Deck repair and replacement
A deck can look rough on top and be sound underneath, or look fine and be failing. A builder's inspection tells you which.
Most deck damage around Duluth comes from water that doesn't leave: snow melting into board ends, rain running behind an unflashed ledger, and puddles around post bases. Add decades of freezing and thawing and the wood breaks down from the inside. What you feel underfoot tells you little. The real story is underneath, and on a hillside deck that often means a ladder.
What does a builder check?
- The ledger. Is it bolted into the house framing or only nailed? Is there flashing? Is the rim joist behind it soft? Duluth's deck packet tells builders to verify the rim joist's condition.
- Footings and posts. Did the footings reach frost depth? Have any lifted or tipped? Are posts rotting at the base, or sitting on blocks or bare ground?
- Bracing. On taller decks, is there diagonal bracing, and are the connections still tight?
- Joists and beams. Sag, splits and soft spots, especially at the ends and under board seams.
- Hardware. Rusted hangers, missing bolts and fasteners not rated for treated wood.
- Surface, stairs and guards. Spongy boards, cracked treads and posts that rock.
Repair or replace?
If the frame and footings are sound, new boards, a few stair treads or a section of guard is a simple repair. If the ledger is rotten, footings have heaved, or much of the framing is soft, replacing the deck is usually the better use of money. A rebuilt deck in Duluth goes on 60-inch footings with a flashed ledger and lateral load connections, which many older decks never had. Larger repairs and full replacements generally need a permit.
Decks that move every spring
Older decks around the Twin Ports were sometimes set on precast blocks or footings dug a couple of feet down. Frost lifts those unevenly, and by May a stair has separated or the deck slopes toward the yard. Shimming buys a season at most. The lasting fix is new footings dug to frost depth.
Is it safe to use?
Treat a loose guard, wobbly stairs or a deck pulling away from the house as a safety problem. Keep people off that area until a builder has looked. On a tall deck, keep people out from underneath as well.
Buying or selling?
Home inspectors often flag decks for nailed ledgers, missing flashing and loose guards. A builder can sort the quick fixes from the problems that point to a rebuild, which helps when you're negotiating repairs.
The builder prices the job after seeing the site, measuring, and going over materials and layout with you. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has looked at the slope, the house wall and the footing locations is only a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I just replace the boards?
Often, if the footings and framing are sound. Have the builder check the ledger, joists and posts first so new boards don't go onto a failing frame.
Why does my deck tilt after every winter?
Usually the footings are too shallow and frost lifts them. The lasting fix is new footings to frost depth, which is 60 inches in Duluth.
Related services
More background: Duluth deck guide.
A deck that lurched after the thaw, or one you've been planning all winter?
Call the number above and we'll connect you with a deck builder who works on your side of the hill.