Keep Your Deck in Tip-Top Shape This Winter
Posted 16 January 2020 8:33 PM by Jase DeBoer
Ideally, outdoor spaces are used year-round. Outdoor entertainment doesn’t need to come to a pause for those who live in colder climates during the winter season.
It's important to maintain the quality and integrity of your composite deck during the snowy season. After all, your deck is an extension of your home, and taking care of it now will prolong its life and lower the potential for costly spring repairs. With this in mind, here are three methods to winterize your deck so you can enjoy your outdoor deck space this winter.
1. Tackling Snow Removal
As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid using metal shovels or sharp-edge tools when removing snow or ice from your deck. A plastic snow shovel will get the job done without risk of damage. Be sure to run the shovel parallel to the wood grain to minimize scratching or cutting into the deck boards. Take caution at butt joints where two board ends meet as it can become a common area for damage to the capstock.
Pro Tip: Light snow can also be cleared using a leaf blower
2. De-Icing
Rock salt or “Ice melt” is an effective means to keep ice from forming on your deck. We recommend using an ice-melt product that is less harsh on the surface and free of added colorant. Look for ice-melt products indicating:
- Safe for pets
- Will not harm concrete
- Will not kill grass
Keep in mind ice-melt compounds are only effective down to a specific temperature and should never be used on a wood deck surface.
3. Removing Salt
As soon as the winter season passes, remove rock salt and ice melt. It's important to give your deck a good cleaning to eliminate any remaining buildup of ice melt and debris. Power washing is a great way to clean your composite deck. Keep in mind, a fan-tip nozzle should be used, and the power washer should be set on the lowest setting.
Use these three techniques during winter to maintain the quality of your deck so you can enjoy your outdoor deck space this winter.
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