After careful planning, selecting a professional, watching the installation, and enjoying your new outdoor living environment, the season changes and it is time to move indoors. So,
What about Winter?
Patios do require seasonal maintenance and caring for them in wintertime will ensure yet another full year of relaxing moments outdoors. Here’s a checklist for your own outdoor space, which you should ideally tick off well before the year’s first snowfall:
- Bring all soft goods (rugs, pillows, blankets) indoors.
- Make sure your more sensitive potted plants are also safely indoors, where they can receive proper watering and sunlight.
- Store your deck furniture. Use a designated storage room or garage, if possible. If not, covering your deck furniture in plastic wrap should do the trick.
- If detachable, remove any overhang from the patio. You don’t want to risk having the awning collapse under the weight of snow. A great, modern type of awning is the retractable one – some can even be remote controlled, making this whole process so much easier for you. If it cannot be detached, make sure to clean it of the snow just as often as you take the shovel to your snowed-in driveway.
What about De-Icing?
- If you plan to walk on or use the patio in any way during inclement weather, make sure you treat the surface with an appropriate de-icing material. Most concrete does not like rock salt and the use of rock salt will cause deterioration of the surface. Techo-Bloc is one brand that is certified against damage from rock salt. To be safe, consider alternative products. Other chemicals such as magnesium chloride, or special formulas such as Safer Than Salt, will not damage concrete.
- However, there are other safety issues with de-icing. You need to consider the impact of the de-icing agent on plants and pets. Many of these products may not hurt the concrete but will make your pet ill and / or kill vegetation. Read the label, many new product are ECO –friendly and safe for use around pets and plants.
And then there was Spring
Just remember when spring returns to give your patio a good bath to remove any winter residue.
Written By:
John Stuart works on behalf of patioawnings4less.co.uk in outreach and content creation. He creates engaging content that help businesses connect with their audience and stand out from the crowd.
and
Barbara Babcock is one of the owners of Woodward Landscape Supply.