Should I cover my deck in the winter?

No matter how well you've prepared your deck, your deck can still suffer underneath layers of snow and ice all winter. Keep your wood looking great by covering the deck with a tarp in harsh winter months. Too much melting snow can cause the boards to warp, and ice will worsen cracks in your deck.

Herein, how do I cover my deck for winter?

One simple strategy for protecting your deck during the winter is to cover it with a non-porous, heavy tarp — preferably the type of tarp that is used to cover and protect a pool in the winter. A tarp will prevent moisture and snow from seeping into the wood and reduce the possibility of warping over time.

One may also ask, how do you winterize a deck? 3 Steps to Winterize Your Deck

Step 1: Inspect. Inspect the entire deck. Check for loose screws, damaged boards, loose handrails, etc.
Step 2: Clean. Sweep debris off your deck. Wash the deck with a bleach-free cleaner or mild soap and water.
Step 3: Protect. Make sure your deck is completely dry.

Hereof, is it bad to leave snow on your deck?

You do not have to shovel the snow off your deck until the snow depth is 3 feet or more. As long as you can visibly see the rail tops, it's safe to say you do not have to shovel the snow. As long as you have a waterproof deck (vinyl or wood deck), you do not have to worry about snow damaging your deck.

What can you put on decking to make it non slip?

To do this make-up a solution of washing-up liquid and warm water and use it to scrub the clean deck surface. Rinse the decking thoroughly and allow it to dry. Now make-up a solution of warm water and baking soda and put it into a large garden sprayer.

22 Related Question Answers Found

Should I put a roof over my deck?

If you're like most people, if you were building a new patio, pergola or verandah in winter you would make sure the structure had a roof included. Or if you were asked in winter whether you should be adding a roof over an existing deck, you'd probably answer yes.

How do I keep my deck looking new?

Protect the investment in your wooden desk by taking these 10 preventive measures:

Don't trap dirt.
Catch that grease.
Sweep it up.
Shovel it off.
Clean and seal regularly.
Take special steps for a new deck.
No matter the age, always make sure your deck is sealed.
Even pressure treated wood needs to be sealed.

Can you paint your deck in the winter?

Paint does not do well in moist conditions and can only be applied to a dry surface. Often, external surfaces in winter, like walls and decks, end up covered in some type of moisture, due to rain, snow, or dew from the high humidity.

Can you use a snowblower on a deck?

Decks and Porches

Electric snow blowers don't require any gas. You just plug them in and go. Instead of heavy metal augers, they have soft rubber or plastic paddles for more effectively clearing all the way to the decking or concrete without causing damage.

Can you stain decking straight away?

When To Stain A New Deck. Some stain manufacturers suggest you should wait 3-12 months to let the wood dry while others say to stain the deck right away. The answer can be both just as long as you prep the new wood properly for an application of the stain.

Can you stain fence in winter?

Winter snows can expose your fence to the usual suspects: mold, mildew, and rot. If you take the time to stain your fence properly with a good oil based stain before the winter months come, however, you've won half the battle. During the winter you'll want to make sure you keep the spaces between your fences clean.

Does kitty litter melt ice?

Kitty litter for melting ice on driveways

The reason is simple: salt not only melts ice by lowering the freezing point of water, it also provides added traction once said melting is done. In fact, one pound of salt can melt roughly 46.3 pounds of ice! Kitty litter, on the other hand, is nothing but glorified clay.

How much snow can my deck hold?

As I showed in a related blog article, 3 ½ feet of snow weighs somewhere between 42 and 63 pounds per square foot. That's right at the Building Code's design load for decks — 40 or 60 psf, depending on your location.

Will Epsom salt melt ice?

Epsom Salt, Salt and Sugar

The two household products will help melt he ice by lowering the melting and freezing points of water. Epsom salt, also known magnesium sulfate, will melt the ice in the same manner as the table salt, but it takes longer and is costlier. However, Epsom salt is safter to use around plant life.

How do you melt snow on a wood deck?

Ice melt for wood decks: Make sure deicer products are designed for your type of deck (wood or composite decking). Also, remember to push snow parallel to your deck boards. With decks, it's best to shovel early and often to prevent ice buildup.

Is it OK to put salt on a wood deck?

Because rock salt dries out the natural moisture of wood, it's never recommended as safe to use on a wooden deck. When the salt dries out the wood, it affects the natural expansion and contraction process of wood and causes the deck to corrode quicker.

Will an outdoor rug ruin a wood deck?

- DON'T: Use traditionally woven outdoor rugs like this. Even at only 3/8″ thickness, machine-made outdoor rugs perform poorly on exposed wooden surfaces. They simply retain too much moisture to be reliably left outside and will exacerbate existing mildew growth. Stick with the recycled plastics mats linked above.

How do I remove snow from my deck?

The best way to clear a little snow is with a broom. A simple corn broom is best. It works well if the snow is fairly light and only a few inches deep. Light, fluffy snow is ideal, for you can sweep it under the rails; and, more importantly, the broom will not scrape, scratch or gouge your deck.

Can you shovel a Trex deck?

While Trex decks certainly are beautiful covered in snow, it's easy to keep them clear of the white stuff. To remove snow from Trex Transcend^®, Enhance^® and Select^® decks, a plastic shovel is preferred over metal. Calcium chloride or rock salt also can be used to melt the snow and ice from the deck surface.

How many people can my deck hold?

In short there's no one right answer to “how much can my deck hold?” However, one rule of thumb to keep in mind while answering the question is that the answer commonly is that if a deck is properly designed, it's built to hold 50 lbs. per square foot. It's possible that it could hold much more weight than 50 lbs.

What temperature is too cold to stain a deck?

Avoid the Cold

If you're staining your deck in the spring or fall, wait for a day with highs above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, make sure freezing temperatures aren't in the forecast for that night. If it drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit before the stain has thoroughly dried, it can hinder the curing process.

Can you seal a deck in cold weather?

Sealing a deck in cold weather is actually the best approach for several reasons. Of course, cold is a relative term, and you won't want to work in freezing temperatures or when there is snow on the deck. However, a chilly day in late fall or early spring is ideal.