Keep Your Deck Beautiful
To ensure your deck will maintain its quality and appearance throughout the snowy season, there are certain preparations that need to be made so that it is ready and raring to go come spring. With colder, wetter weather right around the corner, it’s beneficial to devote some time to winterizing your American Deck & Sunroom custom deck. With these helpful steps, it’s easy to protect your deck to prepare it for the long winter months ahead.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Your custom deck was the place to be this summer, but all that foot traffic, food spills, and weather certainly took its toll. As a result, it’s crucial to thoroughly clean your deck before the icy winter weather isolates you inside your home. Begin by clearing away any clutter, such as outdoor furniture, planters, etc. Sweep any debris, leaves, or loose dirt from the surface of your deck. While cleaning, you should be actively looking for mold, mildew, and stains.
Debris that forms on your deck throughout the year can become slippery and pose safety problems, but some of this can easily be swept away. Mold and mildew, however, can cause erosion on various types of wood, depreciating the value of your custom deck. Stains, whether caused by food or furniture, also lessen the appearance of deck and can also cause degrading of the wood. In these cases, it may be best to wash your deck.
If washing your custom deck seems to be the best route, keep in mind that most experts advise against using pressure washers. If set to the wrong setting, they can damage the wood and ultimately shorten the life of your deck. The best way to clean your deck is by purchasing a bleach-free deck cleaner formulated specifically for wood. Many cleaners can be attached to garden hoses for easy application, and will help to restore your custom deck to its natural beauty without yellowing.
Strip, Stain, and Protect
If your custom deck has seen better days, now is the time to consider stripping any faded or deteriorating finish before old man winter rears his ugly head. Stripping and refinishing the deck is important because it restores the wood. Remove worn finish with an ordinary paint scraper and then use a stripping solution to clear away the rest. Afterwards, apply a fresh new finish, which will reflect damaging solar rays and prolong the life of your custom deck.
The last and most important step is protecting your custom deck from the damaging effects of winter with a water-repellant stain. Moisture is wood’s worst enemy. When moisture contacts wood it causes the wood to become more flexible. However, substantial exposure to moisture can cause a wood deck to warp, crack, spilt, or rot. This could compromise the structural integrity of your beautiful American Deck & Sunroom surface. A great stain or sealant can prevent water (i.e. snow, water, etc) from penetrating the wood and causing decay.
Keep in Mind
Since a properly built deck is constructed to withstand the weight from snow, it’s actually okay not to shovel your deck. Sometimes, the winter sun can do more damage to your deck than the snow. However, if you need to clear a path for your animals—or if you would like to have an escape route for your family should you need it—it is best to use a plastic shovel. Metal shovels can scratch or gouge your deck. Often times, you can even use a broom to brush off light snowfall.
If your deck is one of the main access points in your home, you might find yourself asking: “What ice melt should I use on my deck?” Well, the answer is NOT SALT. Salt can actually cause damage to the surface of a deck—and to fasteners. Other chemically designed ice melts can do the same. If you must sprinkle something down on your deck, use sand; however, you want to sweep it off whenever possible to avoid additional surface damage.
Properly winterizing your custom deck will not only provide that much need protection against the harsh elements of winter, but it will also protect your investment and the value of your property. So, when next spring rolls around, you’re able to start right where you left off – with a healthy deck. Your deck is your investment, prolong its life and the joy that it supplies by winterizing it each year!
Interested in your own custom deck or other custom architectural addition? Contact us today for more information!
