Revive or Replace Your Aging Deck – What’s Your Best Option?

Decks are a wonderful addition to any home. They let you enjoy nature and get some fresh air just by stepping outside your door. Unfortunately, decks are exposed to the elements and are prone to wear and tear brought on by time and changes in the weather.

The internet is full of DIY instructions about how to fix your deck, but it’s hard to find concrete information about how to tell if your deck is beyond repair or not. If you’re wondering whether or not you should try repairing your deck—or if you should just build a new one—then you’ve come to the right place. By following a few simple steps, it’s easy to determine whether your deck should be revived or replaced.

Safety First

More than anything else, your home should be a safe environment. This is especially important if you have kids running around who may not recognize a dangerous structure. As decks get older, they can develop rotten support posts, loose railings, or exposed nails. Any of these issues could be very hazardous and lead to serious injuries. So, if you have an old deck and question its safety, try to keep everyone away until it can be inspected.

Evaluate Your Current Deck

The first step in your revive or replace decision involves performing a visual inspection of your deck. This simple checkup can tell you a lot about the state of the wood, metal, or composite materials. Be on the lookout for any of these problems.

• Rotten posts or support beams
• The separation between the deck and your house
• Lots of damage to the deck planks or surface material
• Loose or unstable railings or steps
• Discolored or irregular stains on your wood
• Ground erosion around your supporting posts

While loose steps or discoloration can be repaired, rotting wood or erosion may be your sign to tear down the deck and rebuild from scratch.

Determine Your Goals

If your visual inspection reveals only minor issues—and the deck presents no immediate hazards—then you can start making plans to revive it. When repairing your deck, it’s important to have specific goals in mind. Make a plan that includes the time it will take, the materials you’ll need, and the skills necessary to update it. When putting this information together, you may find that the time involved would be better spent rebuilding the deck instead. Remember, it’s much easier to change your mind before you start the work than after.

Speaking of changing your mind, even if your deck can be repaired, you may decide to update it using an entirely different style. If your deck is too big, too small, the wrong color, or in the wrong place, then you might want to build an entirely new deck with all new materials. Once you figure out the end goal is for your deck, you’ll have a better idea of how to proceed.

Determine Your Budget

The cost of reviving a deck versus replacing one is also an important factor to consider. Except for a few instances, it’s almost always more expensive to build a new deck than to revive an existing deck. Reviving a deck may involve things like staining and painting or replacing a few boards, but a deck replacement will be much more extensive and expensive. If you’re on a tight budget, then you may want to consider reviving your deck. However, if money isn’t a problem, then replacing your deck with a new one will allow you to design it exactly as you want it. No matter what you decide, you’ll want to make sure the job is done right.

Get Professional Assistance

Don’t let worries about your deck keep you from enjoying it. Whether you decide to replace or revive your deck, Mr. Handyman is the specialist for you. When you trust us with your deck, we guarantee our professionalism and quality of work. Give Mr. Handyman a call or request service online to schedule an appointment. We’ll guide you through the repair vs. replacement process, help you make the right decision, and plan what your next steps should be.