How to keep your terrace in perfect shape?
Your terrace is like an extra outdoor living area of your home. So it needs just much good care as the rest of your house. But what care does your terrace require? And what are the best moments of the year to carry out the regular maintenance. And by the way, did you know that you can also choose terrace options that require less maintenance? We give you the answers to these questions and more.
Regular cleaning, in spring for instance
Chances are that you don’t use your terrace much in winter. So it is only normal that during this hibernation period, dust and leaves accumulate on your terrace. So when nature wakes up again and the sun lures you outside, it is the perfect moment to** get your terrace ready for spring and summer**, THE moments you want to use your terrace most.
When doing your spring cleaning, also include your terrace in the routine. Whatever material your terrace is made of, regular cleaning will** add to the life-expectancy** of your terrace. Mostly, regular cleaning is sufficient to get your terrace ready: a good sweep of a broom and a thorough mopping session.
Cleaning tips for your terrace
Good preparation is half the battle. Before starting your cleaning spree, remove all decoration, furniture and plants from your terrace. Alternatively, move everything to one side of the terrace so that you can clean the other half, and repeat the process to do the remaining half. This way you avoid that dirty or humid spots form under or around your objects.
Use cleaning products adapted to your terrace. We recommend non-abrasive natural detergents, to avoid chemical products destroying the (planted) areas around or under your terrace. If tenacious dirt has incrusted itself on your terrace, a pressure cleaner might come in handy. Always check carefully what is the recommended pressure and distance to avoid damage! Mostly 80 bar and a distance of 20-50 cm between the nozzle and your terrace will do.
Let the terrace** dry properly** before putting back your furniture, flowerpots and other decoration.
Sometimes heavy-duty maintenance is needed
Some terrace materials require more than an annual spring clean. Depending on the material you need to roll up your sleeves every once so often to give your terrace more in-depth maintenance to extend the lifespan of your outdoor flooring:
- Wood: depending on the type of wood, you need to oil your deck to keep its natural wooden shine. Other wooden terraces need to be stained to keep them resistant to humidity and rot.
- Stone, concrete, tiles: stone and tile floors can show cracks over time when exposed to the weather. Water infiltrates in the gaps and when it freezes, the expanding ice will even enlarge the cracks. So you need to fill any gaps to avoid further damage. There are also special water-repellant products for stone floors.
- Composite: even though low care, water can become stagnant on the rough surface of the composite planks and lead to mold, fungus or algae. In that case, apply a fungicide to remove it.
- Fibre cement: maintenance is easy, no special treatment needed besides giving it a good clean every once so often.
Make your life easier with Cedral Terrace
Cedral Terrace fibre-cement planks have been especially developed for your exterior comfort. The smart composite material is hard and durable as stone, yet its surface is soft as silk and warm to the touch. You won’t need shoes or slippers anymore on your terrace, as the floor is so pleasant to walk on barefoot.
Cedral Terrace uses the best of science, technology and nature to offer you good-looking and user-friendly terrace decking. The fibre-cement planks come in different widths and factory-applied UV-resistant colours so you can create a terrace that perfectly expresses your taste. It is easy to install yourself, should you wish so.
Cedral Terrace is also a safe choice, as fibre cement does not splinter and has excellent fire-resistant properties. The planks have a non-slippery surface, even when wet, so you and your children can enjoy your outside living area with peace of mind.
* Want to know more about Cedral Terrace and touch it yourself? *
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