Quick answer: A properly built deck is designed to carry Colorado snow loads, but shovel heavy, wet snow and drifts rather than letting them build all winter. Use a plastic shovel, push along the boards instead of across them, and check your decking manufacturer’s guidance before using ice melt. Watch for warning signs like sagging, a separating ledger or wobbly posts.
Can Your Deck Handle the Snow?
Building codes require decks to be designed for local snow loads, and Front Range jurisdictions set those loads. A deck built to code with a properly attached ledger and footings below the frost line should handle normal snowfall. Older or unpermitted decks are another story, especially if the ledger was never bolted or flashed.
When to Shovel
- After heavy, wet spring-style storms, which weigh far more than dry powder.
- When wind drifts snow deep against the house or railing.
- Before a thaw-and-freeze cycle turns slush into a thick ice layer.
- To keep stairs and the path to a door clear and safe.
How to Shovel Without Damaging the Deck
- Use a plastic shovel, not a metal blade.
- Push along the length of the boards, not across them, so the shovel does not catch board edges.
- Leave a thin layer on wood decks rather than scraping to bare wood.
- Do not chip ice with a shovel edge or pick.
Ice Melt: Check Before You Spread
Ice melt products affect wood, composite, fasteners and plants differently. Some composite manufacturers allow certain products and recommend rinsing residue in spring; others advise against specific chemicals. Read your decking manufacturer’s care guide, and keep ice melt off nearby plants.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Sagging between joists or beams.
- A gap opening between the ledger board and the house.
- Posts that move or lean.
- Railings that feel loose.
- Water staining on the house siding or rim joist below the deck.
If you see any of these, call a deck contractor before the next storm. Our post on deck repair vs. replacement explains what we check, and our deck builders in Longmont can inspect the structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I shovel snow off my deck?
Shovel heavy, wet snow, drifts, stairs and walkways. A code-built deck can carry normal snowfall, but removing heavy snow reduces load and ice buildup.
Can I use a metal shovel on a composite deck?
Use a plastic shovel. Metal blades can scratch or gouge both composite and wood.
Is rock salt safe on decks?
It depends on your decking. Check the manufacturer’s care guide before using any ice melt.
How do I know if my deck is overloaded?
Sagging, a separating ledger, moving posts or loose railings are warning signs. Stay off the deck and have it inspected.
Worried About Your Deck This Winter?
Josh Brooks Construction and Renovation Inc. is a licensed general contractor in Longmont with 30 years in construction, serving 46+ Front Range cities. We inspect deck framing, ledgers and footings across the Front Range. Call 720-828-7997 or text 720-453-5095.
Licensed. Local. Not a storm chaser.
