Dealing with snow and ice on decking

Dreaming of a picture postcard white Christmas is all well and good but the reality often isn’t quite as wonderful.

Frost, snow and icy conditions, whilst looking pretty, can create treacherous conditions. Which is why it’s so important to be aware of your outside areas and to do as much as possible to reduce the potential risk of a nasty fall.

Hands up if you have a decking area in the garden? They’re a popular feature and,  whilst the area is typically only used minimally during the winter months, it’s still often walked over – a trip to the bin, letting the dog out or grabbing a quick blast of fresh air.

The fact is, whatever the weather, the team at Modern Garden believe you should be able to enjoy your outside area. So here we take a look at 5 easy ways you can minimise slippery issues and ensure your decking remains a safe and enjoyable space all year round.

5 ways to minimise slippery decking

1. Keep it clean

On any surface, but particularly wood, debris such as leaves can quickly become slippery. Add to this the increased threat of fungus and moss as the wet, cold weather creeps in and the chances of slipping greatly increase.

So what can you do about it? Try to get into the habit of brushing your decking area on a regular basis to prevent a build-up. A quick sweep with a stiff bristled brush is usually all you need to remove any unwanted growths and leaves. But don’t be tempted to use any metal or sharp implements to scrape away debris, as this could cause damage.

• Use rubber mats

A particularly quick and easy solution is to use rubber matting. Simply lay the mats wherever you require them to create a slip-free walkway. These can then be lifted and reused year on year.  

• Use grit salt

Purchase a bag of grit salt and when the weatherman warns of particularly frosty weather, sprinkle the grit salt across your decking. Remember through that on wooden decking it’s important to rinse the grit away once the snow or ice has melted as it can dry out the natural moisture of the wood.

• Apply anti slip strips

Non-slip decking strips are easy to get hold of and offer a great solution. The downside is that they need to be screwed into the surface of your decking – which means you’ll have to look at them all year round. Non-slip tape is a faster, less permanent option, the only drawback here being that you will need a dry day to apply it!

• Install non-slip composite decking

The best solution? Replace tired old wooden deck with composite decking. Not only is composite decking much easier to maintain than its traditional timber counterpart, it’s also hardier to the harsh elements of winter and has inbuilt anti-slip qualities – making it the safer and superior choice.  

Order your non-slip composite decking today

There are enough things to think about without worrying about the condition of your decking or outside area. Make life easier – and safer – and fit composite decking today.

Check out the full range online today and place your order. Alternatively, if you have any questions, or would like to chat to a member of the team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.