Our Top Tips To Winter-Proof Your Patio
Winter is basically upon us, for many places in the UK, and while we spend more time indoors our work in the garden is not over yet. Although you may not be planning on spending much time outside in the freezing temperatures, parts of your garden cannot hibernate and need additional help to get through the season.
One such area is your patio, which is a staple of your garden and needs some care to ensure it can survive the freezing temperatures of the season. You have likely spent a lot of time and money getting your patio just right, so you want to protect it as much as possible.
Using our expertise as a leading paving and landscaping company, M&M Driveways is sharing some of our top tips to help winter-proof your patio, protecting your landscape so it can become a hub of entertainment once more come spring.
What Does Your Patio Need This Winter?
To effectively winter-proof your patio, your first need to understand the kind of strain winter will put of this part of your garden. Based on the kind of patio you have, such as the location, material and even size of the patio, the kind of care required for winter-proofing will vary greatly.
This is why the first step in preparing your landscape for the upcoming season is to take stock of its specific needs. In this guide, we are sharing generic tips for winter-proofing patios, which means not all of them will be suitable for your landscape. Instead, you should carefully select the most relevant methods and curate a specific care plan for your unique patio.
No two gardens are the same, and therefore neither are the patios within them. Using a combination of winter-proofing techniques, you can support your landscape during the final months of the year and keep it in prime condition ready for spring.
One of the biggest considerations to take with you during this guide is the material of your patio. Each material will react to the cold weather differently and therefore require different forms of care. For example, natural stone and concrete patios can be subject to cracking during freezing temperatures so need to be sealed ahead of the winter, whereas wooden patios can suffer from moisture damage and rot in wet weather.
Researching the impacts of cold and wet weather on your chosen patio material can make it easier to winter-proof your patio and ensure successful protection during the season.
How To Winter-Proof Your Patio
Once you understand the specific needs of your patio and the kind of materials you will need for winter-proofing, it is time to get to work. As a beginner guide, the following top tips can be incredibly useful and ensure your landscape survives the upcoming season:
1) Inspect And Clean Your Patio
No matter what kind of patio you have or how old it is, the first step in winter-proofing is to clean the space. This is a good way to round off the warmer seasons and essentially close down your garden for the winter. You will need to spend time removing any debris, waste and other materials that may have been collected on the patio over the summer and ensure that the space is completely clear.
While removing waste and debris, take your time to inspect the patio. Look closely at the surface to see whether there are any cracks or loose panels, as these will need addressing ahead of additional winter-proofing. The cold, wet weather of winter can make existing damage worse and a small crack now can lead to a hugely damaged patio at the end of the season without the right care.
Make sure that any damage noticed during this time is repaired, and clean the entire space. Based on the type of patio you have, use a pressure washer to lift any grime off the surface, or handle the dirt with a brush and water.
2) Seal Patio Surfaces
Now that the surface is nice and clean, it will be easier to see where sealing is needed. This is a vital tool to winter-proof your patio and cannot be avoided if you want to ensure the space is safe and attractive come spring.
Again, the best method to seal your patio will vary based on the material of the area but there are multiple kinds of sealant available on the market. Use the appropriate one for your patio and apply it all over the patio. Sealant provides a protective barrier to the surface, limiting moisture damage and keeping water out of the cracks. If water does get into the cracks and freezes, this can expand the material and lead to cracks.
If you have a wooden patio, the same kind of sealant or stain used for your timber fences or decking can be painted onto the patio to protect it from the winter. This not only prevents damage from freezing but also stops the wood from rotting or warping due to moisture.
For those with concrete or stone patios, choose a penetrating sealant as these provide long-lasting protection.
3) Winter-Proof Your Patio Furniture
Winter-proofing the patio not only refers to the structure, but everything else included in this area of the garden too. Many people use their patios as entertainment hubs, barbeque areas or even sun spots and so have furniture present all year to accommodate this.
Whether you have cooking equipment, outdoor sofas or dining tables, all patio furniture needs to be protected against harsh weather conditions. Ideally, you should put your furniture away in storage such as the garage or garden shed, but this may not be available to everyone.
If you do not have an additional space, you can winter-proof your patio furniture by wrapping it. There are specialist wraps available for all kinds of outdoor furniture, offering waterproof and frost protection to your outdoor furniture. Alternatively, using tarpaulin or similar large materials can be used if you are on a budget.
Whatever you choose, it is vital that you clean your patio furniture before storing it away for winter. Any soft furnishings should be removed – outdoor cushions could be stored in the shed or attic during the winter – and make sure each piece is cleaned thoroughly. This prevents mould building during the damp conditions of winter.
There are additional treatments you can use based on the type of patio furniture you have to deliver peace of mind and higher protection:
- Metal Furniture can be protected using a rust-resistant spray to keep it looking fresh and expand the lifespan.
- Wooden Furniture can be treated using a coat of wood sealant, stain or oil to prevent the wood from rotting or warping during the colder months.
You need to ensure that the furniture is completely dry before applying any additional treatment. Likewise, ensure the treatment is completely cured before wrapping or storing your furniture.
4) Secure Outdoor Accessories
Your patio furniture is not the only thing in danger of damage this winter, as all other outdoor accessories are too. You may have all forms of accessories, including practical and decorative, present on your patio to create a welcoming environment during the summer and these all need to be cared for in winter.
The heavy winds that can occur in winter are a particular issue for outdoor accessories, such as umbrellas, parasols, decorative pieces and even some plants. Ahead of winter, either store these items away in the shed or secure them with garden wire, waterproof straps or heavy weights.
Any portable items can be moved indoors or put in the shed, but anything too big should be secured in place to prevent it falling over in the wind. Failing to secure outdoor accessories can lead to addiitonal damage on your patio and across your garden as a whole.
5) Ongoing Winter Protection
Although there are initial steps to winter-proof your patio ahead of the colder months, your work is not over. You should continue to protect your patio throughout the season to keep it in prime condition.
Regular inspections are a great way to ensure that your winter-proofing is effective. It is a good idea to inspect your patio after particularly harsh weather, such as snow or winter storms. Any damage that appears in this time can be quickly remedied before it gets worse, saving you time and money in the long run.
Likewise, regular cleaning still needs to take place during the winter partiucalrly early on in the season. Remove fallen leaves and branches frequently from the patio with frequent sweeping, as these can cause rot issues. Snow and ice should also be removed from the patio wherever possible, and lay ice down ahead of colder temperatures to prevent freezing.
Conclusion
Although winter is a season of primarily indoor activities, you cannot neglect your garden during this time. It is vital that you winter-proof your patio ahead of the harshest weather and continue to clean and maintain this area as the season progresses.
Protecting your patio ensures you have a safe, attractive space to return to in spring as well as saves you time and money in the long wrong. Prevention is always better than a cure and winter-proofing is a way to expand the lifespan of your patio.
At M&M Driveways, we are passionate about creating stunning outdoor spaces for our clients and aim to deliver results that last. Using these expert tips, you can successfully winter-proof your patio and ensure many more seasons of enyjoyment from it.
Contact Us Today
If you need any more support in winter-proofing your garden or are looking for additional services, reach out to us today. We are ready to help in anyway we can.
