Your Guide to Maintaining Your Deck for Every Season

Caring for your deck can take on many forms depending on the season in which you are tending to your back yard or front yard patio.

For example, maintaining your patio during the summer can look vastly different than in the winter whether you’re living in New York or Texas.

To that end, we’ve put together this guide that should inform how you take care of your deck, depending on the season. For starters, we wanted to provide an introduction for maintaining your deck during the impending spring time.

Here is our guide to get you started.

Spring

Now that you have trucked your way through the winter season, it’s now time to get outdoors and start cleaning—this is one of the many reasons many are accustomed to the phrase ‘spring cleaning.’ After all, if you neglect your deck for too long, it can be subject to mold and mildew growth, which can in-turn cause rot, too.

First, you can start off by brushing away all debris both on top and between the deck boards. We recommend using both a putty knife and a broom to expeditiously accomplish this. 

Deck during the springtime by Nyplanting via Wikimedia Commons.

If you opt to use a solution cleaner, make sure to use the right one depending on your deck’s surface material. For example, with composite decks, you’ll need to use commercial degreasers and detergents to extirpate grease and oil stains.

Finally, after you have cleaned your deck, make sure to seal it. Make sure to check out our Rexoseal DEK deck coating to get started.

Summer

Here comes the splintering—no pun intended—summer months that often come accompanied by warm and dry weather. During this time, it’s best to perform routine inspections to make sure your deck is bereft of any issues like rot.

A deck during the summer by arealgirlfriday via Pixabay.

For this, make sure to peruse the stairs and perimeter posts. One telling test to conduct is to use a screwdriver and apply significant pressure to any areas that look suspect. If you can insert it a .25 inch or more into the spot, then you likely have rot to address.

Next, check the ledger by using a flashlight underneath your deck area. If any look rusted, then consider replacing these as soon as possible. Finally, remember to check for grout, too.

Fall

Much like in the springtime, it is also prudent to wash your deck during the Fall. Technically, you want to do this when the temperatures are relatively mild.

A cabin deck by Virginia State Parks via Flikr.

During these months, you should also consider trimming all foliage that could be encroaching on your deck. Make sure to gather all leaves, too, so that they don’t accumulate in corners. 

Winter

If you live in an overtly cold climate during the winter, then make sure all of your outdoor gear and furniture is properly stowed away at this time. If you don’t have this luxury, then consider purchasing covers that can prolong the shelf life of your outdoor equipment.

A snow-in deck by Robert Huffstutter via Flikr.

If you neglect to do this, then soft apparel—i.e. Pillows, rugs, chair cushions, etc.—can become subject to deterioration easily.

Remember, caring for your belongings will go a long way in persevering longevity and consistency for all of your products.