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How to stop composite decking stain running?

Hi all.

We've recently purchased our first home and it has a huge beautiful deck that runs the length of the house, however we have noticed lately that the colour from it seems to be 'running' (for lack of a better word).

It sticks to the bottom of our feet and tracks maroon onto our carpets when we come inside, it stains your feet and socks if you step onto the deck without shoes on, and it is running through to the structure boards on the underside of the deck through the gaps (picture below).

My father in law was the one who told us that the lengths were composite, but in all my research to find a solution for this, I'm finding that the common consensus is that composite wood shouldn't leak colour, so now I don't know what to think!
We really want to try and stop the colour from getting on (literally) everything, so any thoughts or suggestions for a solution would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, @TabithaM. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about decking.

Firstly, we need to determine whether your deck is made from composite decking or timber decking with a deteriorated coating. Composite decking typically shouldn't bleed colour like this, so if that's indeed what you have, there might be a manufacturing defect or a specific issue with the product.

If it's timber, the staining could result from a degraded coating or stain. In that case, the best approach would be to resurface the deck by sanding it down to remove the old coating and then applying a new one designed to withstand the elements.

Could you please upload a close-up image of an exposed end of one of the decking boards? This will help me confirm the material and provide more accurate advice.

Looking forward to your update. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Mitchell

TabithaM

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/41995#Comment_41995

Hi there, thanks for getting back to me! This is a picture of a cross section we've cut off.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/83124#Comment_83124

Hello @TabithaM

Thank you for posting that extra photo of your deck. It appears to be composite decking as it does not show any timber fibres or patterns in the middle. It's truly puzzling that you are getting some sort of excretion from the decking panels. Can you please place the cut portion under running water and brush it with a bristle brush to see if any of the surface colour runs off. Is it possible to brush all of the running colour off the surface or does it keep rising up from the cut panel?

Another avenue you can explore is to ask the former owner of the house and find out if they stained or oiled the surface of the deck. Was there any type of cleaning agent placed on its surface? Can I also please request for a photo of the actual stain itself that is dripping on your floor. Have you tried to clean the surface with detergent and water? Please allow me to confer with my team-mates regarding your decking panel.

Thank you for your patience.

Eric

sheilawhittam

I went on line and saw a request on the Bunnings sit regarding composite decking colour staining inside carpets. TabithaM. I need to join a conversation about this because I have dark grey composite decking that is staining my light coloured interior textured tiles. We installed the decking ourselves 8years ago. Gentle rubbing on paper towels show how dark grey is easily wiped upThis is the decking adjacent to our entry. We have just scrubbed the floors! again!

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/46025#Comment_46025

Hi @sheilawhittam,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Sorry to read of the trouble you're having with your composite decking.

Could you please tell us exactly what decking boards you installed and how they have been maintained since they were installed? Our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. experts will be keen to assist.

Thanks,

Jason

sheilawhittam

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85107#Comment_85107

We purchase the lengths about 8 years ago. I have left over piece I can show you. Been maintained only with blowing down and occasionally washing and mopping with an ordinary mop. Let dry. The ones in the sun when dry continue to sweep off onto a pan as fine grey dust.

Our shoes get grey on the base.. it washes off the sole. We have only just put two and two together of why we need to keep scrubbing our light indoor tiles.

sheilawhittam

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/107678#Comment_107678

Wipe on handsPiece of composite left over.2piece of composite left over.

sheilawhittam

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/46025#Comment_46025

Dear Eric. We built and finalised the house Oct. 2015, just over 9 years ago. Within 6months the decking was installed so it is quite a while ago..It would be difficult to find any documentation /receipts to show the manufacturer. From memory we bought two lots, as we wanted the decking to be at the front porch entry as well as the courtyard at the back.

By the way yesterday we did another wipe test on the front porch to find out if there is grey treading / powdering off on our feet, and yes it is. It is especially the areas where the constant sun is shining on it.

Sheila and Stanley Whittam

sheilawhittam

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85123#Comment_85123

Noticing more and more why our light floors inside are getting grey powdery stuff treading inI whiped one flip flop with damp rag.. it comes off shoe onto rag.

Nailbag

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/107907#Comment_107907

Hi @sheilawhittam

There should be nothing coming off a composite deck material itself. There is either a deteriorating issue with the material which would be extremely rare or it's possible the previous owner put a coating on it, which is now weathering off. It will be interesting to hear @EricL findings

Nailbag

sheilawhittam

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/121215#Comment_121215

Indeed we look forward to the findings. I can tell you quite honestly that nothing has been applied to the surface except water and a mop. . We are the original owner builder of our home as I said previously on this site.

