In many parts of the country we have the unfortunate problem of having to deal with shutting down or closing up our outdoor living space for the winter. If you are one of these people there are several things to take into consideration. In the event that you don’t have an enclosed porch, covered patio or some other sort of shelter to keep your outdoor chairs, tables and other furniture protected from the elements now is the time to think about storing them until spring.
Before closing up your outdoor living area for the season take the time to fully examine all the furniture for damage and perform any maintenance that might be needed. This is a great time of year to consider upgrading your outdoor chairs and replacing outdoor cushions on your patio furniture as many places like Lowes, Home Depot, Menards and other local home improvement stores are having blow out clearance patio furniture sales. Take advantage of the opportunity to save yourself money by thinking ahead and replacing or upgrading the furniture in your outdoor living spaces while you can.
In addition to preping your outdoor tables and chairs for storage its time to take a look at your appliances , grills and other outdoor pieces of equipment that might be exposed to the harsh winter elements. If you have any water lines going to an outdoor refrigerator, hot tub or patio sink that have the potential of freezing make sure to shut off the water to these things before it gets too cold. Adding electrical heat tape and insulation on pipes to anything that you will be using throughout the winter, such as hot tubs or outdoor Jacuzzis is something I highly recommend. The last thing you want is to have to repair busted pvc water lines because of improper preventative maintenance.
You should also consider putting outdoor grill covers as an essential part of preparing your outdoor oaisis for winter. Spend the money and get a quality water resistent grill cover. While they are more expensive in the long run they will last you serveral season before needing to be replaced. Don’t just close up the gas grill and slap the cover on. Take the time now to replace any worn hoses, damaged burners, and any other parts that might be less than adequate come next year. Cleaning your outdoor kitchen accesories is a must! When the spring thaw comes you want to be able to hit the door running and not spend hours on end getting your outdoor kitchen clean for the year. Remember to remove any perishable foods from the frige , nothing worse than opening it up in the spring to the nasty oder of rotting shrimp or hamburger.
Outdoor living shelters like screen porches, gazeebos and enclosed desks also need to be prepped for winter. Fully inspect the roof and floors to make sure they are completely sealed. You dont need melting snow, ice and rain getting in and ruining any of your outdoor equipment, furniture or appliances. If you have storm windows make sure to get them up and repair any screens in the process. Exposed decks and patio floors make for horribly slippery surfaces during the winter and fall. Completely cleaning and adding anti-slip strips to stairs and other potentially dangerous areas is a good idea.
I’m sure I’ve overlooked several other things you could do to perpare your outdoor living space for winter but this should atleast get you thinking a bit. If you have any other suggestions or tips that others would find beneficial feel free to leave a comment.
