While you sit on the deck basking in the warm summer sun, there is no way you can prepare your deck for winter. During this beautiful season, one can take ample time to inspect their decks and carry out necessary repairs, which will go a long way in making sure your decks are safe from extreme cold, thereby affording them that beauty which will last season after season. This article will look at the common tasks that you should perform to maintain your fall deck before the snow comes.
Cleaning Your Deck
Cleaning your deck should be done at the end of the fall as it is one of the most crucial fall deck maintenance practices. During the summer, your deck gets dirty by dust, leaves, and other debris, which leads to wood mold and mile development. Start off by trying to clear as much mess off the surface of your deck as you can; afterwards, you pressure wash or sweep clean.
When washing, ensure that you go for the right cleaning solution for a specific deck type. Again, for wood, a gentle dish soap or a cleaner made specifically for wooden furniture is most appropriate. Wash with water and let the deck dry correctly.
Inspecting for Damage
It is the best time to assess your deck and look for further signs of wear and tear. Check for the splitting of the wood and softwood and signs of mildew, rusty nails or misaligned railings. These troubles only get worse in the winter and often need to be fixed before the first snow and ice.
If there is any damage to the walls, floor or roof, do a patch-up where the damages are seen as soon as possible. For instance, to fill the cracks or the holes, you will apply a wood filler and also correct any loosely fixed nails or screws. It is important not to get any more moisture on the hardware, and it doesn’t hurt to make sure that these are weatherproof.
Re-applying a fresh coat of sealer or stain
After you clean the deck and fix any damages, you can complete it by painting your deck in order to try to stave off extreme weather damage. It also improves its durability as you apply a new layer of sealer or stain to protect it from moisture and ultraviolet light.
To protect your deck material properly, match the sealer or stain to the type of deck material you have.
Prepare Your Patio Furniture for The Winter Season
If you have outdoor furniture that you store on your deck, you are advised to remove it and store it for winter. When considering leaving your furniture outside, you want to make sure it is anchored down so it doesn’t fly away during stormy winds. Place plastic sheets over your furniture in order to protect them from snow and ice.
Put down Snow and Ice Melt Protectors
Some regions have bitter cold and freezing temperatures during winter, and they will affect your deck greatly. If you want to safeguard your deck during winter, consider getting snow and ice shields beneath your deck’s railings and fence posts. Most of them can be bought at home improvement stores and will serve as protection against melting snow damaging the wood.
Trimming of Trees and Shrubs in Your Surrounding
Other tasks that need to be performed on your deck during the fall are trimming any trees or shrubs around the deck. In a snowy and windy climatic condition, your deck stands a chance of being damaged by falling branches and overshadowing trees. Trimming trees and shrubs will go a long way in preventing such problems, thus safeguarding your deck.
Seek Professional Help
It will also be good to pay special attention to the support posts and the footings for signs of rot or decay. If you detect any of the above signs, seek repair services to have this fixed to avoid deterioration.
Planning for Winter
Lastly, try to set aside some time to come up with ideas on what you will do during the winter. If you want to use the deck during the cold months, then it needs to have a waterproof deck cover.