Preparing & Protecting Your Deck for Winter
With the arrival of cooler fall weather, many homeowners begin to prepare for the cold winter months by winterizing their homes. Things like planting bulbs, adding mulch, mowing the lawn, and routine yard maintenance. Your deck should be among the preparations.
Preparing your deck for cold weather is just as important. Especially if the deck is built of natural wood or you live in a harsh winter climate. Good preparation can extend the life of your deck, ultimately saving you time, energy, and money. It will also allow you to better enjoy your outdoor living space in the spring and summer.
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Table of Contents
How Do I Prepare and Protect My Deck for Winter?
Preparing your deck for winter can protect its appearance and extend its life. So, what exactly should we do? Let’s find out.
Remove Dust, Leaves, and Debris
At first, this may not seem like a big deal. But over time, dust, leaves, and other debris can build up on the deck. Come winter, this debris can allow ice and snow to build up and seal out moisture.
This is bad for the deck, as it can lead to wood rot and other structural and overall damage. Before winter sets in, the deck surface needs to be cleared of debris to ensure that the deck is free of debris.
Remove Mold From the Deck
It is a good idea to remove mold from your deck before winter sets in. If left untreated, a thick layer of mold can become slippery when wet.
To combat mold, you can purchase a professional deck cleaner. Alternatively, you can make your own simple solution using common household cleaners. To the DIY mixture, add three quarts of hot water, six ounces of certified organic oxygen bleach, and ¼ cup of ammonia-free liquid dishwashing detergent. Stir the oxygen bleach until it dissolves.
Spray an appropriate amount of the solution onto the deck surface with a hand-held garden sprayer and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before gently washing. Scrubbing with a stiff brush on a painter’s pole is also effective. Rinse the deck surface thoroughly after scrubbing.
Avoid using chlorine bleach or other products containing sodium hypochlorite. Chlorine bleach is harmful to all neighboring plants and trees. It accelerates the corrosion of deck fasteners and other metal structural components.
Inspecting the Deck
Before getting the deck ready for winterization, perform a thorough inspection. Inspect the upper and lower surfaces of the deck to identify areas that may harbor moisture and create weak spots. Use an old-fashioned ice pick or a very fine flathead screwdriver to probe the wood for any damp spots. If the wood has rotted, an ice pick or screwdriver can easily get into it.
You should also check for any wobbling in the deck railings or foundation and adjust any hardware that could jeopardize your deck during the winter.
Seal and Trim the Deck
One of the most important steps in protecting your deck and preparing it for winter is sealing and trimming it. Sealing or staining your deck is one of those maintenance tasks that should be done every 2-3 years. They protect the wood from rain, snow, and ice.
Moisture seeping into an unsealed deck can lead to warping, cracking, splitting, and, more commonly, rotting. Deck rot is known to seriously damage deck safety. This is because rot reduces the structure and strength of the deck, as well as increases the likelihood of pest infestation.
If you choose to seal, follow the cleaning instructions above and use a certified organic oxygen bleach. Carefully follow the instructions on the sealer label as well as any low-temperature application guidelines.
Removing Snow and Ice from Deck Surfaces
Now that you’ve learned how to prepare your deck for winter, what should you do during the cold season? Winterizing your deck is not the same as preparing it for winter.
Is snow bad for your deck? Can I salt my deck? How do I shovel snow off my deck? There are several winter-specific questions to know about deck care.
How to Remove Snow From a Deck
A simple broom can be used instead of a snow shovel to remove small amounts of snow. Be careful when using a shovel, as certain materials can scratch or damage the deck. It is best to use a shovel made of plastic to shovel snow.
If you live in an area that receives a lot of snowfall and you need to use a shovel, make sure you shovel along the length of the deck planks. Do not shovel snow along the width of the deck, as this may scratch the deck and damage the stain or paint.
Also, do not use a metal shovel. While metal shovels are more resilient than plastic shovels, they are more abrasive to your deck. Sharp metal shovels may cause scratches, dents, and dings.
Be Careful When Salting Your Deck
When preparing for winter, your first thought may be to salt your driveway, sidewalk, and deck. However, whether you should spread rock salt on your deck depends on the material of the deck.
To melt snow and ice on the surface of most composite decks, you can use calcium chloride or rock salt. If you have an older composite deck, you can use calcium chloride or rock salt, but it should be wiped off immediately.
On the other hand, if your deck is wood, you may want to avoid spreading salt. Salt and melting ice can damage some deck finishes. You will therefore have to repaint in the spring to correct any discoloration.
More Things to Consider Before Winter
It’s cold, windy, icy, and snowy, and the snow is dirty and hard to melt. Winter can be a difficult time for decks, so some extra precautions need to be taken.
Cover Your Deck with a Tarp for the Winter
For some homeowners, the easiest thing to do may be to simply lay a tarp over the deck and deck furniture. However, this will only work if they don’t plan on using the deck during the winter.
Obviously, this is not a practical option for someone who has a hot tub, barbecue, or outdoor fireplace on their deck and uses it during the winter months.
If you can’t tarp your deck, you should at least consider tarping your furniture when not in use. Better yet, if you have room in your shed or garage, consider moving the furniture to a safe enclosed area.
Wind is a key issue when using tarps. The tarp must be securely fastened to prevent it from being blown away by the wind. Another disadvantage of tarps is that they are susceptible to moisture. Tarps should be removed as soon as the threat of snow and ice subsides.
Explore Composite Decking Boards
Composite deck tiles are more durable than wood and are perfect for cold conditions. It is more durable and less costly to maintain than wood decking while maintaining its beauty and quality.
As a result, composite decking allows you to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Even if you don’t use your deck in the winter, you can always use it when the weather warms up.
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