The outdoor components of your home are designed to withstand the elements. They’re there to protect your home from problems associated with harsh weather conditions. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t do anything to prepare your siding, roof and other home components for winter storms and freezing temperatures.
Outdoor Living Spaces
Outdoor living spaces are exposed to snow, rain, ice and everything that winter brings. Many homeowners wonder what they’re supposed to do to protect those parts of their home. While porches and decks are supposed to do well even in freezing weather, there are some things you can do to improve your deck’s winterization.
Winterizing Your Deck
You can start preparing your deck for winter in November or even earlier depending on your location and how harsh the winter weather is there. Here are the steps you can take to keep your deck winter-ready.
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Remove the furniture: Whatever you like to do on your deck – entertaining friends, enjoying dinners, having an afternoon cup of coffee, etc. – it probably involves having a few items out there, such as furniture and cooking appliances. Such things are not usually meant for winter exposure, so the first thing you should do is to remove them and keep them in a safe and dry place until the winter is over.
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Check your deck: Look for potential issues. For wood decks, it might be a good time to look for rotted or cracked planks and resealing or replacing them. Look for signs of mold and mildew. You might want to hire a professional if there is a mold infestation.
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Remove debris: Leaves, branches and all manner of debris that’s found its way onto your deck should be removed. Sweep the deck with a soft broom to get rid of dust as well. Think about cleaning your home’s gutters, too, to prevent the debris from landing on your deck.
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Hose it down: You can use a power washer or a regular garden hose to clean your deck. To remove stains and to sanitize it, a little dishwashing detergent mixed with warm water should do the trick.
If you want to avoid any problems associated with wood decks, we recommend Trex® composite decks. You’ll never have to worry about repainting, sealing, staining, fading, termite damage and other wood issues again.
AllPoint Construction can help you replace your wood deck with Trex. We can also help you with other home improvement projects and insurance repairs. Call us at (734) 526-4955, or fill out this form to get in touch with us.
