Keep Your Wooden Deck Safe And Slip-Free This Winter

One of the most challenging aspects of winter is keeping your driveway, pathways, and steps clear and safe. Choosing the necessary instruments for the job, such as a shove, snowblower, and ice melter for wooden decks, and successfully employing them can make a significant difference in your safety and peace of mind. Outside your home, your deck is exactly like any other outdoor pathway. Even when the weather is cold and frosty, it will most likely be used. To avoid a slick deck for your home, follow these simple procedures.

Prepare for the snow and keep the deck clear.

During the winter, snow accumulates on your deck. The ice accumulation can cause a variety of issues, including making walking on the floor dangerous. As a result, take care not to let the snow pile up on the deck. Shovel the snow off the deck now and again to keep ice from accumulating beneath it. To minimize scratching and ruining your floor’s surface, choose a rubberized or soft-edged shovel. When removing ice, do not use salt; instead, use safe ice melt. The wooden deck is ruined by salt.

Environment Friendly Ice Melt

1-Before The Icy Weather Arrives, Treat Your Slick Deck.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so fix your home’s deck before it becomes damaged. The use of an anti-slip coating on your hardwood deck prevents water from permeating the wood and makes winter cleaning easier. The anti-slip coating will help extend the life of the floor.

2-If Your Deck Is Slick, Use Anti-Slip Strips.

Apply these anti-slip strips directly to the slick surface in locations where there is a lot of foot activity. These provide you with more grip and keep you from falling. 

3-Use Ice Removal Techniques That Are Safe

There are a variety of methods for removing ice from your slick deck. Shovels are mainly used to remove ice. Here are some of the safety considerations to take when removing ice.

• Use a wooden shovel instead of a metal one. The scratches you make may harm the deck.
• Parallel to your deck planks, shovel. Shoveling over boards rather than lengthwise raises the risk of getting a board’s edge and destroying it.
• For light snow, use a broom.
• The deck will not be damaged if you use safe ice melt on it.

4. Use the Proper Ice Removal Chemicals

For ice and snow removal, a variety of chemicals are available. For ice removal, sodium and chloride are deemed safe. However, make sure that these compounds are not harmful to the deck’s wood. If you use salt, make sure you rinse it off once the snow has melted. 

Winterizing your wood deck involves several crucial steps to prevent damage from ice and ensure safety. Here’s a comprehensive guide to keeping your deck in pristine condition during the cold months:

Prevent Ice Buildup

To prevent ice buildup, it’s essential to ensure proper drainage on your deck. This means clearing leaves and debris from between boards and ensuring downspouts direct water away from the deck area. Also, applying a water-repellent sealant can help minimize water absorption and ice formation.

De-Icing Wood Decks

When it comes to de-icing wood decks, choosing the right product is crucial. While many homeowners reach for rock salt or other harsh chemicals, these can damage the wood fibers and protective coatings. Instead, look for products specifically labeled as safe for wood decks. Products like Safe Paw are designed to be gentle on surfaces but effective in melting ice.

Wood Deck Safety

Maintaining wood deck safety during winter means ensuring the deck surface is free from ice and snow, which pose slip hazards. Regular removal of snow with a plastic shovel—not a metal one—to avoid scratching the wood is recommended. Always inspect your deck for any loose boards or rails that could become hazardous.

Homemade Ice Melt

While homemade ice melt solutions, such as a mix of salt and sand, are popular, they may not always be the best choice for wood decks. These can leave residues or cause additional moisture retention in the wood, leading to potential damage.

Magnesium Chloride and Calcium Chloride

Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride are popular ice melt options. However, they should be used cautiously. While they melt ice effectively, they can be corrosive to metal fixtures like nails and screws in your deck and potentially harmful if leached into the soil around plants.

Ice Melt Alternatives

For those looking for ice melt alternatives, materials like sand or even coffee grounds can provide necessary traction without the chemical risk. These materials do not melt ice but will reduce slipping hazards.

Safe Paw: A Safe Ice Melt for Wood Decks

Among the safer choices, Safe Paw stands out as a specialized ice melt for wood decks. It’s a non-toxic, salt-free formula that effectively melts ice without the risk of deck damage or environmental harm. Safe Paw is also pet-safe, making it a fantastic choice for households with pets that frequent the deck area.

By choosing the right de-icing products and employing proper maintenance techniques, you can enjoy a winter season without worry over your wood deck’s integrity or safety.

Bulk Purchase With Safe Paw

Final Words

The corrosion of the deck is caused by salt. The SafePaw is a non-toxic ice melter for wooden decks. It is entirely safe for property, pets, and children. It leaves no residue behind, keeping your wooden deck secure and slipping-free during winter.

Gaia Enterprises Inc. delivers 100% pet-safe and environmentally friendly winter products. Safe Paw, our flagship product, is the #1 selling pet-safe ice melt that does not harm pets, safe if ingested, and safe on all types of concrete.

Other Ice Melt Products