Is It Safe To Salt Your Wooden Deck?

Outdoor living is one of the popular trends in home development today. Adding a deck is the best way to enhance the value of your house. Apart from adding a functional space where people can gather, it also gives your house a completely new look. Although there are several decking materials in the market, a wooden deck looks beautiful and elegant and is less expensive. But it is imperative to take care of it in the winter season, especially if it is of natural wood. 

One of the most popular ways of clearing snow from the open areas is spreading rock salt- be it on sidewalks, pavements, driveways, or steps. But is it safe to use salt on wooden decks? Let’s find out.

Salt Or Snow Melt- What Is Better On Painted Wood Deck?

Between using salt on wood deck and a dedicated snow melt, the latter is the better choice, especially when we’re talking about painted wood decks. Salt can strip away the paint, leaving your deck exposed and vulnerable to the elements. A dedicated ice melt for wooden deck, like Safe Paw, is the better choice. It’s effective, won’t damage the paint or the wood, and is safe for pets.

Environment- Friendly Ice Melt

Here Are 3 Reasons Why You Should Never Use Salt On Your Wooden Deck:

1- Corrosive

As we all know, rock salt is essentially sodium chloride. It is not safe for wooden decks. The chloride component of the salt absorbs moisture from the wood. When the wood is left dry, it fails to perform its natural contraction and expansion process, thus corrodes soon. Rock salt is not only unsafe to use on wood but also concrete, asphalt, as well as bricks. The salt and other chemicals present in ice melt can cause rashes, eye irritation, and burn paw pads of our four-legged friends.

2- Poisonous

Another reason you should not use rock salt is, that it is not safe to use around kids, pets, and plants. Chlorine in salt and chemical-based ice melt is a toxic respiratory irritant and can damage pets’ skin, eyes, and membranes. 

3- Environmentally unfriendly 

The runoff from rock salt pollutes streams, rivers, and other waterways. It can even kill or affect the growth of plants.

So, What Should You Use On Your Wooden Deck?

Using ice melt is the simplest and most effective cure for your winter woes. There are different varieties of winter ice melt solutions available in the market. Most of the ice melt in the market have chloride in their composition. The toxins in these ice melt can affect the shine and longevity of your wooden deck. As we know now that chloride is not safe for your wooden deck, you must choose an ice melt that is salt-free, chloride-free, and acetate-free. Moreover, the residue of salt and chemical-based ice melt can harm the flooring and rugs of your indoor facility.

Therefore, select a good ice melt for a wooden deck. Choose one that is safe for children, pets, and that will not kill the grass. Avoid using sand for snow removal as it will grind and damage the surface of the deck.

If you take care of your deck in the off-season, be sure that it will return the favor in the coming years. By avoiding salt and using a good ice melt for wooden decks, you can keep your deck safe and glistening without straining your back and pockets.

How To Repair Holes On Salt Treated Wood Deck?

Salt on wood deck can lead to holes and other damages over time. Repairing a salt-treated wood deck can be a laborious process involving cleaning, removing loose wood, filling holes, sanding, and repainting or sealing. To avoid this hassle, choose a product like Safe Paw. This ice melt for wooden deck won’t cause the same corrosive damage as salt and will save you time and effort in the long run.

Final Words

The best ice melt for your wooden deck is Safe Paw, which is salt-free and eco-friendly ice melt having carbonyl diamide and glycol as main ingredients. It will neither damage your surface nor leave behind a mess. It removes snow from your wooden decks and adds traction also. Unlike salt-based ice melts, it is safe for pets and plants.

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