Clearing Snow Off a Composite Deck in Ames: Do It Without Damage

By Ames Deck Pros · October 29, 2026

Wet wooden deck boards sprinkled with sleet and snow. — Photo: Stefan Stefancik / Pexels, Pexels License

Snow season is coming to Ames. If you have a composite deck, how you clear it matters. Here is what Trex, one of the large composite decking makers, tells its owners. If your deck is wood or another brand, check that maker's care guide.

Before the first snow

Trex suggests covering or storing outdoor furniture and sweeping leaves and debris off the deck before winter. [Trex]

Light snow: use a broom

For a light dusting, a broom is enough. [Trex]

Heavy snow: plastic shovel only

Use a plastic shovel. Trex says metal shovels can damage composite decking, and tells owners never to use a metal shovel. [Trex] [Trex]
Shovel with the direction of the boards, not across them. [Trex]
Scratches from shovels are not covered under the Trex warranty. [Trex]

Ice melt

Trex says calcium chloride or rock salt can be used on its decking to melt ice. Rinse it off when practical. [Trex] For older Trex lines such as Accents, Trex says to rinse ice melt off as soon as possible. [Trex]

Not sure what your deck boards are made of? A local deck pro can tell you, and spot any repairs worth doing before the snow piles up.

Sources

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