Wood decks and ice prevention....

[JNJ]

Anyone have any tips on keeping ice down on a large, wood, uncovered deck? It's an uncovered patio so it makes entering the house something less than fun without ice skates. :)

James

[David Babcock]

You basically have two simple choices:

1. Shovel the snow off as quickly as possible
2. Pay someone to shovel the snow as quickly as possible Once this is done solar energy takes over quickly.

Make sure you use a sturdy plastic shovel, metal shovels used with little care dig into the wood and damaged it.

Dave

[Phisherman]

This time of year we consume a lot of walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, and almonds. Pound up the shells and scatter them over the deck.

[Don Phillipson]

We (1) have a strip of coco matting from stairs to door, and (2) clear snow from deck regularly.

-- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)

[D'Olier]

1. Stop it from getting cold
2. Keep the ice from freezing

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, What is frozen ice? Just curious. Tony

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Ground up shells are ingredient for snow tires. Tony

[JNJ]

Gee willikers -- thanks, I'd have never thought of THAT on my own! :-P

James

[David Babcock]

Well lets see what you've gotten so far...................... My ill attempt at humor, shoveling Use crushed nut shells, now that sounds attractive, and inexpensive too, Or a cocoa mat, and shoveling.

Okay, maybe we should have all told you about the heated runners used by NASA to warm the boots of the astronauts on their walk to the shuttle. Cost is only $1000 a running foot. Then there is the spray it with hot water for an hour to melt all the ice. But expect to replace a few deck boards in the spring from the ice damage underneath. Rock salt/ice melting chemicals are great on getting rid of ice, not so great on floors and rugs though. Ahhh, I have it, close in the deck.....make it a Florida room, and the ice question is solved.

All in all I would get up off my derriere and shovel, and believe me at 52 years old, I don't enjoy it like I used to.

Dave

[The Data Rat]

[DanG]

I also do not have the problem, we don't use the deck in bad weather. I have been thinking and worrying about your problem though.

I keep thinking about creating an inexpensive tunnel under the deck just right where you walk. I do have 2 sizes of torpedo floor heaters, either one of which could be turned on for a short time to allow ice and snow to melt and drip off the deck. Just thinking outloud.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Keep the whole world singing. . . . DanG

[JNJ]

Seems to be the general consensus. :)

Actually, I'm a bit surprised there isn't something similar to this available yet.

Not til next year -- too much snow and ice right now.

Well, this one's not an option for me for at least another couple of months -- docs will probably clear me to start doing these sorts of things by then though. I'm hoping they will at least -- I have a number of projects I'd like to start on in the spring, both inside and outside.

James

[ameijers]

All over the deck, because it is shaded? Or just at the edge of the roof, where drips land? If the former, trim/cut trees, sweep/shovel the snow as soon as it lands, or go to the nearest fire escape company and have them make you a walking plank of serrated-edge bar stock and metal dowels. (Picture a big pool ladder step, or the landing of a fire escape.) If the latter, add a gutter over the door, or if you already have gutters, a deflector above the door.

aem sends....

[gay-lord]

I prefer to use fire because it melts the ice without any more work. Just get a bunch of old newspspers, twigs, scrap wood, and anything else that burns. Pile it under the deck, and pour a few gallons of gas on it. Then light the pile with a match. Stand back and watch the ice melt away. Of course, if the fire gets too big, the deck burns up, so you need to stand there with a frozen garden hose and control the fire. But if the deck burns, it aint no big deal, because you still succeeded at getting rid of the ice. However, if the whole house burns, you can use the insurance money and move to a warmer climate.