Getting your deck ready for a Minnesota or Wisconsin winter

Snow and freeze-thaw cycles are hard on exterior wood. A couple hours in the fall can keep a small problem from becoming a spring repair.

The checklist

• Sweep and clear the gaps between boards so meltwater can drain.
• Move planters, rugs and furniture that trap moisture against the boards.
• Push on every railing post and stair rail. Anything that moves gets fixed now.
• Check stair treads and the bottoms of stringers for soft spots.
• Look at the ledger along the house for staining or soft wood.
• Reseal bare, gray boards if the weather still allows it.
• Shovel with a plastic shovel and push along the boards, not across them.