Michigan winters are the hardest season on any deck. A little care before and during winter goes a long way toward keeping your boards, railings, and fasteners in good shape for years. Here’s what actually matters.
Before winter: get your deck ready
- Clean it. Sweep off leaves and debris, then wash the surface. Trapped moisture and organic matter under leaf piles lead to rot and mildew.
- Seal wood decks. If you have pressure-treated or cedar boards, make sure they’re sealed before the wet season. Water that soaks in and then freezes is what cracks wood.
- Check fasteners and boards. Tighten loose screws and replace any cracked boards now, before snow hides the problem.
- Clear the gaps. Make sure the spaces between boards are clear so melting snow can drain.
During winter: how to handle snow and ice
Shoveling: It’s fine to shovel snow off your deck — just shovel with the boards (parallel to them), not across, and use a plastic shovel rather than metal to avoid gouging.
Ice melt: Be careful. Rock salt (sodium chloride) can damage wood and corrode fasteners. If you need a de-icer, use one labeled safe for decks, such as calcium magnesium acetate. Better yet, lay down traction strips or a mat in high-traffic spots.
Don’t pile snow on railings or let heavy drifts sit for months — the added weight and constant moisture aren’t doing your deck any favors.
What you can skip
You don’t need to cover your whole deck with a tarp — that often traps moisture and causes more harm than good. Composite and PVC decks need very little winter care beyond keeping them clear of snow buildup.
Spring check-up
When the snow’s gone, walk your deck: look for popped fasteners, soft spots, loose railings, and any boards that lifted over winter. Catching small issues early keeps them from becoming expensive repairs.
Deck seen better days?
If your deck didn’t survive the winter as well as you’d hoped, we repair and rebuild decks across West Michigan. Get a free estimate and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a repair or a rebuild.