How to Clear Snow From a Wood Deck

Buy a plastic shovel. Hardware stores sell snow shovels with a plastic scoop. Avoid any snow shovel with a metal strip as it will damage the wood.

Purchase a large outdoor broom with stiff bristles. This is a useful tool in getting show from a wood deck.

Shovel snow from a wood deck going in the length-wise direction of the wood. Avoid going across the wood slats to keep the edges of each board smooth and to protect the nails or screws that fasten the deck together.

Use the broom to sweep after shoveling. This helps keep ice from forming in a thin sheet.

Avoid using salt or ice melters. The best way to avoid ice build-up is to shovel the deck frequently and avoid walking on snow build-up that packs down and forms ice in the thaw-freeze cycle.

Shovel frequently. If at all possible, get outside several times during a heavy snowfall.