Here are our best winter deck maintenance tips to ensure that your deck is just as beautiful in the spring as it was this past summer.
Cooler temperatures are here, which means that many things on the exterior of your home need some TLC before the snow is on the ground. The wood decking in your backyard is one such thing. Here are some of our best winter deck maintenance tips to ensure that your deck is just as beautiful in the spring as it was this past summer.
Get Rid of Leaves and Debris
Over the course of the fall, grass clippings, leaves, dirt, and other yard debris can accumulate on the surface of your deck. As part of your winter deck maintenance, you should clear all of this off. Debris sitting on the surface of your deck can attract pests, in addition to giving ice and snow an easier opportunity to build up. When this moisture sits on the surface of the deck, the wood boards can experience warping and other damage.
Clean the Deck
During your winter deck maintenance, you should also clean off the deck with wood cleaner or a mixture of 3 quarts of hot water and 6 ounces of powdered oxygen bleach. This mixture is specially formulated to kill any mildew spores on the surface of your wood deck. To apply this mixture, you should use a garden sprayer like you might use for fertilizer or weed killer. Once you’ve applied it, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Never use chlorine bleach or harsh chemicals when cleaning your wood deck.
Inspect the Deck
Finally, as part of your winter deck maintenance, you should inspect the deck. Are there any popped nails? Where are there boards missing? Making repairs now is a good idea to avoid potential damage over the winter months. Additionally, if you realize that you might need to schedule a deck replacement, you will know ahead of time and be able to schedule it early in spring before contractors get very busy.
Make Winter Deck Maintenance Easy with Leland Fisher Lumber
Leland Fisher Lumber is a full-service lumber and hardware supplier. We’ve serviced homeowners and professional contractors in Montgomery County, Howard County, and Frederick County since 1894! Whether you want to remodel your home or upgrade your business, we have the professionalism and expertise to make any architectural vision come to life.
Be sure to visit Fisher Lumber’s Designer Showroom featuring displays of Andersen Windows, Therma-Tru entry doors, Simpson and Masonite exterior doors, and a wide selection of interior doors featuring Simpson, Masonite, Lemieux, and JELD-WEN. Our knowledgeable experts are ready to assist you! Contact us at 301-424-6500 and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.