Preparing your wood deck for winter is important if you don’t want to spend a ton on repairs after the new year.
If you had a wood deck installed by Carroll Landscaping (great choice, by the way!), you no doubt want to ensure it lasts for years to come. With winter just around the corner, there will be a lot of snow and moisture. These aren’t great conditions for wood decks, especially those out in the open where snow can easily fall on them. Preparing your deck for winter weather is important if you don’t want to spend a ton on repairs after the new year. Here are some deck maintenance tips to keep your wood deck protected during winter:
Put Plants and Furniture in Storage
If you have a basement or garage, it’s best to move planters and furniture indoors for the winter. When planters are left out, they collect rainwater and snow, which leaks out and causes rings and other marks on the deck. The wetter days also allow water to pool and mold to grow. Furniture can also create areas for debris, puddles of water, and mold growth.
Clean Your Wood Deck Thoroughly
Find a soft brush broom – as you don’t want to create fine grooves in the wood deck with a stiff bristle – and give the deck a good sweep. Then hose it down and go over the deck again with the broom and a cleaner. You want to remove debris and dirt before it decomposes over the winter and breaks down the wood fibers in the deck. Be sure to do this when the deck is as dry as possible. If you are already finding moldy spots, you may use a mold removal product in addition to your deck cleaning product. Be sure to read the label carefully and make sure it’s safe for your wood deck.
Inspect and Repair Your Deck
After cleaning, inspect the wood surface for signs of water damage, splinters, holes, or rot. Perform a general inspection, identify any issues that may cause ruin, and fix them. Fill holes on the deck board with wood filler, tighten loose joints, replace broken boards, etc.
When winter is over, the work you put in will be obvious, and it honestly pays in the long run.
Interested in Improving Your Outdoor Living Space? Consider Landscape and Hardscaping Design Services from Carroll Landscaping
Carroll Landscaping has over 30 years of experience with landscape construction, porch construction, deck building, and hardscape installation. Our award-winning landscape designers are passionate about providing customers with top-notch service and landscape design. Our landscape designers have a creative design outlook and work as a team with our installation crews to make your vision a reality. We are committed to providing every customer with the highest quality workmanship, professional and knowledgeable service, and creativity in design in order to surpass our clients’ expectations in every aspect of the project.
We serve residents throughout the beautiful state of Maryland including Baltimore, Columbia, Ellicott City, Eldersburg, Clarksville, Sykesville, Manchester, Westminster, and Woodstock. For more information and to schedule a consultation with one of our expert designers, contact us online or give us a call at 410-922-2416.