In order to ensure that your deck stays looking good and is in good condition, you will have to make repairs from time to time. There are a number of things that can and will go wrong that will demand your attention. Some things that you should be able to handle on your own, but others will require you to consult some professional help.
Ensuring that you do all of the repairs in a timely manner will go a long way in keeping your deck looking great. We came up with a shortlist of the important things that commonly go wrong or things that you should keep in mind if you own a wooden deck. Most of the things on the list are things you can do fairly quickly and inexpensively, but there are some that could cost you a bit of money.
Top 6 Most Common Wood Deck Repairs
Nails popping out of the deck boards – It is really important that you walk the entire surface of your deck to look for any nails that could have popped up. This would be both a trip hazard and it would weaken the overall strength of your deck if you have too many nails that have popped up. If necessary you could consider replacing the nails with wood screws.
Staining or sealing – Depending on the climate of where your home is located the elements can wreak havoc on the wood of your deck. If it was not properly sealed or stained originally you can expect that you will probably have some peeling of the stain, which will need to be scraped and a new coat of a good stain or sealer.
Resecuring the Deck Stair(s) – Due to shifting and weather damage to the stairs, you could have to do repairs or even have to replace one or more of the stairs to ensure that they are safe enough to support the weight.
Replacing bad posts – If you discover that you have one or more of the deck posts that are needing to be replaced during your initial inspection, this could be a bit tricky. You want to be sure that your repairs do not cause the deck to become unlevel. Since the posts carry the load of the entire deck you want to be sure that you pay close attention to the details.
Replacing worn deck boards – The deck board is subjected to the most wear and tear throughout the year and this means you need to pay close attention to the condition of each and every board. Be sure that you replace any worn boards as quickly as possible and check that all of the nails or screws are tightly fastened.
Handrail Replacement – The handrails are really important as they provide the needed safety and security for you and your guests. Be sure that the handrails are securely fastened and that all of the surfaces are smooth and splinter-free.