New England winters are notoriously harsh, and they can cause significant damage to your patio and walkways if you don’t prepare ahead of time. Taking the time to make sure that your new patio, outdoor kitchen, walkways, and other hardscape are ready for the onslaught of New England snow and cold is the best way to protect the investment you’ve made in your home. Do these things when fall comes to protect your outdoor spaces from the New England winter:
Clean and Do Some Weeding
The first thing you should do is make sure your walkways and hardscape are clean and free of weeds or leaves. Start by pulling any weeds and giving the area a thorough sweep to get rid of any leaves or trimmings. Then, power wash your concrete or stone walkways, driveway, and patio. Once the hardscape areas are fully clean, check them for chips, cracks, or other damage. If there is existing damage, you should repair it before the cold weather sets in and exacerbates the issue. If water gets into cracks in the concrete or stone and then freezes, it can make that crack worse and cause more damage.
Get a Good Deicer
Not all deicers are the same. Avoid using rock salt or any deicer containing calcium chloride. Calcium chloride eats away at concrete, and it can discolor brick. Look for deicers that are made with sand or potassium chloride instead. Those will be safe for your hardscape.
Avoid Metal Shovels
Metal shovels can cause a lot of damage to your patio and walkways when you clear the snow. If a metal shovel catches on the edge of stone or brick it can pull the stone or brick up, letting dirt, ice, salt, and other debris collect underneath. Metal shovels can also scrape and chip stone, brick, and concrete.
Fill Cracks Before the Snow Hits
A great way to protect your walkways, patio, and hardscape from winter damage is to add more sand between the stones. The extra sand keeps the bricks firmly in place and insulates the bricks or stones from winter damage. Taking the time to do this one extra step in the fall can prevent a lot of expensive damage during the winter.
Prep Your Outdoor Kitchen
If you cook outdoors all summer or you have an outdoor kitchen, you must make sure it’s closed down for the winter. Move freestanding grills into a garage or shed for winter storage after you remove any propane or gas. If you have a full outdoor kitchen, winterize the appliances outdoors by shutting off the water supply, draining the pipes, and disconnecting any electricity that runs to the patio. Many people only have one outdoor appliance, that being a grill that is kept out all year long. If you don’t use your grill year-round, consider making space in your shed or garage to store it. For outdoor enthusiasts with a full kitchen, it is essential to start winterizing your appliances.
Contact DeLuca Masonry for Expert Hardscape Repairs
Preparing your patio and walkways for a New England winter is the best way to prevent costly damage and keep your outdoor spaces safe and beautiful. If you’ve noticed cracks, shifting stones, or other signs of wear, now is the time to take care of them, before freezing temperatures make repairs more difficult. DeLuca Masonry specializes in hardscape maintenance and repairs that protect your investment and enhance your home’s curb appeal. Contact us today to schedule your winter-ready service and ensure your outdoor spaces stand strong through the season.
