Preparing Your Outdoor Living Space for Winter

Here in the Midwest, the snow and cold typically arrive by November. If you’ve invested in an outdoor living space, winterizing that area will help to extend the life of your investment.

Patio Surface
A little bit of maintenance will go a long way toward keeping your patio beautiful over the winter season.

• Remove Weeds: Weed roots can get large enough to push your pavers out of alignment. Late fall/early winter is a good time to remove anything that may have taken root in your patio.
• Surface Cleaning: It is important to get all the leaves and debris off of your patio before the snow and ice arrive. Now is also a good time to use degreaser on any grill stains that may be present.
• Sealing Stone: Depending on your stone, a water-based or solvent-based coating will seal out the water over the winter season.

Once the snow arrives, be sure to shovel your patio. Metal shovels may chip or scratch the pavers, so a plastic shovel or a snow blower is recommended.

Outdoor Kitchen
Properly shutting down your outdoor kitchen for the winter will save you headaches in the spring.

• Shut off the Water: Locate and shut off any and all water lines connected to your outdoor kitchen. Next, drain any remaining water from those lines. Be sure than any drain valves are left in the open position to protect lines from freezing over the winter.
• Turn off Appliances: Outdoor refrigerators and ice makers should be turned off and unplugged for the winter season. Remove all food and wipe down the insides. It is not recommended to cover the refrigerator over the winter because moisture can accumulate and damage the appliance.
• Grill Maintenance: Give the inside of your grill a thorough cleaning using a degreaser and metal brush. Be sure to empty the grill’s cleanout. If you don’t plan on using the grill over the winter, turn off the gas line or disconnect the propane tank and cover with a weather resistant grill cover.
• Cabinets: Remove any food items and wipe down the inside. Wood cabinets may need to be sealed or oiled while stainless steel cabinets can be coated with stainless steel polish.

Preparing for the winter season will save you time and money and allow you to get back into your outdoor living space more quickly when the weather warms up next spring!