After enjoying your home’s outdoor spaces throughout the warmer months, when fall arrives, you should start winterizing. With the help of expert deck builders, you can ensure that your deck will be protected until you use it again in the spring. Here are a few tips for protecting your deck in the wintertime.

How to Protect Your Deck Over the Winter

1. Clean It Thoroughly

If your deck isn’t clean when winter weather hits, pressure from snow and ice will grind dirt into the wood, making it harder to clean when spring arrives. Before your deck gets covered in winter precipitation, remove all furniture and decorations from it, and then power-wash all surfaces of the deck to remove dirt, debris, mold, and mildew. Store all items you won’t use over the winter, especially planters, which leach moisture and cause the wood of your deck to become discolored.

2. Complete Any Repairs

Winter exacerbates weakness and instability in your deck, so handle these problems before the cold weather. Loose rails and wobbly steps may sag or collapse under the weight of heavy snow and ice, leaving your deck unsafe or unusable by springtime. To avoid more severe damage, consult a deck builder about making repairs to your deck before winter.

3. Apply a Sealant

After you clean and repair your deck, protect it from winter moisture by applying a coat of water-repelling sealant or stain. This compound makes your deck look fresh, fills in cracks, and protects it from mold, mildew, and rot. A protective stain is available in a variety of colors, and you can either apply it yourself or have a professional deck builder remove the existing finish and apply a new coat of stain and sealant.

Based in Cincinnati, OH, Royal Construction Plus is a full-service home remodeling contractor and deck builder serving Hamilton, Butler, and Warren counties. Licensed, bonded, and insured, this father and son duo take pride in their quality workmanship and attention to detail on every job, from deck building to bathroom remodeling to floor installation. Call (513) 550-5006 today to schedule a free consultation, or visit their website to learn more about their services.