You can save on labor costs by doing your own deck repairs. Wooden decks are vulnerable to long-term damage from harsh weather, and immediate damage from falling objects and fire. Before any repairs are made, a homeowner can estimate the costs for materials and labor by taking measurements at the damaged areas. The measurements allow you to determine a price for materials and obtain comparative estimates from several contractors based on the extent of the repairs. Material prices are available through lumber yards and most home centers. Estimating the deck repairs is the first step in restoring your deck to it's original condition. Measure and write down the size and type of damaged wood posts that support the girders at the deck's undercarriage. Typical support posts are four-by-four or four-by-six, and may be Douglas fir or redwood. Measure the length of the post from bottom to top and record the measurement. Measure the size of damaged girders, such as four-by eights, as well as the length of the damaged portion of the girder.

If the damages do not extend to support posts, measure the distance between the corresponding support posts and plan on replacing that section of the girder. Determine the size of damaged floor joists and rim joists by measuring the thickness at one edge and the width at one side of the joist. sliding bathroom door singaporeTypical deck joists and rim joists are two-by-eights or two-by-10 inches. external upvc door panelsThe lineal footage of joist lumber needed depends on the portions of joists that are damaged. garage door remote at lowesSections of joists can be replaced from girder to girder or the entire length of the joists or rim, if necessary. linear garage door opener will not open all the way

Include additional lineal footage for blocking between joists, if necessary. Determine the square footage of deck boards needed by measuring the length and width of the damaged area and multiplying one by the other. Add five percent to the total to allow cutting boards to length so they attach at floor joists. upvc sliding door handlesNote the size of the boards, such as two-by-six, and the type of material, such as redwood, fir or manufactured decking. cost of new upvc door and frameMeasure the size and length of damaged redwood handrail posts. sliding wardrobe doors for sale irelandSimilar to all trimmed lumber, redwood posts are milled in standard sizes that vary up to 2 feet in length. For example, if a post measures 5 feet from the lower end to the underside of the handrail, a 6-foot piece is needed.

Plan on a 10-foot piece to replace two posts. Note the size and length of the redwood handrail that attaches at the tops of the posts. Measure the distance from post to post to replace a section, or measure the overall length, if necessary. Determine the amount of redwood for horizontal handrails or vertical balusters that comprise the handrail sections. Replace the rails from post to post, or balusters as needed, by counting the number of damaged pieces. Things You Will Need Measuring tape Pad and pen Tip References California Redwood; Freestanding DeckBear Creek Lumber: Redwood Deck Construction Photo Credits Ryan McVay/Stockbyte/Getty Images Suggest a Correction Repair or Replace: Is It Time for a New Deck? If your decking has cracks, looks dirty, or suffers from mildew, it's time to decide whether to refinish or replace it entirely. Signs of an unsafe deck may not be obvious so safety checks are critical when deciding to repair or replace. Also, if your deck was built before 2004, it's probably made of lumber treated with chromated copper arsenate.

Regular refinishing helps to seal in the toxic arsenic that CCA decking contains. But if the finish is flaking or worn off in spots, we suggest hiring a pro who's equipped to safely remove the old finish, dust, and debris and then refinish it. Here are some other considerations to keep in mind. You can save hundreds by replacing the decking yourself. Along with a circular saw you'll need a drill, preferably cordless. Don't skimp on support joists if you choose heavier composites or less-rigid plastics. For wood, solid stains typically yield longer-lasting results. When pricing the materials, be sure to figure in the cost of railings, stairs, and supporting structure as well as the planks under foot. If you're hiring a pro, note that the cost of labor—either to build a new deck or to replace worn planking on an existing structure—can easily exceed the cost of the materials. Complement Your Home’s Design The width of the decking, its color and finish, and the design of the railing are important design elements.

A ranch, raised ranch, or contemporary house style can work well with many deck designs. It's more challenging to make a deck work with older styles, such as Tudor, colonial, or 1920s bungalow. Many manufacturers of synthetic decking offer a variety of railings, such as provincial or Mission style, that can help the deck fit with the rest of the house. Nails and screws are inexpensive, easy to handle, and suitable for nearly any material. But nails can pop loose over time, while screws are more permanent. Ceramic-coated screws come in several colors, which helps them blend in. To avoid splitting planks, drill pilot holes for nails, countersink screws in wood, and predrill screw holes into composite. Choose zinc-coated or other corrosion-resistant fasteners, and use the right fasteners for composites. Also consider hidden fasteners or systems that hide the attachments. Before staining, pressure-wash or brush the old surface with a cleaning solution. If there’s any remaining mold and mildew, remove it using a solution of 1 part bleach and 3 parts water.

When staining, use as many coats as the manufacturer recommends. And be sure it's at least 50 degrees F from the time stain is applied until it dries completely. While wood is the most popular type of decking, other materials are catching on with homeowners. Here are four types of decking material to consider.Most is pressure-treated pine, but more expensive options include cedar, redwood, and tropical hardwoods. Cons: Wood tends to change color, crack, and stain if it isn't refinished. Hardwoods and exotic choices can be expensive. Price: About $225 to $825 or more per 100 square feet. Pros: Best for the look of wood without the need to stain. It's made of plastic and wood fiber and sometimes can be stained to change its color. Most now also come with some or all sides encased in plastic to prevent mildew growth. Cons: Some offered far less resistance to slips, stains, and mildew in our tests. Most choices are heavier and more expensive than the usual pine.

Price: About $425 to $650 per 100 square feet. Pros: Best for resisting the elements without staining. Choices include PVC and polyethylene. Cons: Some can look cheap, some is slippery, and all sagged more than wood. Price: About $525 to $625 per 100 square feet. Pros: Toughness, rigidity, and slip resistance. Its baked-on or anodized finish should last a long time, and its textured surface added traction in our tests. Sections sometimes interlock so that rain won't drip through. Cons: It's expensive, and no one would mistake it for wood. Price: About $700 per 100 square feet. Looking for a General Contractor? Need to hire a pro to build your new deck? The site connects you with local contractors to help with maintenance or remodeling projects, making home improvement that much easier. Our tests showed that some synthetic decking didn't make the grade for rigidity, and some tonier wood products look worse for wear. Here are some more decking features and considerations:

Synthetics Resist Sun and Spills All of the composite, plastic, and aluminum decking we tested kept its original color better than unfinished wood. Many also fended off mustard, wine, and other stains. Some Decking Is Stiffer and Surer Wood and aluminum resisted slips best in our wet and dry friction tests. Wood and aluminum were also excellent at resisting bending and sagging. Some plastics and composites came close in those tests, but several flexed or sagged noticeably. Synthetics Offer a Range of Design Options Many of the synthetic products are available in colors such as white, gray, and several shades of brown. Surface textures include smooth (like plastic lawn furniture, in some cases), subtle wood grain, ridges, and other decidedly nonwood-like patterns. Some composite planks are flexible enough to be easily curved into patterns or shapes that would be expensive to duplicate in solid wood. New Fasteners Improve Looks and Ease Installation TrapEase is one brand of special-purpose screw intended for use with plastic and composite decking.