Preparing Your Deck for Winter – 5 Things to Do Right Now

Winter can cause some serious damage to your hardwood decking. Without proper preparations, winter cold, rain, and snow can cause major problems, like wood rot and warping. Even naturally resilient species like Ipe and Cumaru decking can be at risk. Luckily for you, it’s not too late to properly prepare your hardwood deck for the coming winter weather. The following are five steps you can take to make sure your wood stands a chance against the rain and cold.

1. Clean it.
   One of the biggest threats to Ipe or Cumaru hardwood decking is dirt and yard debris. Organic matter like leaves and grass can decompose and cause wood rot. Thoroughly remove all fungus, dirt, mildew, leaves, dirt, and other yard waste. If your deck is particularly dirty you may want to use a formulated deck cleaner.
2. Strip it. 
   It’s natural for a deck finish to peal a bit over time. Now is the perfect opportunity to strip away any deteriorating or unwanted finish.
3. Refinish it.
   If you needed to remove any of the deck’s finish you will need to refinish the spots you stripped. This will help keep your deck protected and looking good throughout the winter.
4. Seal it.
   Use a water repellant to ward off any excess moisture and prevent water-related damage like cracking or warping.
5.  Cover it.
   If you live in a part of the country that has particularly nasty winter weather, you might want to consider covering your hardwood decking with a waterproof deck cover. Deck covers are designed to be installed over Ipe or Cumaru hardwood decking during poor weather months.

Visit StoneWoodOutlet.com to learn more about exterior hardwood decking and get advice from our decking experts!