Winter Prep 101, Part II: Deck Winterization
Welcome back to the Lonestar Blog! We hope you had a chance to clean up those window screens, because now it’s time for the the second lesson of Winter Prep 101! This month, we’ll cover deck winterization.
Deck Winterization Basics
Winter brings cold weather, snow, winds, falling leaves and other debris, and in general a tough time for the outdoor areas of your home. Taking the time in the fall to winterize your deck will pay dividends for years to come. Your deck will last longer, wear slower (less splinters and warping!) and in general, look better come each spring.
Look Up
Take a good look at the area above your deck, and trim any branches that hang over your outdoor area. Doing so will lessen the amount of leaves, acorns, and sticks that fall on your deck over the course of the colder seasons. Additionally, we’ve all seen what can happen to stray branches after the first big ice storm of the year… and we don’t want that!
Break out the Broom
You should be doing this pretty frequently anyway, but… we know how it goes! Brush off all the leaves, sticks, pollen, etc, that’s accumulated on your deck over spring, summer, and fall.
Power Wash
With everything cleared off and the risk of damage from falling branches and debris eliminated, it’s time to pressure wash your deck. You can certainly hire professionals to come out, but for winter prep we think you can get by with renting or using your own power washer.
Observe and Reseal If Needed
When you’re power washing, take a look at your deck. Is water beading off boards in some places, soaking in in others, and just pooling on some? If so, it’s a great time to spot-seal your deck. Look for the trouble spots, wait for them to dry, and then hit them with the sealant!
Contact Lonestar Siding and Windows!
As they say… an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! You might lose a weekend to deck winterization, but that’s nothing compared to the extra years you’ll get out of your deck..
However, decks don’t last forever no matter how much work you into them. When the time comes that your deck needs replaced, think of us! We’d be happy to partner with you to create (or recreate) the deck your family needs. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (804) 266-1717, message us on Facebook or contact us online..We look forward to showing you why our motto is “Home Exteriors Done Right!“
