When the temperatures drop and the weather outside is not conducive to walking, instead of being outdoors, we choose a cozy living room with a fireplace. Undoubtedly, the terrace loses its holiday charm before the winter. However, it is worth considering its protection in order to maintain an attractive appearance for the coming years. And so, depending on the material with which the terrace surface is laid, there are various methods of protecting this surface against the damaging effects of moisture and frost, in particular freezing water or snow. Surfaces made of wood, ceramic tiles or composite boards require a different methodsecuring the terrace against winter
Balconies and terraces are most often lined with stoneware and clinker tiles. Their choice is supported by high resistance to mechanical damage
Protection of the terrace with ceramic tiles
Balconies and terraces are most often lined with stoneware and clinker tiles. Their choice is supported by high resistance to mechanical damage - they do not scratch even after many years of use. - For outdoor terraces, it is best to use porcelain stoneware of the fifth abrasion resistance class, frost-resistant, dyed and impregnated in the factory. Low water absorptionwill protect the terrace against snowfall- says Klaudia Tecław from Vives, an importer of ceramics.
It is also worth choosing hard materials with the least porous structure. - Gres is the least demanding material, and proper installation with the use of appropriate adhesives, mortars and grouts guarantees that it does not need to be given special attention before winter, says Marcin Rosa from Ceramika Nowa Gala S.A.
However, even in the case of using ceramic tiles, it is worthto protect the terrace from winterby applying silicone impregnations to the gaps. Otherwise, the water from melting snow will penetrate deep into the floor, and freezing may burst the concrete leveling layer and the outer surface of the tiles.
Lovers of natural beauty choose wooden terraces. However, these require regular maintenance, and in winter you need to remove snow from them so that the boards do not soak up water
Securing the wooden terrace
Lovers of natural beauty choose wooden terraces. Exotic decking boards made of bangkirai, masaranduba, and tatajuba, which are more durable than domestic ones, are most often used. They contain oils and chemicals that provide natural protection against pests or fungi.
-Impregnation of the terrace before winterprotects exotic boards so that snow, water and sun rays do not affect the darkening of the board too much.There are two types of preparations to choose from: water oils and solvent oils. Both of them fulfill their task in our weather conditions. It is important that the temperature during oiling and drying does not fall below 5 ° C, which may lead to the oil curdling - says Michał Stańczyk from terracedrewniany.pl. The use of appropriate preparations will increase the resistance of wooden surfaces to moisture, mold and discoloration. -In winter, there is often snow on the terraces , therefore its removal should involve sweeping, never use s alt or other preparations to dissolve ice and snow. Mechanical treatments are inadvisable due to the possibility of damaging the wood - adds Robert Plewkiewicz, sales representative of the Tiger System chemistry department. Knowing the contraindications, owners of wooden terraces can properly take care of the house's showpiece. To preserve the natural color of the wood, it is recommended to additionallyoil the terrace surfacebefore the season of use.
It is less troublesome to care for a terrace made of composite boards, which resemble wooden surfaces, but retain the practical properties of plastics
Protection of the terrace with composite
Composite boards and composite terrace platforms consist of wood flour and PVC. As a result, they resemble wooden surfaces, while maintaining the practical properties of plastics. Their advantage is the ease of use, not requiring frequent care and high resistance to external factors. - In the case of composite boards , protecting the terrace from winter requires the least attention , and thus we do not expose ourselves to additional expenses from the household budget. In the upcoming autumn and winter period, this material will not need any special treatments. The boards do not soak up water, so there is no need to remove the snow remaining on the surface of the terrace, says Błażej Korzeniewski, technical advisor to Plastivan, a producer of DuoFuse composite products.An additional advantage is the grooved, non-slip surface, thanks to which the terrace will not turn into an ice rink in winter.
Adequate protection of the terrace against winterguarantees the aesthetic appearance for many years of operation. Ceramic tiles, exotic wood and composite boards are examples of materials used to cover terraces. Comfortable use, aesthetic appearance or high resistance are just some of the factors influencing the decision to buy a specific product.
