La Puce wrote:

saralove999 wrote:
(snip)
I think I

might need some sort of high power water jet but I dont know if that
will destroy the decking. Please help!

I use my power washer on everything (to which I get totally obsessed
with - once I start I won't stop even if my face is frekled with mud

My advice, wear goggles and wellies. You're going to get soaked (which
is also very much part of the fun). Don't use chemicals. There's no
need. You'll only damage your environment because the algea/moss will
return next winter anyway.

The non-ionic surfactant that is usually sold for pressure washing isn't
safe to drink, but it is relatively benign in the environment. Lots of
other common household products are much worse.

And using much larger volumes of pure drinking water with brute force is
probably at least as environmentally damaging as using a wetting agent.

If you can live with the smell for a while, spraying the decking with a
dilute solution of Jeyes fluid (or a real algicide) will work. Decking
is not a great choice in the UK since it rains too much. My N facing
paving always gets coated in green algae during the winter months.

Regards,
Martin Brown

On 13/3/06 12:20, in article , "Martin
Brown" wrote:

snip

And using much larger volumes of pure drinking water with brute force is
probably at least as environmentally damaging as using a wetting agent.

If you can live with the smell for a while, spraying the decking with a
dilute solution of Jeyes fluid (or a real algicide) will work. Decking
is not a great choice in the UK since it rains too much. My N facing
paving always gets coated in green algae during the winter months.

I haven't tried it myself but I think there's a danger that the grain of the
wood would get lifted by the power spray and if there's any caulking, that
could be damaged, too. I agree with you about decking in this country.
While it can look very attractive in the right place when it's new, it can
get that green and tired look all too quickly.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
)

"Sacha" wrote in message
id...
On 13/3/06 12:20, in article , "Martin
Brown" wrote:

snip

And using much larger volumes of pure drinking water with brute force is
probably at least as environmentally damaging as using a wetting agent.

If you can live with the smell for a while, spraying the decking with a
dilute solution of Jeyes fluid (or a real algicide) will work. Decking
is not a great choice in the UK since it rains too much. My N facing
paving always gets coated in green algae during the winter months.

I haven't tried it myself but I think there's a danger that the grain of the
wood would get lifted by the power spray

Ummmm .......doesn't the grain go all the way throught the planks ?
Jenny :~)

JennyC wrote:

Ummmm .......doesn't the grain go all the way throught the planks ?

Off course it does - it's wood. The trick is to eliminate the water and
drain the wood as much as possible. But that's called common sense and
today I can't be bothered with pedant nonsense for the sake of scoring
points.

Now, as a professional power washer user expert and all, I'm telling
you, the use of the water gun really goes to your head. I cannot tell
you how remarkable piece of equipment this machine is. Which is quite
strange since I wouldn't allow one machine/gadget into my kitchen. But
in the garden, *that* washer is the beesnees. Now I understand how it
feels to write your name in the snow ... ;o)