3 Tips to Ensure Your Deck Survives the Winter
Consider these tips to keep your deck protected throughout the colder months.
Each year, homeowners go through an extensive home maintenance checklist to prepare their house for winter. However, with the excitement of fall and the approaching holidays, it’s not uncommon for a few of those items to be skipped. Our professionals at Baybrook Remodelers in West Haven, CT, found outdoor decks are often included in those list items that are skipped over, leaving homeowners with a lot of repairs come spring. Consider these tips to keep your deck protected throughout the colder months.
How to Protect Your Deck Through the Winter
Apply a Water-Repellent Sealant
Before the first snowfall, a sealant containing a water repellent should be applied to your decks. Scrub or power-wash your deck to get all of the leaves, dirt, and mold off of the surface before applying the sealant. This will protect your deck from the environmental elements that cause the paint to chip or peel away.
Cover It With a Tarp
In addition to using a sealant, covering your deck with a tarp will provide additional protection from the rain and snow. This is especially useful if your deck has warped or cracked in the past, as this is caused by moisture being soaked into the wood and eventually freezing.
Remove Snow Regularly
Leaving snow on your deck will lead to a lot of damage, especially if a sealant wasn’t applied before it. The snow will soak into the wood planks, destroying its stain or paint over time. Additionally, not shoveling the snow on your deck will allow it to seep into every crevice and crack, eventually damaging the wood. This can be prevented by taking an extra few minutes after each snowfall to shovel.
If your home’s deck is in rough shape, our commercial construction professionals at Baybrook Remodelers in New Haven can assist homeowners with building a new one. Call us at (203) 937-6400 today to schedule a consultation with a professional.
