Winter around Lake Livingston is less about ice than about wet, dark and slick. Decks stay damp under the trees, steps grow a film of mildew, gates swell and stick, and guests arrive after dark for the holidays. Here is a checklist you can run in an afternoon.
Decks and steps
- Slick surfaces. Mildew on shaded decking is as slick as ice. Wash it off; see pressure washing. Grit strips on steps help where the shade never lifts.
- Loose boards and raised fasteners. Walk the deck and listen. Screw down anything that moves; replace a soft board.
- Rails. Lean on every section. A rail that gives needs a post or a fastener fixed before someone leans harder.
- Stairs. Treads solid, stringers not rotting at the ground, a graspable handrail on the open side.
- Lighting. Steps and the path to the door lit, bulbs working, timers set for the earlier dark.
Gates and fences
- Latches. Wood swells in wet weather and latches stop catching. Adjust them; a gate that does not latch is an open gate.
- Pool and dock gates. Self-closing, self-latching, latch high. Test them.
- Leaning posts and loose pickets after fall storms. Fix small now; see fence repair.
- Driveway gate openers. Battery and manual release checked before a cold snap.
Walkways and the yard
Wet leaves and pine straw on concrete are slick; keep paths blown off. Trim limbs over walkways that drip or drop. Mark low spots that hold water where someone could step off a path in the dark.
Fire
Keep leaves and pine straw away from the fence, the deck skirting and the house; debris on your fence could be a fire hazard. Fire pits and chimineas off the deck or on a proper pad, and never under a pergola.
Pipes and the pump house
Not our trade, but the one thing every freeze finds: wrap exposed pipes and outdoor faucets. Time to wrap your pipes is the reminder.
Before the holidays
Run the list, then walk the route a guest will take from the car to the door after dark and fix anything you would not want your mother to trip on. If the deck or the rail needs more than a screw, we repair decks and will come look.
Frequently asked questions
Why do decks get slick in winter?
Shade, moisture and mildew. A north-facing deck under trees stays damp for days after rain, and the film of mildew that grows on it is as slick as ice. Washing it off is the fix.
How high should a deck rail be?
Thirty-six inches is the usual residential minimum, with balusters spaced so a four-inch ball cannot pass. A rail that wobbles when you lean on it needs attention regardless of height.
What about the gate to the dock?
Check that it latches and that the latch is high enough that a small child cannot work it. Water and a gate that swings open are a bad combination in any season.