Signs Your Deck Needs Repairing

Denver area decks endure harsh conditions on a regular basis. Heavy snow, hail, ice, intense sun. All these elements can really take a toll on your deck. Regular maintenance can offset degradation, but in all honesty, most of us do not have the time to spare for that. How can you tell when your deck is crying out for some TLC, though? Here are a few signs to look for that signal the need for attention.

Shaky Railings

One warning sign of needed repairs could present as shaky railings. The good news is that railings are not structurally critical to your deck. The bad news is that they present potential falling hazards. This is especially dangerous if you have children or elderly ones in your household. Sometimes shaky railings are a result of loose screws. In this case you simply need to go around and tighten them. Other times, shaky railings are a result of rotten wood. In that case you may need to replace the entire railing with a new one.

Rotten Wood

Speaking of rotting wood, you can find it in other places on your deck too. How can you identify rotting wood? Take notice of how the deck sounds when you step on it. Do you notice a spot that sounds different from the rest of the deck? Inspect suspicious sections with a screwdriver. If the spot is soft when you press on it, that is a sign of rot. In some cases, you can get away with only needing to replace a few affected boards. If structural beams are the root of your rot, you will most likely have to do a more extensive deck replacement.

Cracked Boards

Cracked boards naturally occur as your deck ages. This is because along with temperature and humidity fluctuations, the wood on your deck swells and contracts. As it does this, cracks occur. Regular staining and sealing can help to offset this. Hopefully, you can just replace a few boards, but if the damage is more extensive, you may be faced with a larger project.

Rusted Hardware

If you are surveying your deck and notice rusting nails and screws, this is a sure sign you need to replace them. Afterall, screws and nails are essential to keeping the structure together. Once they start to rust, they start to deteriorate and lose integrity. Once you notice rust, it is best to replace them sooner rather than later.

If you notice that your deck needs major repairs or even replacement, be sure to make a call to Park Range Construction. When it comes to repairs and remodels, we are the specialists.

Published on 6-9-2021