Deck repair: boards, railings and steps
Most deck problems start at the surface: a split board, a popped nail, a loose railing. Fixed early, they stay small jobs.
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What people call about
- Split, soft or cupped deck boards.
- Nails and screws that have popped up.
- A railing or baluster that wobbles.
- Loose or worn steps.
- A deck that needs cleaning before it is stained or sealed.
Before the handyman arrives
- Keep people off a railing that moves or a board that is soft until it is repaired.
- Rotten joists, beams, posts or a deck pulling away from the house are structural problems. They need a contractor and often a permit, not a handyman.
- If you plan to stain or seal the deck, the wood needs to be dry, so plan the work for a dry spell.
What the handyman does
- Damaged boards replaced with matching lumber or composite.
- Popped nails replaced with deck screws.
- Railings, posts and balusters re-fixed so they are firm.
- Steps and treads replaced or tightened.
- The structure underneath checked and anything structural pointed out.
South Florida and beyond
Decks are less common in South Florida, where most outdoor living is on concrete patios and screened lanais, but where they exist the heat, rain and termites shorten the life of wood boards. In much of the country, decks take a beating from snow, freeze-thaw and the sun.
Questions people ask
- Can you replace a few deck boards?
- Yes. New boards are cut to match and fixed with deck screws. Pressure-treated wood will look different at first until it weathers or is stained.
- Is my deck safe?
- The handyman checks the boards, railings and steps and will point out anything that looks structural, such as rot in the joists or a loose ledger board. Those need a contractor.
- Do you stain or seal decks?
- Cleaning and sealing a deck is often part of the job. Ask for it in your request.
Get a handyman out
Free estimate. The price is agreed before the work starts.
Other handyman jobs
- General handyman jobs
- Drywall repair
- TV mounting
- Furniture assembly
- Door repair
- Interior painting
- Pressure washing
- Gutter cleaning
- Caulking and grout
- Shelves and hanging
- Fence repair
- Screen repair
- Faucet and fixture swap
- Weatherproofing
One Call Handyman Repairs arranges the visit; the handyman does the work and gives you the price.