GET YOUR FENCE READY FOR THE WINTER
Winter is around the corner and many of us are just finishing up the last of our outdoor preparations. If you want to make sure that your deck looks just as good in the spring as it does now, here is three easy steps for you to follow:
1. Remove All Furniture and Planters
Many people simply cover their outdoor furniture and planters, however, although this may protect them, it can do huge amounts of damage to your deck. Throughout the next few months, temperatures on your deck will be varying between frost and thaw which will lead to moisture accumulations. This can lead to mold, mildew, and rot forming around or under items that were left on the deck. Not only will this cause premature wear on your boards, but it can also lead to severe discoloration that is a pain to get rid of!
2. Clean your Deck
This is a very important step and one that will have to be repeated as needed. Sometimes, we take the time to really broom of all those leaves in early November only to find new piles later in the month. Your goal should be to have the cleanest possible deck when the first snow falls. Take your time to remove the leaves and to give the deck a good cleaning with your hose (You may want to use a deck cleaner). While you are at it, check the corner and looks for mildew or mold and wipe it off. Also, be sure to check the cracks for accumulations of debris and get that out of there.
3. Take some design decisions
Depending on the type of material you used for your deck, you may want to apply a water seal in order to add some extra protection. We always recommend you visit your local hardware store to talk to an expert who will guide you with this decision. A few factors you will want to keep in mind are: your time budget; your money budget; type of deck and materials used; your area’s winter temperatures and precipitations.
Whether we like it or not, winter is coming so we may as well get ready for it. Please share any other tips or advice you have in the comment section below, we love hearing from you!
