With the colder months almost on us, now is a great time to get your vinyl decking ready for winter. Your home is a valuable investment and requires maintenance to keep it looking its best. Some of the everyday tasks homeowners do to get ready for winter include covering or removing outdoor furniture, storing garden tools, and covering outdoor faucets.
Many homeowners also find time in late autumn to spruce up their homes by cleaning windows, touching up areas that might need paint, and cleaning sidewalks and decks. Suppose you’re one of the homeowners in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area who is fortunate enough to have vinyl decking from Elite Outdoor Expressions. In that case, you might be wondering what steps need to take to ensure your deck makes it through winter in pristine condition.
There are several steps to take to prepare your vinyl decking for the colder months ahead. If you have any questions about your vinyl deck, please feel free to reach out to our experts at Elite Outdoor Expressions.
1. Rinse Your Deck After the Leaves Have Fallen
One of the easiest things to prepare your vinyl decking for winter is rinsing it off with a garden hose or pressure washer after all of the leaves have fallen off the trees near your home. Leaves and other organic materials tend to gather on decks in colder months because the decks aren’t in use as often. This organic matter could leave stains if not removed properly. By removing leaves, twigs, and any other debris from nature off your deck before it freezes to your vinyl decking, you’re going a long way to protect the beauty of your vinyl deck and home.
2. Clear the Snow from Your Deck Regularly
Another way to protect your investment through the winter months is by keeping your deck free of excessive snow. Pennsylvania winters can be brutal, and it’s not uncommon for us to receive several snowfalls a year, so keeping your deck free of excess snow is crucial. Vinyl decking is the best material you can use for decking because it is strong, but holding excess weight for extended periods can be detrimental.
Excessive amounts of snow leaning across your deck’s railings could cause them to bend and cause significant damage. To ensure this doesn’t happen to your deck railings, shoveling your decks with a plastic shovel is the best way to go. And remember to use a plastic shovel and not a metal one to prevent any scratches or scuff marks on your deck.
3. Rinse Deck When it’s Spring
This step in preparing your vinyl decking goes back to the preparations you made in the fall. Rinse your deck when it’s consistently above freezing to remove dirt, grime, and other debris from the surface of your deck. If your deck is used in the winter months as an entryway from the driveway or as an exit for pets to go outdoors, you might have used salt or ice melter to expedite the removal of snow. Rinsing that off in the spring will help keep your deck in good shape for the following winter!
Unlike traditional wooden decks, where salt combined with water can rot and decay your deck and railings, salt won’t harm the material of vinyl decks.
Curious About Vinyl Decking?
Vinyl decking is made to last and is virtually maintenance-free. It won’t rot and decay after a few years and doesn’t require yearly resealing or paint touchups to keep it looking its best. If you’ve considered adding or redoing an outdated deck on your property and haven’t thought about vinyl decking in the past, our professional staff can show you why it’s a great choice to add beauty and style to your home.
We offer quality vinyl deck and porch railing installation throughout the Lancaster area. Contact us at Elite Outdoor Expressions today for an accurate quote, expert installation, and an updated and modern look to your most significant investment.
