Preparing for Cold Weather
If you have a deck, pergola, outdoor furniture, or garden structures built from reclaimed wood, fall is the time to prepare them for the stresses of winter. The Mid-Atlantic region's freeze-thaw cycles, combined with rain, snow, and ice, create conditions that can accelerate weathering and decay in outdoor wood — even in naturally durable species like white oak and cedar. A few hours of maintenance in November can save you costly repairs in spring.
Deck Winterization
Cleaning
Start with a thorough cleaning. Sweep the deck to remove leaves, dirt, and debris that trap moisture against the wood surface. Pay special attention to gaps between boards, where organic debris accumulates and creates a damp microenvironment perfect for fungal growth. A stiff brush or pressure washer at low setting (no more than 1,500 PSI, held at least 12 inches from the surface) removes embedded dirt and mildew.
If you see any green or black discoloration indicating mildew or algae growth, apply a wood-safe deck cleaner (sodium percarbonate-based products like OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover work well) before rinsing. Do not use chlorine bleach — it damages wood fibers and can discolor reclaimed wood unevenly.
Inspection
With the deck clean, inspect every surface for signs of deterioration:
- Soft spots: Probe with an awl or screwdriver. If the tool penetrates more than 1/4 inch easily, the wood is decayed and the board should be replaced.
- Loose fasteners: Retighten or replace any screws or bolts that have loosened. Loose connections allow water to penetrate into joints.
- Cracking and splitting: Small surface checks are normal and cosmetic. Deep cracks that extend through the board or splits at fastener locations should be addressed — apply epoxy to structural cracks or replace severely split boards.
- Finish condition: If water no longer beads on the surface, the finish has worn away and the wood is absorbing moisture. This needs to be addressed before winter.
Re-Finishing
If your deck's finish has worn, fall is the last opportunity to re-apply before winter. Choose a dry period with temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and no rain in the forecast for 48 hours. Apply a penetrating water repellent or deck oil — not a film-forming finish, which can trap moisture under the film and cause peeling in freeze-thaw conditions.
For reclaimed wood decks, we recommend penetrating oil finishes (TWP, Penofin, or Armstrong Clark) applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. These products soak into the wood and protect from within, allowing moisture to escape while repelling bulk water.
Outdoor Furniture
Move What You Can
The simplest winterization strategy for outdoor furniture is to bring it inside. A garage, shed, or covered porch provides enough protection. If you cannot move furniture indoors, elevate it off the ground on blocks or feet to prevent ground-contact moisture wicking, and cover loosely with breathable furniture covers (not plastic tarps, which trap moisture and promote mold).
Chairs, Benches, and Tables
Tighten all joints and hardware. Apply a fresh coat of penetrating oil or paste wax to seal end grain and exposed surfaces. Flip chairs and benches upside down to check the legs — the end grain of legs is the most vulnerable point for moisture entry and is often neglected during maintenance.
Pergolas and Overhead Structures
Inspect all connection points, especially where beams meet posts. Water tends to pool at these junctions. Clear any debris from horizontal surfaces where water and ice can accumulate. Check that post bases are not sitting in water — if the grading around post footings has settled and now directs water toward the post, regrade the soil to slope away from the structure.
Raised Garden Beds
Empty annual beds of spent plants and top-dress with compost. Inspect the bed walls for any boards that have shifted or loosened. Check the inside face of the boards for signs of decay — even naturally durable cedar and white oak will eventually soften on the soil-contact side. If the inner face is getting soft, you can extend the bed's life by lining the interior with landscape fabric or adding an inner layer of boards.
Spring Follow-Up
After winter, do a follow-up inspection as soon as temperatures rise above freezing consistently. Look for any new damage from freeze-thaw cycling, check fasteners that may have loosened as wood expanded and contracted, and plan any repairs before the spring season when you will want to enjoy your outdoor spaces again.
A little preventive care goes a long way. Reclaimed wood that is properly maintained will outlast new pressure-treated lumber by decades — as its previous century of service already proved.