What to Do this Fall to Prepare Your Deck
As you begin to spend more time indoors during the fall months, you can do some things now to make sure that your deck is in pristine condition come springtime. Fall is a great time to get those to-do list items done around the house. It is important to do so before the first snowfall. The experts at SEAL-A-DECK have three decking service tips to prepare you for even the worst of New England winters.
How to Prepare a Deck for Winter
Winterizing
There are ways you can prepare your deck to take on large amounts of snow and ice. The first thing you will want to do in your winterizing process is clean leaves and other debris off your deck. Make sure that you keep your deck clean by sweeping at least once a week in the fall. You will also want to store your deck furniture if you have the extra space in a garage or basement. Keeping your tables, chairs, and other accessories inside are always the best option. If you do not have the room to bring them inside, make sure you group them and tie them down. Once you do that, make sure that you find a breathable tarp or fabric. If the cover is not breathable, it will keep moisture and air trapped becoming a breeding ground for mold and mildew. If your outdoor living space has a kitchen or gas grill, make sure that you turn off the utilities to these amenities to avoid damage. Also, you should work with a landscaper to preserve your plants that remain outside and move any other plants inside.
Make Repairs
The best thing you can do for yourself before winter is to make any necessary deck repairs. If you don’t have a preventative maintenance plan like our Advantage Plan, there are probably things that can be done now to preserve your deck’s quality throughout the winter. Lifting boards, wobbling deck railings, and discolored wood are all reasons to give a professional decking contractor a call before snow begins to fall. Deteriorating decking materials will only get worse when subjected to constant rain, ice, and snow. Also, if it has been a while since your last deck treatment and sealer, give us a call. Frequent washing, stripping, conditioning, and sealing treatments are the best way to keep your decking material in its best condition.
Get Your Supplies
Another tip we want you to be aware of is preparing any supplies you’ll need for upkeep during the winter. These will mostly be your preventative items such as ice melt and shovels. The crew at SEAL-A-DECK highly recommends buying a de-icer that is labeled as pet friendly. Of course, we want your furry family members to be safe, but the solution of pet-friendly ice melt is also the safest for wood surfaces and won’t burn the surfaces. Other deicers can compromise the pH levels of the wood and break down your sealer prematurely. The other thing you will want to invest in is a plastic edged shovel. Metal shovels often cause damage to your wood even when used with care. You want to shovel snow off your deck once it gets to about a foot deep so that it doesn’t overload our substructure.
Get Deck Prep Help
The great thing about working with SEAL-A-DECK is that you don’t have to prepare your deck for winter by yourself. We are here to help you get the most out of your investment and preserve its beauty and functionality. Give the expert deck contractors a call today at 877-SEALADECK to get a free estimate and advice on your particular winterizing needs.
