Will Composite Decking Become Slippery in Winter
Wooden decks can be dangerous in the winter when it snows, freezes, or frosts. People walking on wooden decks can easily slip, trip, or fall. In the winter, wood decks can rot, warp, and mold, and debris can grow on the surface, making it very dangerous to walk on.
As the weather gets colder, you may be thinking about your composite deck. Will it become slippery and unsafe? Traditional wood decks can become slippery in the winter, but there are steps you can take to minimize the likelihood of slipping on your composite decking board. This blog post will discuss whether composite decking gets slippery in the winter and provide you with some tips for making your deck safer.
Easy to Install Capped Composite Decking CPD-03
The wide variety of composite deck boards from EVODEK makes it easy to find the right match for your outdoor style and design.
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How Does Winter Make Decks Slippery?
Winter can cause a number of problems for the composite decking industry. This is because composite decking materials can become slippery in cold weather. Therefore, some people who choose composite decking can make sure that their deck stays safe and doesn’t get slippery in the winter by doing a few things ahead of time.
To make sure that people have enough grip, they should choose composite decking boards that have a non-slip surface. Additionally, when snow or water accumulates on the surface of the composite decking, it should be removed in a timely manner.
Outdoor deck waxes and sealants provide additional protection by waterproofing the deck surface and making it easier to walk on. By taking these steps, people with composite decks can continue to use their outdoor spaces throughout the winter. This is because they know that these sites are just as safe as they are in the summer.
Why Choose Composite Decking?
Composite decking offers numerous advantages. This tough material won’t break or bend in the cold, and it can handle rain, sun, and snow. Composite decking won’t fade, so you don’t have to worry about the deck color disappearing over time.
They also have colors that regular wood doesn’t have. In addition, composite decks do not require much maintenance. This is a great option for people who want to easily enjoy the outdoors during the winter months.
Overall, composite decking is a great option for people who want to avoid traditional wood decks. Aside from being good for the environment, it is easy to maintain. However, you should know that it can get slippery in the winter.
You can easily avoid this problem by using a sealant or choosing a different material. Taking these steps can help you enjoy composite decking for many years without any problems.
Measures to Prevent Icing on Composite Decking
Regular Cleaning
If you have an outdoor deck, then at the end of the fall, you may find leaves or other things on top of the deck. This can make the deck more slippery because leaves and moss can collect water. It can also stain composite decking over time if you don’t clean it up.
A quick sweep of leaves off the deck every once in a while is an easy way to keep composite decking from becoming too slippery when the weather gets cooler.
Installing the Decking at an Angle
Installing composite decking in your yard at a slight angle will help rainwater or melted snow drain better. This will minimize the amount of standing water that can freeze in cold weather. The less water that accumulates on the deck, the less likely it is to freeze. This will make the Composite decking surface less slippery.
Proper Installation of Composite Decking
Most composite decking boards have thin grooves on one side. When installing composite decking, keep the side with the narrow slit facing up. This makes it less likely to slip.
Add Non-slip Accessories to Your Deck
You can also purchase non-slip decking supplies or coatings. Both wood and composite decks can be coated with this non-slip supply or coating to reduce the likelihood of people slipping.
As the seasons change, you can temporarily add or subtract outdoor non-slip mats, strips, and tapes from your garden. This will keep sidewalks and high-traffic areas as safe as possible when it’s icy outside.
What Should I Do if My Composite Decking Freezes?
Use a Safe Ice Melt
During the cold months of the year, when snow is heavy and ice builds up on high-traffic roads or sidewalks, snow removal machines are often out in full force, spreading salt to help melt the ice and then sand and grit to make the road safer.
Since EVODEK’s composite decking is made of wood fibers. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of grit salts, harsh anti-skid chemicals, or products with added coloring on composite decking. The abrasive properties of grit may scratch or scuff your decking, and the dyes and chemicals in synthetic antifreeze may change the color of the boards or stain them.
Instead, we recommend that you slowly pour warm (not hot) water over your deck to melt any ice that has formed. If you want to use a manual de-icer, make sure it contains calcium chloride, as this will not harm composite decking. It may leave a little film, but it is easy to remove.
Cleaning Composite Decking in a Timely Manner
As soon as it is no longer cold outside, you should clean your decking to remove any dirt or grit that has built up on the boards over the winter.
To clean composite decking, gently sweep the deck surface with a soft-bristle brush. Then brush off the dirt with soapy water or a composite deck cleaner.
After sweeping away the debris, you can also use a power washer to clean the composite decking area. When using a pressure washer, we recommend that you use no more than 1600 PSI.
Advantages of EVODEK Composite Decking
One of the reasons why EVODEK composite decking is better than traditional wood decking is that these boards will not crack, rot, or warp. It requires minimal maintenance, allowing you to use it all year round.
However, even composite decking materials are not immune to frost on cold winter mornings. But there are ways to keep water from freezing on the surface of your deck, which helps prevent composite decking from becoming slippery in high-traffic areas.
The wood-grain surface of EVODEK composite decking is slip-resistant, but that’s not the only way to keep your outdoor deck from becoming slippery. There are other measures you can take to prevent ice from forming on your deck surface.
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