When the weather isn’t suitable for softscape landscaping, it’s often a good chance to work on your hardscape projects. And what’s a better place to start than thoroughly inspecting your existing structures? In this winter hardscape maintenance guide, we’ve listed out the things to look out for on your patios, pools, and decks so you can catch problems early for repairs.

Maintenance Checklist for Patios

What about your patios? Whether they serve as an outdoor kitchen or just a place to hang out and chill, patios often take a lot of wear and tear throughout the year. Here are what to look for when you check your patio for maintenance needs:

• Pavers: Check your pavers for cracks and discoloration.
• Flooring: If you have a wood patio, check for squeaking floors and loose boards.
• Furniture: Look for damage on any patio/porch furniture.
• Structure: Inspect the woodwork around your patio for signs of structural damage. This is best done by a pro.
• Drainage: Have a pro inspect the drainage system at least once a year.
• Roof: Hire a roofer to inspect your patio roof for any damage.

Winter Patio Maintenance You Can Do Yourself

While more in-depth maintenance and repair should always be done by an outdoor structure contractor, you may consider doing some of the easier tasks yourself:

• Sweeping and Cleaning: First, sweep and clean your patio of all leaves and debris. Then you can hose-clean or pressure-clean your patio yourself. However, if your patio needs resealing, it’s best to hire a professional.
• Gutter cleaning: If you feel comfortable working at heights, it’s not too hard to clean the gutters yourself. However, a pro can tell you if anything is wrong or needs repairs.
• Covering up the furniture: While you don’t always have to move patio furniture indoors during winter, you should cover it up with weather-proof tarps for protection.
• Repainting: If your patio has painted areas, you can repaint any discoloration or chipped paint yourself.

Maintenance Checklist for Pools

While most maintenance work for swimming pools should happen weekly and monthly, it doesn’t hurt to do more in-depth examinations during the winter season. Also, winter is the perfect time to revamp or build a new inground pool if that’s been on your mind for a while.

• Pool Deck: Look for significant damage like missing pavers, cracked surfaces, broken stones, etc.
• Pool Basin: Looking for cracks, dents, failing surface finishing, and other signs of major issues.
• Water Features: If your pool comes with fixtures like fire bowls, inspect them to make sure they are functioning properly.
• Mechanics: Have a contractor check your water pump and other mechanics.
• Filter: Check your chemical filters and add new ones, especially if you haven’t done so during pool seasons.

Winter Pool Maintenance You Can Do Yourself

While swimming pool maintenance can be labor-intensive, you could opt for doing it yourself if you are comfortable with the work:

• Cleaning: Before you put your pool back into use, thoroughly clean and disinfect it.
• Check water balance: Ensure the pH and other water parameters are within proper ranges.
• Put in new filters: If you didn’t do that in the winter, you’ll likely want new filters before the weather warms up again.
• Cover up: Cover your pool and any decorative water features not in use to protect them through winter.

Maintenance Checklist for Decks

Look for clear signs of damage on your decks, including broken pavers, cracked wood and beams, obvious leaning and tilting, etc. If your deck is properly sealed, you likely only need to do a quick cleaning before spring comes. Every 2 to 3 years, you should hire someone to reseal your decks. You should also check your deck drainage system to make sure it is functioning properly before the spring rain season. If your deck includes an outdoor kitchen, you might want to have all the equipment inspected before putting it back to use in the Spring.

Maintenance Checklist for Retaining Walls and Pathways

Retaining walls and pathways are both essential elements in your landscape, offering structural and aesthetic values.

For retaining wall maintenance, look for clear signs of soil movement and physical damage to the wall. Check for missing rocks, chipped surfaces, and any clear signs of leaning and erosion.

For pathway maintenance, first confirm you don’t need to reseal your pathway. Then, look for fading and discoloration, lost sand between pavers, and surface damage. If everything looks normal, you may only need to do a thorough cleaning of your pathway before the spring.

Should I schedule hardscape construction in the winter?

Contrary to popular belief, winter is actually a great time for hardscape construction in Kansas City and around. As long as the weather permits, you can easily work on new construction or upgrade existing outdoor structures. If you can get everything done during winter, you’d be able to enjoy your outdoors to its fullest once the weather warms up.