Sweeping leaves, dirt, and debris off your deck can be enough to keep it relatively clean, unless it’s covered in a layer of slime. In addition to making your deck slippery and potentially dangerous, the growth of algae, moss, and/or mold can also cause serious damage. Here’s what you need to know about why your deck is so slippery, how to get rid of the slime, and why it’s so important.
How do you remove green algae from your patio?
Whether they cover grass, paving or a wooden deck, fallen leaves make surfaces slippery when it rains. If they remain on a deck long enough, they keep the wood permanently moist and create the ideal conditions for the growth of algae, mold or moss. A layer of algae, mold or moss not only makes the deck quite slippery, it can also leave green or black stains on the wood, even after the leaves and other debris have been removed.
Moisture is the enemy of wood. Over time, constantly damp wood can warp, swell, crack and eventually rot. When algae, mold and moss grow on damp wood, they spread quickly and make the moisture problem worse. And unlike leaves, they can’t simply be swept off a deck.
Even if for some reason you don’t worry about your slippery deck being a fall hazard, and you don’t mind the green or black stains, you should still remove any algae, mold or moss that is covering it. It can damage your wood and shorten the life of your deck. And while algae and the like are more damaging to untreated wood, they can also grow on treated wood, staining and damaging it.
