not covered by the Eva-tech™ 10-year limited warranty.
Decks around poolsIt is important to maintain a clean, healthy pool in order to ensure the life and look of your Eva-tech™ deck. Pool water may have an effect on your deck, especially if it is unbalanced. Pool water balancing is simply the relationship between different chemical measurements in your pool water. You will probably not change the water in your pool for many years. Continuous filtration and disinfection remove contaminants which keep the water enjoyable, but this does not balance your water.
A swimming pool that is balanced has proper levels of pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Maintaining a healthy, clean pool and making sure your pool has balanced levels will ensure the water will have little to no effect on the surface of your deck.
As good practice in swimming pool maintenance and hygiene, it is suggested that you regularly test your swimming pool water to ensure that the pH, mineral content, and saturation index of your pool water is maintained correctly and within recommended levels. If your swimming pool water is not correctly maintained and the pH of the water is not controlled as per recommended standards and ranges, it is likely that a high acidity or alkalinity environment can adversely affect your deck surface and the appearance thereof. These environments are very corrosive and aggressive to most materials and colors, UV absorbers, and plastic materials. They may also lead to damage, discoloration, or scaling of your pool cleaning equipment.
Use a good test kit to measure the chemical levels of pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness on a weekly basis. Below is a list of best practice ranges:
- pH = 7.4 – 7.6
- Total alkalinity = 80 – 125 ppm (Marble plaster) Total alkalinity = 125 – 150 ppm (Fibreglass) Stabiliser = 40 – 80 ppm
- Free chlorine = 1 – 3 ppm Combined chlorine = 1 – 3 ppm
- Calcium hardness = 175 ppm – 225 ppm Copper = 0 ppm
- Iron = 0 ppm
*Please note the above ranges are guides and may vary according to your region and climate.Important! Cleaning products to avoidWe do not recommend using strong alkaline or acid-containing detergents to clean the surface of your deck. These cleaning agents contain, amongst other things, bleaching agents like sodium hypochlorite, and they may adversely affect the surface of your deck and the appearance thereof. It is best to avoid them.
Enjoy the outdoors!
If you have any further questions which are not covered here, please contact an Eva-tech™ representative at www.eva-last.com or email [email protected].
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References
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