Winter can be hard on your deck, especially if you live in areas with cold temperatures, lots of snow, and weather swings. Your deck might be built to stand up to these elements, but taking a few simple steps to prepare it for winter will help make sure that it stays in great shape year after year. Winterizing your deck isn’t just about protecting it from damage—it’s also about making sure it’s safe to use come next spring. Here’s a few tips to winterize your deck before the cold weather strikes.

1. Clean Your Deck Thoroughly

Before the first snowfall, make sure to give your deck a good cleaning. This step is important for removing dirt, leaves, and grime build-up that could cause damage or mould in the winter. Here’s how to clean your deck properly:

  • Remove Debris: Leaves, and dirt can hold moisture against your deck. Sweep or use a leaf blower to get rid of any loose debris.  Be sure to get anything thats fallen between the deck boards.
  • Wash your deck: Use a mixture of warm water and soap to wash down the surface of your deck. You can use a deck cleaner from the store, or just a mixture of water and mild soap can do just fine.
  • Scrub Tough Spots: Use a stiff bristled brush to scrub any spots with mould, mildew, or grime build up. Be sure to get into the gaps between the boards—this is where debris likes to collect.

Cleaning your deck not only keeps it looking nice, but it also gives you an opportunity to inspect for repairs.

2. Inspect and Repair Any Damage

Winter can be hard on decks, especially if there are existing issues. Before you pack away your deck for the winter, make sure to check it out carefully and repair any damage:

  • Check for Loose or Damaged Boards: Check for any boards that have large cracks, warps or large splinters breaking off. Replace them before winter to prevent any further damage.
  • Inspect the Railings: Make sure all railings are solid and in good condition. Especially on a new deck, as boards “season” and shrink, bolts securing the railings can become loose. Make sure to tighten these up.
  • Examine the Fasteners: Check that all the deck screws, framing nails, and other fasteners are in place and properly tightened. Don't forget the deck ledger!  Loose screws can cause boards to move or come loose over the winter.

By repairing any damage early, you’ll prevent it from getting worse when the snow and ice start to build up.  If you need some help repairing any damage before winter, call us at MKW—were happy to help.

3. Clear your Gutters and Downspouts

Proper drainage  in your eaves trough above is critical to keeping your deck in good shape throughout the winter. When gutters and down pipes are clogged with leaves, snow, or ice, water can build up in the troughs and over flow onto your deck, causing pressure treated wood to rot a lot faster or slip hazards in the colder temperatures.

  • Clean Gutters: Make sure your eaves troughs are clear of leaves, or asphalt particles from your shingles that could block water flow. If they are clogged, once they freeze, they could pose additional damages to your home—not just your deck.
  • Ensure Proper Drainage: Check that water is flowing away from your deck. Downpipe extensions and splash pads are crucial for this.

By ensuring the rain and snow water flows away, you’ll keep water from pooling around and under your deck, which could cause freezing and thawing that could lead to footing damage.

4. Protect Your Deck from Snow and Ice

Snow and ice can can cause a lot of damage to your deck. Especially if you continue to use your deck all winter for entering and existing your home.

  • Shovel Snow Regularly: If snow builds on your deck, be sure to shovel it off as soon as possible with a plastic-edged shovel. Yes, a plastic-edged shovel.  Any other type of shovel including metal can cause damage to your decking. This is especially important with composite of pvc decking.
  • Avoid Rock Salt: If you use rock salt to melt ice on walkways or your driveway, avoid using it directly to your deck. Rock salt can damage both wood and composite decking materials, causing your deck boards to to discolour and damage to the surface. Instead, use an ice melter. Check on your decking manufacturers website for recommended products.  Or, if you had your deck built by MKW, check with us.  We're here to to help.

With the unpredictability of weather nowadays, its always a great idea to be prepared. Using a deck-safe ice melter or just keeping the deck clear of snow is the easiest way to prevent winter damage.

5. Cover and Protect Your Furniture

Outdoor furniture can take a beating in the winter. Snow, ice, and continuous freeze/thaw temperatures can cause cushions to deteriorate, wood furniture to warp, and metal furniture to rust. To extend the life of your outdoor furniture:

  • Store Cushions and Fabrics: Bring any cushions indoors or store them in a dry watertight shed to protect them from moisture and mould. If storing them in a shed, make sure no rodents, like mice have access to them.
  • Cover Wooden and Metal Furniture: Stack and pile your furniture nicely and purchase a high quality tarp to cover it. Make sure the tarp is well secured to withstand any storms or strong winds.
  • Clean Furniture Before Storing: Clean your furniture before storing. Wipe off any dirt or debris.  Make sure metal furniture is clean and dry to prevent any rusting.

A few simple steps can maintain your deck furniture for years to come—and save additional replacement expenses in the spring time!

 

Final Thoughts

Taking some time to properly prepare your deck for the winter months not only helps to extend the life of your deck, it can also keep it safe and minimize additional repair and maintenance costs.  Happy wintering!  See you next spring!