As you work on prepping your home and yard for the coming winter months, make sure not to forget to winterize your outdoor deck. Depending on the outdoor decking material you have, you will want to make sure to follow certain steps to winterize your deck.
No matter what type of material your deck is made of, you’ll first want to make sure to thoroughly clean off the deck from any debris, dirt, spills or stains that have accumulated over the summer months. Typically cleaning with some warm, soapy water and then rinsing it off will take care of most buildup. Giving your deck a good cleaning will brighten your deck’s overall appearance and prevent it from degrading, staining, or getting mold over the winter.
If your deck is made from maintenance free decking material, cleaning your deck is all you need to do! But for wooden decks, you will want to make sure to check for cracked boards, loose nails, or anything else that requires additional deck repair. You’ll then want to strip down old stain or paint on the deck and apply a fresh coat, followed by a protective, water-repellent finish. A water-resistant coating is very important for a wooden deck, because moisture from ice, snow and sleet can cause cracking, splitting, and warping in unprotected boards.
If you’re tired of having to seal your deck every year or simply have been thinking about a deck replacement for a while, contact the builders at UglyDeck.com to find out about their maintenance free decking materials. UglyDeck.com provides a free deck quote and even has packages to help homeowners who want to build a deck themselves.