Keeping the deck clear of snow will help to prevent costly repairs in the future.
Does your deck currently have snow mounds of snow covering it? Over the last few weeks I have received a number of emails from customers asking me how to care for their deck with the snow.
The greatest advantage of applying a seal or stain is that it is a barrier between your deck and the rain/ snow. To unprotected decks, as the snow melts it gets inside the cracks of the deck, then at night when the water freezes the water will expand. This pressure will cause wood to crack.
If you have not sealed or stained your deck in the past year for a seal or 3 years for a stain you may be in for a big surprise when the snow is gone and the wood is exposed again.
Regardless of whether your deck has been treated or not I would recommend shoveling off the snow from all horizontal surfaces where snow or water can sit. A warmer day such as today turns the snow from ice into slush and makes it easy to shovel again.
Protection differences between a seal and stain:
A stain is a penetrating finish that will protect the deck from the inside out which is why it offers the greatest protection.
A seal is a film that sits on top of the wood. As it rains, snows, or is used, the film will wear away. My greatest concern with decks that have been sealed is that with this type of weather the film will wear away quicker than normal leaving the deck less protected.
I hope this information helps and you enjoy the remaining weeks of winter. See you in the spring.
Tags: Deck Maintenance, Deck Seal, Deck Stain, Snow Removal