{"id":3391,"date":"2021-01-12T14:36:55","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T14:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/?p=3391"},"modified":"2021-12-21T13:41:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T13:41:24","slug":"tips-and-tricks-to-help-your-decking-get-through-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/tips-and-tricks-to-help-your-decking-get-through-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips and tricks to help your decking get through winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter can be a tough time for all of us (especially after the madness that was 2020), so it stands to reason that once the chill winds are gone this year, you\u2019ll want to have your decking in tip top shape so that you can enjoy some sunshine on it. But before you can do that, it has to endure rain, sleet, snow and ice that can all quickly start to take their toll, especially if you\u2019ve got timber decking rather than composite decking boards. So if you\u2019re wondering how best to tackle all that, we\u2019ve got a couple of top tips for you right here.<\/p>\n

Pick your implements carefully<\/h2>\n

As with any DIY task, you\u2019ll need to start out by making sure that you\u2019ve got the right tools for the job at hand. Don\u2019t make the mistake of using a metal shovel if you can avoid it – while it\u2019s the first thing that many people reach for, it\u2019s also the most likely to cause damage to your decking. Instead, it\u2019s far better to use a plastic or rubber shovel, as this can do the job just as efficiently without the risk of damage to your decking.<\/p>\n

Alternatively you can go for an even lighter touch, such as a common broom – or even a leaf blower if it\u2019s particularly light snow. If you\u2019re using a shovel though, make sure to shovel parallel to your boards rather than across them. This reduces the risk of you catching your shovel on the edges of your decking boards, which can easily cause permanent damage in the form of unsightly scuffs. And whatever you do, don\u2019t use your shovel to hit the ice on your decking with the intention of cracking it. It\u2019s your decking that will take the brunt of the damage!<\/p>\n

Pour warm water onto the ice<\/h3>\n

Hot water has long been an effective, low cost measure to deal with a buildup of ice, but when it comes to your decking we\u2019d recommend steering clear of using boiling water. While it\u2019ll certainly do an excellent job of melting the ice, the extreme temperature change will wreak havoc on the integrity of your decking boards, and that\u2019s to say nothing of the dangers of crossing your icy decking with a pot of boiling water in hand. So we\u2019d recommend warm water instead – the results might not be as rapid, but they\u2019ll be just as effective.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, it\u2019ll be a lot safer and less risky than chemical de-icing solutions. These typically contain salts and chemicals that can easily dry out the natural moisture of the wood, making it more vulnerable to corrosion and weakening its structural integrity – arguably more dangerous than ice forming on your decking in the first place!<\/p>\n

Plus, there\u2019s another risk with chemical solutions; namely that they can seep through the cracks in your boards, killing the plant life and animals making their home underneath. If that doesn\u2019t sound too bad to you, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ve not been faced with the nasty task of extracting a small rotting animal (or several) from under your decking boards.<\/p>\n

\"snow<\/p>\n

Give it the once over<\/h3>\n

While you\u2019re out there and cleaning, it\u2019s a good plan to give your decking a quick inspection to prevent potentially even more serious problems from developing. Moss or algae<\/a> are particularly notable issues to watch out for, as they can pose serious slipping hazards on your deck. Thankfully, they\u2019re easy enough to deal with using specialised products, providing they\u2019re caught early enough. Also, you\u2019ll want to keep a wary eye out for any cracks in your boards – if water starts to seep into these and freezes later on, it can start to force them apart.<\/p>\n

Or\u2026 don\u2019t do anything at all<\/h3>\n

When it comes to safety out on your decking, it\u2019s all about balancing risk. After periods of heavy snow or rainfall, you might look out onto your decking and reasonably conclude that it would be riskier to go out out there and try and solve it than it would be to just wait for a little while and see if the day does that for you. Even thick layers of snow and ice can start to melt surprisingly quickly once the midday sun gets high enough in the sky, which can save you from the hassle and danger of having to move about on exceptionally slippery decking.<\/p>\n

However, if you think that there\u2019s a decent chance that someone will need to venture out onto your decking before the weather gets a chance to do your job for you, then it might be time to get those boots on and get cracking.<\/p>\n

Think about when to replace your decking<\/h3>\n

Decking boards generally have a decent lifespan, but as more and more years pass, you might find that eventually the harsh winters can start to take their toll. If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s a good idea to think about when you\u2019re going to replace your decking boards – not just for aesthetic reasons, but for safety too!<\/p>\n

Happily, that\u2019s exactly where we can help here at Savoy Timber. We have a huge range of\u00a0composite decking<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0timber decking\u00a0products<\/a>, making us your one-stop shop for decking. If you fancy browsing our products for yourself, feel free to pay a visit to our DIY stores in Blackpool, Preston or Wigan. We\u2019re dedicated to helping you to shop safely during the ongoing Covid-19 situation, so don\u2019t forget to check our latest\u00a0Covid-19 service update\u00a0before you visit!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winter can be a tough time for all of us (especially after the madness that was 2020), so it stands to reason that once the chill winds are gone this year, you\u2019ll want to have your decking in tip top shape so that you can enjoy some sunshine on it. But before you can do […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":1240,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTips and tricks to help your decking get through winter - Savoy Timber<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Snow, sleet, hail and rail can all make your decking a bit of a risky place to be, so here are a couple of top tips on how to keep it clean and safe in winter.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/tips-and-tricks-to-help-your-decking-get-through-winter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tips and tricks to help your decking get through winter - 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