Winter is just around the corner for Saskatchewan, the days are shorter, the weather is getting colder. Now is the time of year when we start to winterize our homes and cottages. If you’ve got a covered deck, you might use it all year round, but decks exposed to the rain and snow tend to get neglected in the winter months.

We have a few tips so that you can keep your Duradek covered deck in top shape to survive the harsh winter weather and be ready for a simple cleaning come spring.

3 Simple Steps

1. Pack Away Any Furniture or Planters Stored on Your Deck

When you are not using your deck frequently, you may notice the debris of dirt that can accumulate around the edges of temporary furniture or fixtures of your deck, making for a tougher scrubbing come spring

2. Clear Any Organic Debris That Has Accumulated

If you are lucky enough to have a lot of trees around your deck, that good fortune is often accompanied by leaves and twigs that autumn weather can send to your deck in wet, mucky piles. Be sure to remove organic matter before it starts to decompose as this can lead to stains on your vinyl deck that can me difficult to remove.

3. Wash Your Deck With A Mild Cleaner and Rinse Thoroughly

While it is easy to brush this one off the list until spring, you can make your spring clean a little easier if you perform once before winter. You can use the Duradek brand Deck Cleaner (available from KM Burgess Agencies) for a gentle clean, but if you would like to substitute for a more common household cleaner we have found that diluted Cascade powdered dish detergent also works well. Simply scrub with a soft bristled brush or broom. No matter what product you use, make sure it is safe for use on vinyl and be sure to rinse well so there is no chemical residue remaining.

My Deck is Winterized, Now What?

Now that your deck is ready for winter, it probably looks so great you’ll still want to use it whenever you can!

If you access your deck through the winter months, have some rock salt or other snow melting chemicals (like kitty litter) on hand to deal with slippery ice and snow. just remember that as soon as the spring weather arrives and the snow melts, you must rinse off your deck to keep your vinyl from premature ageing.

It’s also a good idea to have a plastic edged snow shovel on hand. Avoid the use of metal edged shovels on your deck so there is no chance of puncturing the vinyl membrane.

If you have any other questions or would like to purchase the Duradek brand cleaner, please contact our office at 306-721-5700 or stop by at 667 Park St, Regina, SK