TIMBER DECKING
Wooden decking egts clean bill of health with RBT
The Problem
We all know the phrase ‘Slippery when wet’ and many of us associate it with wooden decking in gardens. However, this is incorrect. Clean wooden decking is either porous or the water runs off it. No matter how wet it gets it remains naturally safe to walk on as long as it is clean. However, a barely noticeable light grey fungus can grow on it and this is like grease when wet, making the surface treacherous, especially for the elderly. In fact slips and trips represent 33% of reported injuries with 95% of all major slips leading to broken bones according to the Health and Safety Executive. So moss, algae, fungi and dirt on wooden decking do not just detract from the natural beauty of the wood, they also make it potentially dangerous. And yet blasting the porous wooden surface with a high pressure hose damages the wood and leads to enlarged pores that only help to harbour further growth of algae. This is why sailors would spend so much time scrubbing the decks on ships of old. The problem is not just for homeowners though. There is an increasing awareness of the health and safety issues across pub owners, landlords, hotel owners and commercial premises. Eating a meal or having a drink on a discoloured decking area is not going to enthral customers. |
RBT not only makes decking safer, it protects wooden fencing too, acting as a natural preservative and prolonging the working life of the wood
|
The Solution
Traditionally, the most effective way to remove unwanted and dangerous fungal growth from decking has been to use clean water and a scrubbing brush. In fact, many garden furniture manufacturers still recommend this as a way of regenerating furniture and decking. It is efficient (if hard work) and works naturally. The only downside is that recurrence of fungal growth will begin again within days. RBT can be used after traditional scrubbing, once the surface is dry, and will destroy all residual bacteria whilst forming an immunisation layer that will continue to destroy dangerous fungal growth between applications – we suggest one application in the Autumn and one in the Spring. Furthermore, RBT can be simply applied as a spray without the need to scrub the decking in the first place. Once applied it will kill all of the algae and moss whilst creating a sub-surface environment that will keep the decking clear for months. Application can be carried out simply with a brush, a spray or even with a watering can. It is totally safe near food or animals. |
|
|
|