DATELINE: PEABODY, MA…
According to Drysdale’s Total Floor Care Owner Mark Dullea, many homeowners hasten the demise of their decks without realizing it. Through the use of chlorine bleach and amped-up power washers, they are harming the very materials they are trying to maintain.
“The front or back deck can be a very popular place to entertain family and friends. So, homeowners naturally want to take care of it. Unfortunately, the high-powered pressure washers used by most service companies can cause several problems. They can destroy the wood's lignin, causing the surface to burr, which limits the ability of a sealant or stain to penetrate into the wood far enough to offer much protection from the elements. If the nozzle is held too close to the surface of the wood, the sharp, powerful water spray can leave unattractive visible marks in the wood. Splintering of the surface can also result,” said Dullea.
As an alternative, Drysdale’s new deck cleaning service employs a random orbital high RPM floor machine to clean and strip wood decks. Although it’s a high RPM machine, the orbital machine cleans much like a floor buffer, the polar opposite of high-pressure power washers that can damage the wood by the force of the water.
In addition to a kinder, gentler cleaning machine, Drysdale’s uses oxygenated cleaning products to clean decks. These are environmentally friendly and also kill mold and mildew.
“Besides power washers, a lot of people will clean their decks with chlorinated bleach. That also burrs the wood surface, making it less absorptive for the sealant. That means you’re not getting the full benefit of sealing your deck,” said Dullea. “We’ve made our mark as a rug and carpet cleaning company by using a near chemical-free process to clean floors, so why stop there? By using the oxygenated products, it not only is friendly to the environment but does a better job of actually cleaning the wood.”
Adds Dullea, “Household bleach is actually a poor quality cleaner. It does kill mold, but it also tends to dull the appearance of the wood by over-whitening it. It strips away the wood's natural color."”
A greener way to clean is something Dullea knows a little bit about. Drysdale's All-Natural Carpet Care’s combination of superior customer service AND its cleaning of carpeting and rugs without chemicals has earned them a listing in the National Green Pages (the only carpet cleaning business in New England) and most recently inclusion in the McGraw-Hill book Build a Green Small Business. Drysdale’s has also received a “Best of Boston” award from Boston Magazine and an A rating on AngiesList.
For an estimate on Drysdale’s deck cleaning services, please contact Mark Dullea at 617-242-9657 or markd@cybercom.net.
Tags: Total Floor Care
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