#1 Contractor for Deck Repairs

You may find yourself in the situation where your deck or patio has “good bones” but is in need of some much needed TLC or Deck Repair Options, this is a common occurrence. The other common issue is that some of the “bones” of your structure are in need of replacing or repair.

Not to worry, we can help you with either of these situations.

Sometimes all your deck needs is a good power-wash and reseal. Other times it could just need to be sanded down for a fresh look. Before any deck repair options or replacement, a thorough and complete inspection should be preformed. But just because your deck may look aged and grey (this fading is natural in all wood deck material), it’s nothing to be alarmed with though.

When it comes to going over your deck repair options, we will ensure that your deck or patio covers are inspected thoroughly. A complete inspection will look at the four main components of your deck or patio cover individually, and as a whole. The inspection will consist of looking at the following components:

The surface of your deck, which includes your handrails or railings, and of course, the deck boards themselves. Wood deck surfaces that are often exposed to moisture can and will suffer from rot. UV light from the sun causes fading of the color of all wood. It also can damage the wood’s fibers allowing water to more easily penetrate into the wood and cause unseen damage. Probably the most vulnerable section of your wood deck is the surface which is most exposed to moisture and UV.

The deck or patio cover posts are the bones of your wood deck or patio cover substructure and are what keep it up and off the ground. The posts on your wood deck do not usually receive as much UV exposure as patio cover posts, and both shed water easily due to the vertical installation. However, there will be some places where water can accumulate and cause damage. These would be at the base of each post. If your posts rest on a concrete footer, rot can occur at this contact point. If your posts are in contact with dirt, even if they are pressure treated lumber, rot is still possible. One other area where water can accumulate is where the crossbeams attach to the post.

The beams and joists are the horizontal bone structure of your wood deck or patio cover. These support the wood deck boards, or the patio cover. Generally, there will be two main beams, which are larger, along with cross pieces called joists. These joists are often attached to the main beams with metal joist fasteners. Rot can begin to appear at the end of the joists where they connect to the main beams. These joints can trap moisture (water goes anywhere and everywhere), and the screws that connect the joint fasteners allow a path for moisture to affect the wood.

The fascia board is another area of your wood deck or patio cover that conceals the ends of the boards. This board is not a structural board but gives your wood deck or patio cover a more complete look. It too can sometimes become a water trap, holding moisture against the beams or joists where it is attached. Most often, you may notice some discoloration of your wood deck boards around the perimeter of the deck, this could indicate the fascia board has been trapping moisture and causing dry rot.

Even if you regularly inspect and maintain your deck, protecting it by staining or water sealing, the surface of your wood deck may need periodic replacement. If your wood deck or patio cover has reached this point, and is a possible safety hazard, then it is time to replace your wood deck’s surface. This can be accomplished either with new wood, or with a composite deck material that can resist the elements of UV and moisture better than natural wood. If deck replacement is necessary, it makes a great time to tighten up the substructure of your wood deck or patio cover. When significant damage is found in both the deck and in the substructure, the wisest choice is to replace the entire deck or patio cover.