Clear heavy snow off a deck

Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026

24/7 Express Handyman Service shovels decks by hand in Salt Lake, Park City and Heber. 1 foot of fresh snow weighs 3 pounds per square foot when light and dry, and up to 21 when wet and heavy. (FEMA P-957, Snow Load Safety Guide)

What deck snow costs

Salt Lake City & Millcreek	from $205
Park City & Summit County	from $225
Heber Valley & Wasatch County	from $225

Deck snow in Salt Lake City & Millcreek starts at $205: the 2-hour minimum at $95/hour ($190) plus the $15 fuel surcharge, with no dispatch fee. Time past 2 hours is billed in 30-minute steps. Larger parts are billed at cost plus 25%.

Full price sheet and estimator

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Answered 24/7 by Tom or his dispatcher.

24/7 Express Handyman Service confirms the address, the zone rate and the dispatch fee, and takes a card, before rolling.

Quick answers

Do I need to shovel snow off my deck?

Yes, when snow gets deep or turns wet and heavy, clearing it takes load off the boards and framing. One foot of fresh snow weighs from 3 pounds per square foot when light and dry to 21 when wet and heavy, and one foot of ice weighs about 57 pounds per square foot.

Can I use a metal shovel on a composite deck?

No, use a plastic shovel or a broom on composite decking. One major composite decking maker says a plastic shovel may be used to remove snow and warns never to use a metal snow shovel on its boards. Push along the length of the boards rather than across them to avoid catching edges.

Is it safe to put ice melt on a deck?

It depends on the decking. One composite maker says calcium chloride or rock salt will melt ice on its boards if rinsed off when practical, but salt-based deicers can burn plants they reach and some are highly corrosive to concrete below. Check your decking maker's care guide first.

Wood deck and railing covered in fresh snow — Photo: daryl_mitchell, CC BY-SA 2.0

What 24/7 Express Handyman Service does on site

Deep or wet snow shoveled off the deck with a plastic shovel, pushed along the boards instead of across them
Stairs, landings and the path to the door cleared so the deck can be used safely
Ice treated with a product suited to the decking, and signs of sagging, loose rails or soft boards noted for you

How it works

Check the decking material and the maker's care guidance before choosing a shovel or ice melt
Remove snow in layers from the outer edge toward the house, keeping piles off the rails and away from the siding
Clear the stairs, then look over the posts, rails and ledger area for sagging or movement
Referred out: a sagging, cracked or pulling-away deck goes to a licensed contractor or engineer, and roof snow above the deck goes to a roofing contractor

When to stop and call

If the deck is creaking, sagging or pulling away from the house under snow, stay off it. 24/7 Express Handyman Service can clear lighter loads by hand, and a structural problem is referred to a licensed contractor.

What happens next

The written scope and price come first; nothing starts until you approve it, and repeat storm visits are agreed in writing ahead of time.
Photograph the damage before anything is moved and keep every receipt; 24/7 Express Handyman Service provides an itemised invoice your insurer may ask for. The dispatch fee and job cost are paid by you on the day.

Every job 24/7 Express Handyman Service takes on is under $3,000 including labor, materials and any change orders (Utah Code §58-55-305); a change that would push a job over that line is referred to a licensed contractor, not written up as a second job. plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas appliance / combustion system work is referred to a licensed trade.

Sources

FEMA P-957, Snow Load Safety Guide — retrieved 2026-09-23
How To Clean Composite Decking | Trex — retrieved 2026-09-23
Will De-Icers Kill My Lawn? | USU Extension — retrieved 2026-09-23

All sources