How to maintain your deck through a Quebec winter

Quebec winters are hard on wood. Freeze-thaw cycles work moisture into every crack, and a deck that isn’t prepped in the fall pays for it in the spring.

What to do before the snow

Clear debris from between the boards, give the surface a proper cleaning, and reseal any bare or worn spots. Water that can’t drain is what causes the damage.

Signs it’s time to refinish

If water soaks in instead of beading, or the colour has gone grey and patchy, the protective finish is gone. Refinishing before winter is far cheaper than replacing boards after it.