With winter fast approaching, it’s time to get your deck ready for winter. As beautiful as a wooden deck may look, it can be damaged by winter weather. This is why it needs to be maintained to keep it in good condition and prevent wood rot. Over time, the surface of the wood is likely to wear and warp due to the temperature difference between summer and winter. However, there are steps you can take to slow down this process.

Composite decking is a good long-term option for places where the weather changes quickly or freezes. They won’t bend, splinter, or crack in very harsh weather conditions. Composite decking material is waterproof because it is made from recycled plastic and wood fibers. To keep it in good condition, all you need to do is sweep or wash it, which is easy to do even in the winter.

Keep reading to learn about the do’s and don’ts of winter deck maintenance. You’ll also learn how to prepare your deck for snow and ice removal to keep it sturdy.

1. Inspections Throughout the Year

For many people, having their deck installed is the only thing they need to do. You should inspect your wood deck all year round, not just in the winter.

If you see mold on your deck on a regular basis, you should clean it off before it causes damage to the deck structure. If you clean the deck with oxygen bleach to remove the dirt and mold, the deck will remain strong. Similarly, if you notice any damage caused by normal use, you should repair it promptly. Repairing it before it becomes rotten will help protect the deck from cold weather.

In addition, keep the surface of your deck free of rot and standing water by removing floating leaves and other debris. This is an easy way to keep your deck looking great. If you keep your outdoor furnace outside all winter, keep leaves and other things out of the furnace. During the winter months, you should always clear snow and ice.

Every few months, you should have these deck maintenance checks performed. To stay on schedule, mark the date on your calendar or set an alarm on your cell phone.

2. Remove Clutter and Trash from Your Deck

Another important thing to do throughout the year is to keep your deck in good condition. You need to sweep up leaves and other debris on a regular basis or they will begin to decompose and spread onto the deck.

To remove dust and other things that stick to your wooden deck, you can use a special brush. In addition, you should not use regular household cleaners. You should purchase at least one cleaning product that is specifically for decks, such as a good sealer. This is one of the best ways to protect your deck. This is because it stops algae from growing and removes mold that has built up over time.

Before putting anything on your deck planks, be sure to clean them thoroughly. Always remember that a good sealer is just an extra layer of protection against the weather. Therefore, you still need to maintain your deck year-round.

3. Remove All Furniture, Pots, and Planters

It is important that you clean your deck before winter sets in. This will allow the deck to remain open throughout the winter. Planters (for bulbs) and pots (for potted plants) leave voids in the deck surface that can harbor water, mold, and mildew. That’s how water seeps in from underneath these things, and you get mold on your wood deck.

Again, it’s better to keep your furniture indoors than covered on the deck. It’s still best to stack them over the winter and store them in a garage or shed. Come spring, the deck and all its components will look brand new.

4. Thoroughly Clean the Deck

After removing all the decorations, furniture, and other things from the deck, it may be necessary to power wash the deck. Power washing removes surface dirt or spots, and it also goes deep into the wood to remove them. It is possible that one cleaning will not remove all the dirt. Leaves and dirt on the top can rot into the wood during the winter when it is covered in snow, sleet, and ice. You don’t want that dirt to fade away in the spring, leaving behind already damaged wood.

Cleaning your deck the right way can take all morning, afternoon, or even all day. You need to do more than just sweep. At the store, you can find a cleaner that doesn’t use bleach or an oxygen bleach solution made specifically for the job. A good deck cleaner will remove mold, dirt, and stains. You should spray the cleaner on the deck and wait for it to dry before scrubbing it clean.

Keep in mind that decks like to grow in the spaces between wood seams. When scrubbing your deck, keep an eye out for mold that may be hiding in small places or between boards. A smaller brush can help you remove mold. Winter will be the best time for mold to grow due to snow ice and standing water.

5. Stain Your Deck

Another great way to help your deck stay in good shape during the winter is to paint it once a year. Many people are tempted to start deck care as soon as the weather turns warm but don’t kid yourself. Before you top coat the wood, wait until late summer for the wood to dry completely. Otherwise, water can damage the paint on the deck.

Within a day or two of cleaning and washing your deck, allow it to dry thoroughly. After that, you are ready to paint the deck. The most likely cause of permanent damage to your deck is winter moisture. Protective dyes help keep water out of the wood, thus keeping it safe.

Before painting your deck, be sure to prepare it properly. Depending on how intact the deck is, you may need to sand the deck first. You can also use a paint stripper solution and a paint scraper to remove the old finish. If you decide to strip the deck, you can stain it in a cleaner area. Before staining, look around to see if there are any plants or walls that need to be protected.

6. Seal the Deck

Still not sure how to ensure your deck is safe for the winter? You may need to take it a step further and seal your deck with a good sealer for the best protection against winter weather. Sealant is like armor against the cold winter weather. It fills cracks and covers surfaces.

While protective deck sealing products work well, they have one major drawback: they don’t last. More expensive sealers may last longer between applications. But over time, they lose their ability to keep your wood safe. That’s why you should always stain and paint your deck to keep it safe. Using wood paint once a year in the fall will protect your investment for the long term. Staining and protecting your deck is worth it.

7. Don’t Use Metal Tools to Remove Snow

When winter hits and the snow starts falling, you’ll need to break out the big snow shovel or snow blower. You will need to clear snow from your deck and sidewalk. Make sure that you only use a plastic shovel and not a metal one. This is because metal shovels can damage the softwood on your deck. To protect the wood, it is important to keep the deck finish intact.

Not only can cracks spread disease and lead to rot, but they also make the deck finish look bad. To protect wood decks, you should always use a plastic, rubber, or silicone spatula.

8. Sweep with the Grain of the Deck

If you want to remove snow from your deck, do not remove it against the grain of the wood. If you remove snow against the grain of the wood, the deck surface will be safe.

Over time, going against the grain will likely cause damage to the deck. If you always go with the grain, your deck will last longer. While this may seem like a small thing, paying attention to these little things will help protect your deck better in the winter.

9. Don’t Use Salt

Salting your deck in the winter is bad practice. Salt absorbs moisture and changes the way wood naturally shrinks and expands. This can lead to rust, rot, and damage to your deck boards. It’s safer to use natural items to melt snow.

Using ice melt on a traditional wood deck can cause the deck to erode quickly. It may be cheaper than composite decking at first, but the money you spend on maintenance quickly offsets that. If you’re using composite decking, then you won’t have to worry about it being eroded by ice melt. In the long run, composite decking will save you time and money.

10. To Summarize

If you don’t prepare your deck for winter, the snow and ice of winter will likely damage it. In order to get better use out of your deck the following spring, you can protect your deck over the winter by taking the above steps.

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