![\"Man](\"http:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Composite-Scratch-Repair-Image-1-.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOn the whole, it takes a lot to make a mark on composite decking. In fact, its famous durability is one of its main draws for buyers here at Savoy Timber, along with its longevity and its smooth contemporary style. But once in a blue moon, you might uncover an unpleasant surprise in the form of a scratch on your decking. Now as you\u2019ve probably guessed already, it\u2019s often an issue that requires a careful approach to make sure that you don\u2019t make the problem worse. So, here are a few ideas you might want to consider \u2013 and one or two ideas you definitely shouldn\u2019t!<\/p>\n
Believe it or not, sometimes the best course of action is simply to do nothing, especially if the scratch off to one side, or in a corner, or some other relatively unobtrusive place. You might find that if it\u2019s left alone for a bit, it can fade into the decking to the point where it\u2019s barely noticeable, especially as composite decking exhibits a slight weathering effect under the elements.<\/p>\n
If you can\u2019t quite overlook it though, you might want to go for an alternative but equally simple solution \u2013 just rearrange your decking furniture to cover it up. It might not be the most sophisticated answer to the issue, but it\u2019s definitely an effective one.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s worth checking who was the original manufacturer of your decking board, as that information can help you find out whether there are specific composite decking repair kits on the market that can help solve the issue. Repair kits typically utilise a wax or epoxy-based filler, which you can apply to the damaged board basically like wood putty.
\nIf you\u2019re going down that route though, you\u2019ll first need to make sure that the damaged board is properly clean before you crack on with the kit\u2019s first instructions. When you\u2019re applying the filler itself, you can use a putty knife to smooth it out for a cleaner finish. Don\u2019t forget to be quick in removing any excess wax.<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s a relatively shallow scratch, you may be able to use a composite repair marker pen. They\u2019re fairly similar in principle to a shoe repair pen in that regard \u2013 you\u2019re not removing the scratch so much as you\u2019re making it very difficult to see. It might not be a perfect solution, but if the mark isn\u2019t that deep to start off with, it might be all you need.<\/p>\n
![\"Man](\"http:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Composite-Staining-Image-2-.jpg\")
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If your composite decking is a darker wood-grain shade, it may be worth considering certain wood stains. It\u2019s a fairly popular solution for deeper scratches, as it handily protects the exposed elements of the boards too. Obviously, the ideal scenario would involve finding a shade of wood stain that matches the colour of your boards exactly, but if you\u2019re not able to locate one, then you shouldn\u2019t need to worry too much \u2013 the wood stain will fade and blend over time anyway, so it\u2019s likely to naturally settle into the colour of your boards.<\/p>\n
Some composite manufacturers supply their very own specialised ranges of wood stains for this exact scenario, so it\u2019s worth looking up your composite decking\u2019s manufacturer first and seeing what they suggest, before tracking down one yourself.<\/p>\n
![\"Someone](\"http:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Heat-Gun-Image-3-1.jpg\")
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This is an idea that you might have heard proposed here and there, but to be honest it\u2019s a relatively high-risk approach, so use with extreme caution. It\u2019s very easy to get wrong, and it\u2019s only going to work if the composite decking board itself is tolerant to high temperatures.<\/p>\n
The execution is fairly simple in theory \u2013 you just need to hold the heat gun about six inches away from the affected area, and move it steadily back and forth until the mark starts to disappear. (You\u2019ll need to be really careful not to hover too long in one spot, otherwise you can start to damage the board further.) With this, what you\u2019re effectively doing is slightly softening the surface of your decking. You can then choose to leave it as it is, if the mark appears to be gone, or you can use a wire brush to blend it.<\/p>\n
However, it\u2019s worth repeating that there are a couple of different ways in which it could go wrong \u2013 you could accidentally hold the heat gun too long in one spot, or misjudge the heat and end up permanently discolouring your deck. One way to give yourself some peace of mind is to test it out on a sample board first \u2013 start at a lower heat, and then switch to a higher setting. That should give you a fairly decent idea of what kind of settings and techniques you\u2019ll need.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re at all unsure though, or you just can\u2019t quite seem to nail it with the sample board, we\u2019d suggest leaving it as it is. Unless, of course, you\u2019re prepared to have to replace the board entirely if it goes wrong \u2013 in which case, you may decide it\u2019s worth the risk.<\/p>\n
![\"New](\"http:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/New-Composite-Decking-4-.jpg\")
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Finally, if it all goes pear shaped, or if the board is particularly badly damaged, or it didn\u2019t quite go to plan with the heat gun, then there is at least one option you\u2019ve always got left in your back pocket \u2013 and that\u2019s simply to replace the decking board entirely. Ideally it shouldn\u2019t come down to that, but if it does, just know that we\u2019ve got you covered right here at Savoy Timber. We have a huge range of\u00a0composite decking\u00a0boards in a variety of shades and styles \u2013 and all at the very best prices.<\/p>\n
In fact, we take care to stock everything you need to complete or repair your decking project, making us your one-stop shop for decking. If you fancy browsing our products for yourself, we have three DIY stores in Blackpool, Preston or Wigan. We\u2019re dedicated to protecting our staff and customers in the midst of the current on-off government lockdown restrictions, so don\u2019t forget to check our latest\u00a0Covid-19 service update\u00a0before you visit!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On the whole, it takes a lot to make a mark on composite decking. In fact, its famous durability is one of its main draws for buyers here at Savoy Timber, along with its longevity and its smooth contemporary style. But once in a blue moon, you might uncover an unpleasant surprise in the form […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":4706,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n