Deck repair and replacement
A deck can look tired on top and be fine underneath, or look fine and be failing. A builder's inspection tells you which.
Most deck damage around Eau Claire comes from water that sits: snow melting into board ends, rain getting behind a ledger with no flashing, puddles around post bases. Add years of freezing and thawing and the wood breaks down from the inside. You can't tell much from standing on the deck. The answer is underneath.
What does a builder look at?
- The ledger. Is it bolted into the house framing, or just nailed? Is there flashing over it? Is the rim joist behind it soft?
- Footings and posts. Did the footings reach frost depth? Have any lifted or tipped? Are posts rotting where they meet concrete or soil?
- Joists and beams. Sag, splits and soft spots, especially at the ends and under seams in the boards.
- Hardware. Corroded hangers, missing bolts and fasteners not meant for treated wood.
- Surface, stairs and railings. Spongy boards, cracked treads and posts that move.
Should you repair or replace?
If the frame and footings check out, replacing boards, a few stair treads or a section of railing is a straightforward repair. If the ledger is rotten, footings have heaved, or a lot of the framing is soft, replacement is usually the safer use of money. A new deck also gets footings to the 48-inch depth the state code calls for and connections that meet current rules. Bigger repairs and full replacements typically need a permit.
Decks that shift every winter
Older decks around the valley were sometimes set on precast pier blocks or on footings dug a couple of feet down. Each winter the frost can lift those unevenly, and by spring the deck slopes or a stair has separated. Shims don't fix that for long. The lasting fix is new footings dug to frost depth.
Is it safe to use?
Treat a loose railing, wobbly stairs or a deck pulling away from the house as a safety issue. Keep people off the problem area until a builder has looked, and don't hold a graduation party on a deck you're unsure of.
Buying or selling a house?
Home inspectors often flag decks for missing flashing, nailed ledgers and loose guards. A builder can tell you which items are quick fixes and which point to a replacement, which helps when you're negotiating repairs.
Pricing comes from the builder after they've walked the yard, measured, and talked through materials and layout with you. We don't quote prices, and any figure you hear before a site visit is a ballpark at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I just replace the deck boards?
Often, if the footings and framing are sound. Have the builder check the ledger, joists and posts first so new boards don't go onto a failing frame.
Why does my deck sit crooked every spring?
Most often the footings aren't deep enough and frost lifts them. The usual fix is new footings to frost depth, at least 48 inches under Wisconsin's deck code.
Related services
More background: Eau Claire deck guide.
Spongy boards, a railing that gives, or a deck you've sketched on a napkin?
Call now and a Chippewa Valley deck builder will help you figure out the next step.