Clark Kent Creations -- Swarthmore, PA. Landscape Design and Construction, Hardscaping, Patios
  • Home
  • Services/Photos
    • Hardscaping >
      • A Flagstone Walkway -- The Process
      • Stone Steps -- The Process
    • Wood Fences
    • Exterior Carpentry
  • About
  • Community

Do I Need to Shovel the Snow off my Deck?  Winter Deck Maintenance Tips

12/13/2013

6 Comments

 
PictureA Wintertime Deck: What to Do?
No matter where you live in the United States, this past week provided an early glimpse of the winter weather that lay ahead this year.  Major snowstorms and sub-freezing temperatures have extended all the way across the country, including many areas in the deep south that just aren't used to it.

Here in the Philadelphia area, we got belted with an unexpected 8" of snow this past Sunday (which made for a real fun Eagles game to watch!), another 4" on Tuesday, followed by a blast of bitter Arctic air.  And more snow and "wintry mix" is in the forecast for this coming weekend.

I've posted on this site in the past about how to care for your hardscaping during the winter months, but many of our decking customers may be wondering what the best ways are to deal with ice and snow on your new deck.  Here's a few helpful hints.

First of all, don't worry about the weight of the snow on the deck.  It's not going to fall down.  Remember those building permits we had to file in advance of building the deck?  That was to ensure the structural specifications can handle the weight -- regardless of whether it's a cocktail party in the summer with 40 people, or 2' of snow falling on it in the winter.  In fact, snow is what's called a "dead load", meaning it's stationary and not adding extra force by jumping or moving around.  I know our decks will be just fine.  In fact any deck that went through the proper permitting procedure, regardless of whether we built it or somebody else built it, will be just fine.

Another concern I hear voiced often is whether or not the ice and snow will damage the deck.  Simple answer here: no.  Your deck was built with materials that are meant to hold up to the elements, regardless of whether it's heavy rain, freezing temperatures, or snowdrifts.  Composite materials, pressure-treated lumber, red cedar -- they're all meant to be exposed to the elements.  If they weren't, then we wouldn't be building decks with them. 

That being said, various materials will behave differently in reaction to ice and snow.  Vinyls or composites may shrink slightly in sub-freezing temperatures.  But no worries, as they will just as quickly expand back once the temperatures rebound.  Pressure-treated lumber is about as maintenance free as it gets.  Cedar or other non-treated lumbers should be sealed or treated regularly to help keep out the moisture.  But assuming you're keeping up with the routine maintenance, then a few big blizzards should be nothing to worry about.

As a deck owner, your biggest winter-time concern should be keeping any high traffic areas clear of ice and snow, and maintaining a safe, slip-free traffic path.  And there are a few things to keep in mind when doing this.

First of all, the best thing you can do with your deck is just leave it alone while the snow sits there, slowly melting and clearing itself.  The deck will still be there come March, no need to mess with it in the mean time.

But that's not always realistic.  Oftentimes the rear entrance leads right out to the deck, with a set of steps leading down to the driveway.  It's how you get in to the house when you park in the driveway, it's where you take out the trash, it's how the kids get in the house after a day of sledding in the backyard.  So shutting it down just isn't practical.

In these instances, shoveling the traffic areas is the best thing you can do.  When shoveling, it's best to use a softer, plastic or rubber-bladed shovel that won't scuff up the deck surface.  Metal shovels are great on asphalt driveways, but can really tear up a wood or composite deck in no time.  If it means spending an extra $15 on a designated "deck" shovel, so be it.  It'll eliminate big-time repair costs down the road.  Even a push-broom will work fine in these situations too.

It's also important to shovel "with the grain".  Run your shovel right down the length of the boards, not across the boards.  Running the shovel across the boards is just asking to catch or scuff up a board unnecessarily.  A gentle, long shovel stroke will clear the boards easily without risking getting the shovel caught or stuck on a board.

And even a well-shoveled area can still get slippery, especially when it comes to composites.  I will repeat my wintertime mantra here:  "Rock Salt Bad".  Just like in hardscaping, rock salt will eat away at the deck, drying out wood, staining composites, or even scraping up the surface. 

