5 Ways To Protect Your Deck From The Ravages Of Winter

Your deck was so nice to you all summer, hosting your cookouts, letting you lounge on it with a frosty lemonade, providing a great view of your pretty blue swimming pool.

Now that winter is ready to attack your deck with its suffocating snow and icy fingers, what’s your plan to protect it? New York and Connecticut winters can be pretty cruel to your wooden deck.

Here are a few ways you can protect your deck from winter’s icy grip so it will be in great shape for you again next spring.

Clear Your Deck Off

No clutter allowed!

It’s tempting to leave your planters out all winter — we know, they’re heavy —  but moisture from them can leach into the deck, leaving stains. Tuck them away in your garage or a storage shed.

Outdoor furniture should be stowed away, too.

Scrub Your Deck Clean

Clean your deck thoroughly to remove any surface fibers and dirt. Remove any mold or mildew, including between the cracks.

Watch for stains from all that summer fun. Somebody was bound to spill sticky barbecue sauce. Let the stains sit all winter and you’ll have a tough time removing them in the spring.

Use a cleaner specifically formulated for decks, and be sure it’s bleach free — you don’t want your deck to fade. Look for one with an easy hose mount so you can just attach it to your garden hose and spray.

Seal Your Deck Against Rain, Sleet, Snow And Ice

Rain, sleet, and snow will seep into the cracks of your deck all winter — not protecting it could cause warping and discoloration.

Use a high-quality sealant that will fill cracks and completely coat your deck surface so it resists snow and ice.

Cover Your Deck With A Tarp

Cover as much of your deck as possible with a tarp to keep snow from piling directly on your deck’s surface. This will help prevent the boards from warping and will keep water from freezing in any cracks and making them worse.

Remove Snow From Your Deck

Use a shovel with a plastic blade (metal blades can scratch or gouge your deck). Shovel in the same direction as the deck boards run to avoid damaging your deck’s finish.

Be wary of using ice-melting products on the wood; they can damage or discolor the surface.

Let Neave Carpentry Help Protect Your Deck!

Neave Carpentry is staffed with deck experts who know just what your outdoor structures need to survive harsh New England winters. Our expert professionals can help you prepare your deck so it emerges in the spring ready for another season of fun.

If you’re in the Hudson Valley, call us at (845) 463-0592. If you’re in Westchester County, call (914) 271-7996; from Connecticut, dial (203) 212-4800. Or, fill out our simple web form, and we’ll contact you about setting up your free consultation.

Give your hardworking deck some love. You’ll be visiting it again before you know it.

Image credits: Snow-covered deck, cat on deck