NeoTimber® balustrades, like our other composite building materials, are made up of a mixture of recycled plastic and timber fibres. This makes it incredibly durable, designed to withstand, warping, staining and rotting. As a result, our balustrades are very easy to look after, so much so that minimal maintenance is needed to take the best care of your composite handrails. Nevertheless, unwanted stains and scratches will still occasionally occur, but by following our helpful cleaning and care guide, you will be able to ensure that your balustrade railings look great all year round.
General Cleaning
If your balustrade is simply dusty, you can gently sweep away the residual dust with a soft bristled brush. However, if stains or dirt persists, you can use a sponge with hot water and washing up liquid to gently scrub away the debris. If it is a particularly stubborn stain, you can use a hose or a pressure washer using a fan head, standing at least 250mm from the balustrade’s surface. Make sure your balustrade surface is dry after cleaning, so your hands do not slip when you use the railing to support yourself.
Treating Scratches
While NeoTimber® balustrades can resist smaller marks, should scratches appear on the surface of the capped material, the area can be lightly sanded down. Using a fine (80-grit) sandpaper, you can begin to sand away the surface to remove the scratch. Always sand along the length of the handrail and go with the grain of the balustrade. The area sanded down will initially be discoloured from the rest of the balustrade, but this will blend in with time. To avoid scratches on your balustrades in the first place, be careful to not let jewellery on your fingers and wrists scrape across the capped surface.
Clearing Ice & Snow
Use a salt-free, non-corrosive ice melt to avoid leaving any residue on the surface of your composite balustrade railing. Whilst you can use salt, it may leave an additional stain, and the non-corrosive solutions are much more effective at removing the ice. When clearing larger quantities of ice and snow, avoid using metal scrapers, as they can damage and scratch the surface of the balustrades. Using a scraper with a rubber edge will help you clear the snow without leaving any long-lasting damage.
Removing Stains
Any oil and grease stains spilt must be removed from the surface of your balustrade railing as soon as possible. Use warm, soapy water, and a soft non-metal scrub brush to remove these stains. If cleaning with soapy water alone does not work, use an all-purpose cleaner in addition to the procedure stated above to help shift any stubborn, lingering staining.
Need Further Support or Advice?
If you’ve still got questions that have not been answered here, or you would like additional advice, support or assistance then please give one of our friendly experts a call and we’ll be happy to help.
Just give us a call on 01509 323 170.