How To Prepare Your Patio for the Winter

Preparing your backyard deck or patio is an invaluable step in home maintenance. Follow these tips to keep your area safe throughout the colder months.

Shea Rumoro
09/12/2022 01:48 PM (update 08/10/2023 01:32 AM)

How To Prepare Your Patio for the Winter

With summer coming to an end, the days are going to get colder and shorter, and fall is a great time to start preparing your patio for the winter. Whether you have a flat patio, a raised deck, or any other backyard porch, it's a good idea to follow this checklist to prepare for the colder months.

Clear and Clean

The best time to take care of this is before winter comes. We suggest removing all furniture, grills, or other items from your patio and using this opportunity to sweep, wash, clean, and perform any necessary maintenance work, such as staining the wood or filling any cracks in the foundation. Regular cleaning is crucial in keeping a well-maintained patio, but it will make the snowy season much more manageable.

Slip-Proofing

One of the most notable dangers of the winter is taking a nasty slip and fall on your patio or deck, so it may be a good idea to invest in some materials to make it a non-slip surface. Many hardware stores have various options ranging from non-slip paint to slip-proof tape you can put down. If you live in a mobile home with a raised deck, remember to take extra caution with any wood or fiberglass stairs, and use safety precautions to avoid any potential tumbles.

Patio Furniture Covers

If you have a lot of patio furniture, such as tables, chairs, or grills, it may be a smart idea to invest in some winter covering for them. Keeping snow off your furniture helps reduce long-term damage, such as metal rusting or wood swelling. If you don't have proper covers, you may want to consider moving your furniture somewhere else during the winter or using another covering method, such as a tarp.

Watch Your Door

One final thing to remember as you prepare your patio for the winter is if you have a sliding glass door that connects to the backyard. After ensuring your patio is in good condition for the winter, we suggest putting a bit of precaution into winterizing your glass door, as well with weatherstripping to keep out the cold air and some draft-resistant drapes to put over the glass.