These 6 Tips Will Keep Mold And Mildew From Your Patio

As a homeowner, you don’t want to repair your patio now and then. Therefore, it’s essential to understand things that can threaten its life.

Since patios are outside spaces, they’re prone to various factors. For example, extreme sunshine can affect the quality of your patio furniture, while rain and snow encourage mold and mildew growth.

Once mold and mildew grow on your patio, it might take a while and cost you a fair amount to kill the fungus. It’s, therefore, vital to understand how you can keep mold and mildew at bay and prolong your patio’s life.

For this reason, here are some helpful tips on the same matter.

Pressure-Washing Your Patio

Most homeowners are advised to pressure-wash their decks since it’ll kill mold and mildew especially when it’s done correctly.

Besides being necessary when preparing for sealing, pressure-washing a deck destroys mold and mildew spores. This is because the water pressure is strong enough to destroy any life on the surface. If there are signs of mold or mildew on your deck, consider pressure washing Durham NC services to have the procedure done professionally for positive results.

Discourage Mold Growth

The first step in keeping mold and mildew from your patio is discouraging its growth. It’s important to note that mold and mildew thrive in wetness. Therefore, pools of water on your patio should be completely delt within. Though it might be nearly impossible to keep your outdoor space dry 24/7, ensure to mop and keep the patio dry as much as possible.

To keep your deck dry, consider placing your flower pots on saucers to prevent extra water from accessing the patio floor. Additionally, your home’s gutters and downspouts should direct water away from the deck. It’1ll also helps if your gutters are always clean to avoid overflowing. Take care of any leaks that can cause water to leak onto your patio. If there’s too much snow, remove it with a plastic shovel since a metal one can easily scratch your deck.

From time to time, remove items preventing sunshine from accessing the patio. These items might include flower pots and furniture. Remember, the shadier your deck is, the more likely it will incur mold and mildew due to excess moisture.

If you must install a carpet on your patio, consider a plastic one. Natural fiber carpets don’t dry quickly; hence they’re more likely to encourage mold and mildew after rain.

Dry Patio Furniture Under The Sun After Rain

It’s more likely that heavy rain will wet your patio furniture. In such an event, don’t mold or mildew-proof the patio and neglect the furniture. It’s important to note that mold and mildew grow on almost everywhere, even furniture. When your patio furniture is wet, it’ll likely encourage mold growth and later spread to your patio.

Therefore, your patio furniture must be completely dry after the rain before returning it to the patio. 

Minimize Under-The-Deck Moisture

If you have a low-to-the-ground deck, install ventilation underneath to keep it dry. Additionally, side drainage ditches should be working correctly to move water away from under the deck. The point is to ensure the deck and its environs are dry to discourage mold and mildew growth.

Avoid Leaving Food Spills On The Floor

Any food containing fluid is an ideal thriving area for mold. Therefore, you should know better than to leave food particles on your patio. You should also avoid leaving leftover foods on your patio since they’ll quickly attract mold that can easily spread to your outdoor space.

That said, always keep the space clean and neat.

Seal Your Patio

After using ideal commercial cleaners and bleach to kill mold and mildew and having left the patio to dry under sunshine, consider sealing it. However, it’s vital to note that sealing the patio before completely killing mold and mildew will affect the sealant’s integrity. In most cases, the sealant fails prematurely due to continued mold growth. The deck can also experience rotting, which might be dangerous, too.

When sealing your deck, first sand it smoothly. After sealing, reseal it every two to five years, depending on how much you use the deck.

Conclusion

Mold and mildew are fungal growth that takes advantage of moisture to thrive. They spread fast and can be challenging to get rid of. With that in mind, it’s vital to prevent or avoid their growth as much as possible.

When preventing mold growth in your patio, you must take the necessary measures, especially since the patio is likely to experience regular moisture. Luckily, tips to prevent this growth are straightforward. Consider the above-discussed, and mold and mildew growth in your patio will be a thing of the past.