Is your backyard deck ready for winter? A deck is an investment in your home. As such, we want to make sure you understand the pros and cons of different decking materials before you buy.
Even the best composite, plastic, and wood decking needs preventive care before winter. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy your backyard deck for years to come.
Here are 5 ways to protect your deck this winter.
1. Remove Organic Debris
Depending on how many trees you have near your home, you could have a layer of leaves sitting on your backyard deck. We recommend removing these leaves before the snow flies so you can better protect your deck.
Composite, plastic, and wood decking are durable against winter weather. But they’re not invincible. The best way to protect your deck is to invest in preventive care before the snow flies.
We also recommend cleaning the surface of your deck with a soft bristle brush and soapy water.
2. Clear Your Deck
What’s sitting on your backyard deck right now? We recommend removing outdoor furniture and other objects that could damage your deck. For example, planters with drainage holes can trap moisture against the deck’s surface.
3. Take a Break from Shoveling
Your deck is waterproof, which means you won’t have to worry about damage from snow and ice. In fact, the most common cause of scratches is shoveling! This is because shovels have sharp edges that can scrape your deck.
4. Only Shovel When Necessary
Your is designed to support a certain amount of weight. But if the snow is higher than the tops of your deck railing, you’ll need to shovel. Otherwise, the deck may collapse under the weight of the snow.
While this is a rare situation, you’ll want to keep tabs on how much snow is on your backyard deck.
You may also want to shovel a path if you depend on your deck as an escape route for emergencies.
Shovel in the same direction as your decking boards so your shovel is less likely to get caught on edges. We also recommend using a plastic shovel, not a metal one.
You may sweep away a light dusting of snow with a broom.
5. Don’t Chip Away Ice
Do NOT chip the ice with your shovel as this will only cause more damage to your backyard deck. The last thing you want is to scrape or gouge your deck by accident.
Ice increases the likelihood of a slip-and-fall accident. This is why we understand the temptation to chip ice off your deck. Instead, we recommend using salt that’s safe to use on your deck.
Salt leaves behind a chalky residue on . But this residue is easy to remove if you rinse your deck with a garden hose in the spring.
Contact Eikenhout to Get Started
Ready to get started? Be sure to also check out our blog post on how to enjoy your deck in the winter. It’s a great guide for helping you make the most of your backyard deck year-round.
Eikenhout is a Michigan supply company with ten locations throughout the state. To learn more about our decking supplies, call any of our locations or fill out our online contact form. We hope we hear from you soon!
This blog post has been updated.
