Most decks don’t fail all at once. They loosen, soften and weather a little each year until one day the railing moves when you lean on it. The good news is that plenty of decks only need a solid repair. Here’s how we look at it when we come out.
Signs a repair is probably enough
- A few damaged boards. Cracked, cupped or split boards can be swapped out if the framing underneath is sound.
- A wobbly railing. Railings often just need posts re-secured with proper hardware.
- Surface wear. Gray, weathered wood is cosmetic. Cleaning and a fresh finish can bring it back.
- Loose stairs. Stair stringers and treads can usually be rebuilt without touching the rest of the deck.
Signs it’s time to replace
- Soft or rotted framing. If joists or beams give when you push a screwdriver into them, the structure is compromised.
- Posts that move or sink. Posts and footings carry the whole load. When they shift, the problem runs deeper than the boards.
- The deck pulling away from the house. A gap where the deck meets the house is a structural warning sign.
- Rot in many places at once. When repairs would touch most of the deck, replacing it usually costs less in the long run.
Why the structure matters more than the surface
New boards on old framing can look great and still be unsafe. That’s why we look under the deck first: at the posts, the footings, the beams and the connection to the house. The surface tells you how the deck looks. The structure tells you how long it will last.
How we decide
When we come out, we check the structure, show you what we find and tell you straight. If a repair will do the job, we’ll say so. If the deck needs to come down, we’ll explain why and give you a clear plan and price before any work starts.
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