Will Composite Decking Become Slippery in Winter?
The winter period is marked by heavy snowfall that eventually becomes ice if you don’t remove it quickly. This might pose a severe hazard for you and your family if you walk on the ice because you might slip and fall. If you have a decking installed in your back garden, it can become slippery if ice accumulates on its surface. Composite decking is unlike other decking types that can quickly become slippery if you don’t remove ice from its surface. If you maintain your composite decking properly, it will not become slippery in winter.
Why Composite Decking Can Become Slippery in Winter
No maintenance or not maintaining your composite decking is one reason it might become slippery during winter.
1 Accumulation of Ice
Winter is marked with lots of snow and ice. If it snows and you don’t remove it from the surface of your composite decking, the snow will accumulate to the extent that they will cover the top. When the top of your composite decking is covered with snow, it will be slippery when the snow becomes ice. If you walk on a composite decking covered with ice, then there is the risk that you might slip and fall.
2 Accumulation of Debris on Your Composite Decking
When you don’t maintain your decking, and you let debris like leaves or twigs decay on your composite decking, then the top will become slippery. Debris can cause the growth of mould and mildew, which will make the top of your decking slippery when you walk on it during winter.
3 Growth of Green Algae on Your Composite Decking Surface
If you don’t take care of your composite decking, green algae will grow on the surface. Green algae will make the top of your decking slippery when you walk on it. So, if you have composite decking, and you don’t maintain it during winter, it might become slippery.
How to Ensure that Your Composite Decking Is Less Slippery
Note that composite decking is unlike wood decking because it does not become slippery easily. Composite decking has an anti-slip or non-slip surface that makes you stay standing even when it is wet. This gives plastic wood decking an advantage over other decking materials.
But you should ensure that your composite decking remains as it was when you bought it. The best way to ensure that your composite decking remains anti-slip is for you to maintain or clean it regularly. Failure to maintain your composite decking can pose a danger to you and your family.
1 Remove Leaves and Twigs from Your Composite Decking Surface.
One way to ensure that your composite decking remains anti-slip is for you to clean it regularly. During winter, you should take steps to remove decay leaves and twigs from the top of your composite decking. When leaves decay, they will create spots where mould and mildew will grow.
These spots of mould will become slippery. So, you must ensure that you remove leaves and twigs as soon as they drop on your composite decking during winter. You can use a broom to clean the surface of your composite decking regularly before it snows during winter.
2 Push Snow and Ice from the Surface of Your Composite Decking
Another way to make your composite decking less slippery is to remove snow and prevent ice from accumulating on the surface. The best method to remove ice and snow from the top of your composite decking is for you to use a rubber shovel.
Gently push snow and ice from the top of your decking without scratching the surface. If you don’t want to push snow away from your decking surface, you can melt the snow or ice.
3 Remove Mildew from Your Plastic Wood Decking
Mould and mildew are two things that can make your composite decking to be slippery. The best way to take away mould and mildew during winter is for you to scrub the top of your decking with a soft brush. Ensure that you clean your composite decking before it snows during winter. You can also scrub and remove green algae the way you remove mould.
4 Install a Non-slip Composite Decking
If you reside in a cold area and don’t want your decking to become slippery during winter, you can install a non-slip composite decking. Plastic wood decking or composite decking with an anti-slip surface has edges that create friction when you walk on it. This will make it unlikely that you will fall if you walk on it during winter provided that you maintain your composite decking.
Conclusion
Composite decking will become slippery during winter if you don’t maintain or clean the surface. To ensure that your decking remains non-slip, you have to remove ice, snow and clean it regularly.