How To Winter-Proof Your Patio
While we may spend more time indoors this season, your work in the garden is not over. Preparing the garden for the harsh winter weather and the conditions of the season is essential if you want to ensure you have a healthy landscape come Spring.
Although you may focus a lot of your winter preparation on the soft landscaping elements of your garden, your patio also needs some help. Often the hub of entertaining or outdoor dining in the summer, your patio may be unused this winter – but this does not mean it can be left to fend for itself.
In this guide, Ideal Building & Landscapes are sharing the best tips to help you winter-proof your patio, keeping it safe as the season progresses and ensuring it is ready to use again next year.
1) Inspect And Repair
The first step to winter-proof your patio is to inspect the surface and determine whether any damage has taken place over the summer. Before closing the patio up for the entire winter season, any essential repairs or work should be done to prevent them from getting worse as the weather progresses.
To ensure you can thoroughly inspect the patio, first clean the surface. Take your time removing dirt and debris that may have collected over the autumn, ensuring the space is clear before you can move on to additional care. When the patio is clear, it will be easier to inspect the surface and see whether any repairs need to be done.
If you do notice damage, such as cracks, it is a good idea to call professionals like those on our team to repair them. We can either repair your existing patio or replace it with a brand-new surface, based on the severity of the damage.
2) Seal The Surface
Once the patio is clear and the surface has been repaired as required, the next step to winter-proof your patio is to seal it. Sealing is a vital part of winter maintenance for all areas of hardscaping, including patios, decking and fencing.
Sealing is a way of providing the surface with an additional layer of protection, helping to keep it dry, insulated and as damage-free as possible as the season progresses.
The best process to winter-proof your patio with sealant will vary based on the material of the surface, for example using wood-specific types for timber patios (which can also be reused on your fences and decking) or a penetrating sealant for concrete and stone patios.
Whatever sealant you need, ensure to apply it liberally over the whole surface ahead of the freezing temperatures.
3) Winter-Proof Your Patio Furniture
The surface of your patio is not the only thing that needs protecting during the winter, as your furniture does too. It is a good idea to store all garden furniture in a dry place, such as a garden shed, during the winter. However, if you do not have the space available, then you want to winter-proof your patio furniture by covering it.
Furniture covers can be used to cover a range of outdoor accessories, such as sofas and dining tables, and should be secured in place using garden rope or bungee wires. Your furniture shouldn’t just be just covered but secured to prevent it from moving around in the heavy winds and potential winter storms that your garden will face this season.
There are some additional treatments you may want to consider for your patio furniture, based on the type you have. For example, metal furniture can be protected using a rust-resistant spray whereas wooden furniture cna be treated using wood sealant, just like your decking or fences. You may also want to use oil or stain for this, as all can prevent rotting and warping during the cold months.
Ongoing Winter-Proofing For Your Patio
Implementing these three tips can go a long way when trying to winter-proof your patio and keep your garden safe this winter, but additional work may be needed as the season progresses.
It is a good idea to maintain a regular inspection schedule of your patio, including the furniture, plants and accessories that are exposed to the elements, to determine where additional care is needed. The inspection that you performed at the beginning of the season to winter-proof your patio should be done periodically throughout the season to help assess any damage that may take place and ensure repairs are being done when required.
You can also use this as an opportunity to determine where additional care is needed and whether your original steps have been effective. The more proactive you are when winter-proofing your patio, the better the results will be for your garden. You can ensure that you have a safe, attractive environment to return to come spring and summer next year.
Conclusion
It may seem complicated to winter-proof your patio ahead of the worst weather, but with three simple steps, the job can be done effectively. Taking care of your garden is a way to ensure your previous efforts throughout the year have not gone to waste and that you will have a healthy, attractive landscape to return to next year.
At Ideal Building & Landscapes, we can help care for your outdoor space no matter the weather and offer a range of services to keep your garden in prime condition all year round.
Contact Us Today
If you need help to winter-proof your patio or any other area of landscaping, please contact the team today. We are ready to take on your next project.