If slipperyness is a major concern, what you may want to consider, especially in high traffic paths on your deck or steps, is to install some rubber "grip strips" to help with your footing.  Even a single strip on each step tread will add considerable safety to any potentially slippery surface.  And while the strips aren't the most aesthetic add-on in the world, they do come in a few assorted colors to help conceal them, and just a few strips in key strategic locations can add loads of safety to icy surfaces.  It's something at least considering if slip-and-fall is a concern.

And if you don't have a deck, but are considering having one built down the road?  Give us a call for a free consultation.  We'll be happy to take a look -- once all this snow melts that is ...  Happy Winter!

6 Comments
Brian link
1/24/2014 08:53:54 am

Best way to clear snow from a deck is by using an AIR JET SHOVEL attached to a leaf blower. Hurricane force wind clears snow and dries the deck surface. Air Jet Shovel glides over grooves and the front shovel blade does not have to contact the deck surface. See http://bit.ly/1blev4B

Reply
Nikki link
9/19/2018 04:51:57 am

What a great read. I learned something <a href="http://www.miamidecks.net/">new</a> taht can be really useful for future

Reply
Sarah link
9/3/2020 08:20:35 pm

NIce

Reply
Tex Hooper link
11/15/2021 05:07:46 pm

I like your deck tips. I need a new deck. My old one is rotting.

Reply
decking western sydney link
4/11/2022 07:33:19 am

In most circumstances, your home should have at least two safe departure routes. Building codes, in fact, necessitate two evacuation routes. If it means shoveling a path from your front door to the top of your deck stairs, go ahead and do it. You only need a clear 3ft wide walkway to meet building code standards. This will offer you enough room to hold your deck railings while still having a decent view of your steps. To guarantee good fire safety procedures on your home property, you should also shovel a clear way to any outdoor grill you may have.

Reply
Mia Evans link
2/1/2023 09:00:43 pm

It got me when you said that a material that doesn't need that much maintenance is pressure-treated lumber. I should suggest this to my husband if he is looking for an option to get a deck installed and constructed in our backyard this spring. If he likes it, we can start shopping for lumber yards to find a supplier with the most reasonable costs to meet our budget.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Company

    Clark Kent Creations, LLC is a full-service landscape construction company servicing the Pennsylvania communities of Delaware County, Chester County, The Main Line, and the University City, Art Museum, and Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhoods of Philadelphia.  In addition to this blog page, additional information regarding the company and our services can be found on the subsequent pages of the site.
    Picture

    Author

    Clark Linderman is the president of Clark Kent Creations, LLC, a landscape construction company based in Swarthmore, PA.  He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.  In addition to his passion for all things outdoors, he counts Michigan football, Phillies baseball, Superman memorabilia, Memphis R&B music, and good craft brews among his many interests.  He currently resides in Swarthmore with his wife, Sheila, two sons, his dog Krypto, and a really, really messy garage full of work supplies and toys.

    Picture
    Contact Us:
    Clark Kent Creations, LLC
    Swarthmore, PA
    Design and Construction to Maximize Your Outdoor Experience

    707-290-9410
    clark@clarkkentcreations.com
    Serving Delaware County, PA

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All
    Business And The Front Office
    Carpentry
    Environmental Issues
    Fencing
    Guest Posts
    Hardscaping
    Inspiration And Design Ideas
    Places & Local Interest
    Ramblings
    Seasonal
    Snack Break
    Water Features

    Archives

    July 2015
    September 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    Like my Blog?

    If you like the content of my blog posts, here are a few other blogs that I check in on regularly:

    Stone Soup:  A Master Stone Mason shares his craft.

    Arcadia Gardens:  Plenty of great tips about horticulture and landscape design.  A great blog (even though she's an MSU Spartan!)

    Revolutionary Gardens:  A Virginia-based landscape designer shares his work and ideas.

    Rockin Walls:  A certified dry stone mason from Maryland shares his projects and tricks of the trade

    If you have or know of a blog that you think I might be interested in, just let me know.  If I like it I just may add it to the list!

    RSS Feed

    All content ©2013
    Clark Kent Creations, LLC
Proudly powered by Weebly