Decks are a great addition to any home, but they can also get damaged. This can be caused by general wear and tear, or a one-time event.
It is important to maintain your deck and fix any problems that may arise. Keeping up with maintenance will help ensure that your deck lasts as long as possible and looks good, too.
Damaged Boards
Deck boards see a lot of wear and tear from the elements, so it`s common for them to deteriorate over time. This can make your deck look less than appealing or even unsafe, so it`s important to inspect it for damage and repair it as soon as possible.
Replacing a damaged deck board can save you the cost and trouble of building a whole new deck. Selecting the right wood is key to a successful restoration.
Measure the existing deck boards and buy replacements that match them in size and wood species. This will help them blend in better with the rest of the deck.
Rotted Spots
Deck joists can get rot from moisture. Rot occurs when a fungus thrives in dampness and darkness, as well as warm temperatures, eats away the wood.
It`s not uncommon for a single rotten spot to destabilize a deck, which can quickly become unsafe to use. However, if there`s extensive damage, you may need to replace the entire deck.
Dry rot can be a serious problem because it attracts termites and other wood-eating pests, which can cause damage to your deck`s safety and integrity. Search for long sheets of greyish mold or darker looking wood as these are common dry rot indicators.
If the rot is just on the surface of your deck, you can often repair it with a wood filler product. However, if the rot is deeper and involves larger areas of deterioration, you`ll probably need to use a wood hardening product. After your wood is repaired, you can stain it or seal it to match your deck.
Water Damage
Decks that suffer from repeated water damage can be a costly and difficult project to repair. It`s important to call a company that specializes in home repairs, including decks, and has the expertise to do it right.
You should inspect the deck`s perimeter including posts, beams, joists and joists. You`ll also want to look for rotting wood around corners, railings, and stairs.
If any area of the deck is rotted or decaying, it`s important to address this as soon as possible. Rot can spread to surrounding wood and cause collapse.
Older wood is more prone to rotting so it`s important to seal your deck. Sealants can help prevent dry rot and rot by locking out moisture. Sealants will protect wood from mold and mildew which are common problems on decks.
Substructure damage
To ensure stability, the substructure underneath your deck includes the joists, posts and joists. It can cause serious damage in the future.
It`s time to repair any loose fittings, rot, or sagging on the joists. To check for rot, you can insert a screwdriver in a post or joist.
Tree limbs falling on decks can cause damage to the substructure. If they`re large, they can cause serious damage or even take out a deck altogether.
To help prevent this damage from happening, make sure that the footers are buried below the frost line. They can cause the ground to move when there is freezing or thawing, which could eventually result in damage to the deck.