Snow Removal for Your Kansas City Deck: What You Need to Know

It’s that time of year again when holiday cheer is in the air and dreams of a white Christmas abound. While your outdoor living space may become covered with snow, don’t be a Grinch by neglecting Kansas City deck maintenance.

According to the National Weather Service, Kansas City, Kansas, sees approximately 18 inches of snow between October and April with neighboring towns of Olathe and Kirksville getting about two to four inches more per year on average.

Regardless of where you live in the area, you’re going to experience a considerable amount of snow. This is why it’s important to know how to properly remove the snow from your Kansas City deck or you could cause extensive damage to your outdoor living space that’s expensive to repair.

Snow’s No Friend of Kansas City Decks         

First and foremost, it’s vital to remove snow before it accumulates on the deck. If this happens, the weight and moisture of the icy fluff could cause structural damage and even weaken the integrity of the outdoor living space to the point that it isn’t safe to walk on.

The following techniques will help you perform Kansas City deck maintenance during the winter months.     

Use the Right Tools

In a perfect winter wonderland, homeowners are diligent about using a broom to sweep away the first traces of snow from their deck. However, snowfall can happen while visions of sugar plums are dancing in our heads. When morning arrives, the snow has settled on the deck and is now inches deep.  

Faced with this situation, you first need to consider the material of your deck’s surface. If it’s made of natural wood, don’t dare use a metal shovel because it can scratch the boards, cause splintering, and even scrape off the paint and sealant leaving your decking boards susceptible to moisture damage. For these reasons, put your trust in a plastic shovel or snow blower.  

Pro Tip: Always shovel parallel to the decking boards to minimize the risk of damaging them.

When Your Deck Resembles an Ice-Skating Rink…

Tread carefully! An icy deck is extremely dangerous. Be especially cautious if your deck receives only morning sun or stays shaded for most of the day as the decking boards may never get warm enough to melt the ice.

When treating your ice-covered Kansas City deck, never use rock salt or de-icing agents that contain calcium chloride. You could cause permanent damage to the decking boards. The safest way to address an icy outdoor living space is to apply sand or a non-chloride ice melt.

Pro Tip: Be extra careful when clearing snow and ice from steps!

Removing Snow Will Prolong the Life of Your Deck          

While many homeowners avoid using their deck when it’s frigid outside, it’s important to stay on top of Kansas City deck maintenance during the winter months. If snow isn’t removed properly, the arrival of spring could reveal damage that could’ve been easily avoided.

All Weather Decks is proud to be the leader in quality deck construction and we enjoy teaching homeowners how to care for their outdoor living space. As the most decorated deck contractor in the Greater Kansas City area, you can depend on us to not only create beautiful and sound decks, but do all we can to ensure yours continues to look great and perform even better over several seasons.      

When the spring thaw arrives, inspect your deck for damage. Once nighttime temps don’t dip below 45 degrees, it’s time to reapply sealant to your decking boards to protect them from rain and the eventual return of snow.  

If you find that your deck has suffered any type of damage during the winter or you’re ready to build a deck you can enjoy for decades to come, give us a call at 913-206-1974 or contact us online today! We’re eager to help you create the RIGHT Deck at the RIGHT price!

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