Board replacement, loose fixings and worn surfaces on residential wood decks — the work that keeps a deck out of the replacement conversation.
- Replaceable
- Surface boards and fasteners
- Not replaceable
- The frame — that is the deck
- Test
- Press near a fastener; sound wood resists
A deck rarely fails all at once. It goes one board at a time, usually starting where water sits: the edge of a step, the board under a planter, the run closest to the downspout. Caught early, that is a repair. Left alone, it spreads into the boards either side and eventually into what holds them up.
What we repair
Split, cracked or soft deck boards
Loose or springy boards
Protruding, rusted or missing fasteners
Weathered and rough surfaces
Peeling or flaking old finishes
Uneven colour and discolouration
Worn stair treads
Structural work — posts, beams, joists and anything carrying load — is assessed case by case. If a deck has a problem below the surface, we will tell you plainly rather than coating over it, and we will tell you if it is outside what we take on.
Repair or replace?
The rule of thumb is where the damage sits. Surface boards are consumable and replaceable; the frame underneath is the deck. If the boards are tired but the structure is sound, repair and re-stain is straightforward and the deck has years left. If the frame itself has gone, patching the top of it is money spent twice.
How it runs
- 01
Inspection
We walk the deck, press the suspect boards, and check the fasteners and the steps.
- 02
Written estimate
What needs replacing, what can stay, and what it costs.
- 03
Repairs
Damaged boards out, new ones in, fasteners sorted.
- 04
Finish
Usually worth cleaning and re-staining at the same time so new and old boards match.
Common questions
How do I know if a board needs replacing?
Press it firmly with your thumb near a fastener or an end. Sound wood resists. If it gives, or feels spongy, the fibres have gone and that board comes out.
Will new boards match the old ones?
Not immediately — new wood takes stain differently from wood that has been outside for a decade. Cleaning the whole deck and re-staining everything at once is how you get them to read as one surface.
Is it worth repairing an old deck?
If the structure is sound, almost always. Boards and finish are the cheap part of a deck; the frame is the expensive part.