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/129529#Comment_129529

Hi @sheilawhittam,

I have heard back from Ekodeck who don't believe it is one of their products.

I can't say I've ever seen a decking board with those dimensions. Did you mean 14.2cm? Can you upload a photo with your tape measure next to the spare board to confirm?

Do you have any photos of the decking clips that were used? This could also help narrow things down.

In the spirit of helping and assisting, Ekodeck's support team have recommend giving the deck a good clean as per their Care & Maintenance guide which involves a thorough scrub with a stiff bristle brush and a rinse with a pressure washer using a fan spray nozzle.

While mopping may remove some dirt, due to the textured nature of the boards, it is unlikely to remove everything. Scrubbing and pressure cleaning will yield far better results.

Once you've provided the details I've requested above, I will assist further.

Jacob

TabithaM

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85123#Comment_85123

Our decking would have been installed around the same time as yours' I think, Sheila! We get maroon stains on EVERYTHING from ours' (light coloured carpet and tiles too) and it looks identical to what you are getting from yours!

I hope Bunnings can find a solution or answer for this - it is super frustrating and I feel your pain. We even pressure washed ours' and scrubbed it a few weekends ago to see if it would help but it hasn't 🙁

sheilawhittam

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134794#Comment_134794

Dear Jacob. I made a mistake with measurements. . I meant width 14cm

I think Stan is going to take a trip to Bunnings with the piece we have and the clips.

what ever it is it is deteriorating. Kind regards Sheila

MitchellMc

Many thanks for your patience, @sheilawhittam.

Our in-store team has taken a look at those transactions, and they are not decking purchases. We'd be happy to continue the search, though. Feel free to reach out by email if you find any other transactions that we can check for you.

Mitchell

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/138226#Comment_138226

I believe the store manager has tried making contact via phone to discuss this @TabithaM. Yes, these are the transactions on your statement. There was timber and a variety of other items, but no decking.

What is the approximate size of the deck? Anything larger than a small deck would amount to a significant cost, especially if the decking was purchased at the same time. If you can let me know the size of the deck I can let you know approximately the cost you'd be looking for on your transactions.

Mitchell

sheilawhittam

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/46992#Comment_46992

Dear Mitchell. After our long search, we discovered the Bank Statements showing the composite deck boards aren't from Bunnings after all but from another company in Mt Barker. We have really appreciated Bunnings searching for the possibility of having purchased Ekodeck. Thank you, everyone, for being interested in the situation. We now have confirmation that we purchased composite decking elsewhere, and this is not Ekodeck.

I need to thank you and Bunnings for allowing us to enter the Bunnings Workshop site and speak of our dilemma with the decking boards. We apologise that we went down the wrong avenue for the purchase of the boards thinking they were from Bunnings. We have used Bunnings in so many purchases and they have always honoured and been helpful when we had questions about quality or faults with our purchases. Indeed it has been so helpful to voice this problem, so we wish to thank you all for the patience shown us as we worked through with the composite decking boards that are obviously deteriorating.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85559#Comment_85559

Hi @sheilawhittam,

Many thanks for the update and for informing us that your decking is not Ekodeck or purchased from Bunnings. I'd recommend you reach out to the supplier to determine whether there is anything that can be done about this issue. I note that Jacob provided a Care & Maintenance guide from our supplier that might be of assistance.

Mitchell

sheilawhittam

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/107950#Comment_107950

So TabithaM. Is your house pictured in Australia? it might make a difference to how to approach this problem. Y ou seem to be saying that what I have shown and written about has the same problem as ours. If you have off cuts it might be traceable.

I have finalised my chats with Bunnings and found that my statements showed another local supplier.. we have made a repot now and believe that we have at least a 10 year warranty. We found our sale with them in 2015. It appears that you bought the house and the deck was already completed by the previous owners. I suppose you could try and find out from the previous owner what product was used on your deck.. and it seems that like ours was one of the the early forms of decking in Australia. Our contact rep at our supplier indicated that the early decking said that some of their early composite decking was dumped and removed from sale after complaints. I see now by looking at the various companies of composite decking have a a top waterproof sealing layer. All the best with your search.. I think you have an enormous problem to solve as your deck looks quite extensive.

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