The winter months can turn your otherwise stable porch into a slippery slope. You can’t control the weather, but you can control how you react to it. Check out these brick porch safety tips to keep you on solid ground this winter.
Sweep Your Porch When the Snow Is Light
If the snow is light and freshly fallen, you can use a broom or a leaf blower to brush it off the porch. This won’t work as well for wet snow because it is heavy and liable to stick to the broom bristles. Getting rid of light snow this way will limit how much you have to shovel your porch later on, and it may prevent thick ice from forming on the surface.
Shovel Frequently to Minimize Ice Buildup
On the topic of reducing porch ice, aim to shovel your porch frequently when it snow. This is a hassle and an inconvenience, but it will reduce your work in the future. You can spray your snow shovel with cooking oil to make shoveling easier, and you can work in sections to make the job feel faster.
Install Handrails around Your Porch
Handrails give you something to hold onto in those treacherous winter months. You could use them as you walk around or as you shovel snow off your porch. If your existing handrails aren’t in great shape, consider replacing them before winter storms. The experts here at Mortar City Masonry can help you get your brick porch ready for the cold season.
Remove Trip Hazards before the Snow Comes
If you have low-lying objects on your porch, bring them inside before it snows. This may include planters, shoes you keep outside, decorations, footstools and more. The goal is to get rid of anything that you might not see once the porch is covered in snow. If you leave those obstacles out, you may find yourself tripping on them as you shovel.
Use Welcome Mats to Create Stepping Zones
This is a neat porch snow removal hack that you could theoretically use throughout your property. Lay out some cheap welcome mats in various areas of the porch. After it snows, you can lift the mats up and have clean patches of concrete to stand on. Welcome mats are just big enough to create a solid stepping area, but not so big that they would be impossible to lift with the weight of the snow.
Avoid Salt If Possible
Salting your porch and walkways may seem tempting, but proceed with caution. The salt wears away at pavement and can damage your concrete or pavers with time. As an alternative, you could make your own deicer using basic household products. Combine two parts rubbing alcohol with one part water, and add a few drops of dish soap. Shovel the porch, then pour this onto the ice that remains. The deicer will help melt the ice without damaging your porch.
Repair Your Porch before Winter Snowstorms
Any damage on your porch now is going to get significantly worse when it’s covered in snow. It’s best to take care of porch repairs before winter so you can protect your property and your family. Mortar City Masonry offers brick porch repair in Metro Detroit. We are proud to serve many communities in Southeast Michigan, and we’re known for our brick restoration skills. Contact us at (586) 533-1305 to schedule a brick porch repair right away.
