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Preparing Your Deck for Winter
Sam Lutz • Nov 29, 2016
Winter is coming and your deck is facing a long road ahead. Winterizing the structure can help you preserve the wood and ensure that your deck will last for many years to come. During the winterizing process, your main goal should be to protect the deck from the effects of ice, snow and rain, which can quickly rot the wood. Properly preparing your deck for winter can extend its service life and save you money on deck repair and replacement.
Remove Planters and Wide-Base Furniture
Planters will trap moisture beneath their base, which can cause mold, mildew and wood rot during the course of the winter. Put the planters on your deck up on a deck table, or put them in the garage where they won’t do damage.
Prep the Area
Cleaning products, chemical stripper, stain, paint and solvents can all be bad for your landscaping. To avoid problems, water your nearby landscaping then drape the plants with tarps. This will prevent the plants from absorbing harmful chemicals and will limit their exposure.
Clean the Deck
Sweep the surface of the deck thoroughly, then use deck cleaner formulated for decks like yours. Some deck cleaners come with bleach, others do not. Using a bleach-based deck cleaner can remove stains and brighten a deck that has begun to gray, but using these products too often can encourage the wood to yellow, so be careful and use bleach prudently. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning your deck with any product.
Test the Deck for Water Soundness
Your deck should be water repellant. Stain and paint can help protect your deck from ice and snow, but over time the stain or paint on your deck will fade, allowing water to penetrate the surface of the wood. To check for this problem, inspect your deck for the following characteristics:
- Peeling, bubbling or faded paint.
- Areas of dark, stained or gray wood.
- Areas where the stain is worn away and the bare wood is exposed beneath.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell when the stain is fading. To find out, spray your deck with water from a hose. The water should bead up on the surface of the wood. If it doesn’t, then this means that the wood is absorbing the wood and the sealant on the deck should be replaced.
Reseal Your Deck If Necessary
If you decide that the stripper and paint or stain on your deck isn’t doing a good job, now is the time to reseal.
Stripping the wood is an important first step. Removing traces of the old sealant will make it possible for the wood to absorb the new product. When using chemical stripper, follow all manufacturer’s instructions.
Next, apply two coats of the paint or stain of your choice. Give yourself several days of good weather to get this project completely finished, as your deck will need dry weather for the stain or paint to cure.
For more information about sealing your deck, check out our post with detailed tips for getting the best results.
Stop in at Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture
At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture, we sell everything you need in order to strip, stain and seal your deck this winter. In addition, we’re happy to answer questions that you might have about stain or paint product usage and deck maintenance. To get started sealing your deck, stop in at one of our convenient locations
today!
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