My deck needs help.

October 16, 2017 9:45 AM

My deck needs help. The basic structure is OK, but it looks terrible because it was painted/stained different colors and decorated with lots of unnecessary trim that's now rotting. I've patched it up in a bunch of crazy ways and am ready to throw in the towel. Maybe some of it can be saved, but I suspect everything visible (railings, decking, and skirting) needs to be replaced. More than I can do myself. Help?

Is it worth trying to find someone to refurbish whatever's left, or should I just focus on hiring someone to tear this down and start over? Can I do this now or should I wait until spring? (I'm in Chicago.)

Looking for advice, recommendations, estimates...anything you got. I want to end up with the most basic, easily reparable, forgettable deck possible.

It's about 20' x 20' and includes back stairs down to the yard.

posted by ndg to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

It's hard to know without seeing more pictures if it absolutely has to be replaced. I think you'll need to get estimates - some might tell you that replacing will cost the same as refurbishing so there's your answer if that happens. If you do have to replace, consider using some of the new composite decking materials. That should hold up a lot longer than wood.
posted by dawkins_7 at 10:11 AM on October 16, 2017

Can you tell if the decking is sound? The trim is likely not pressure-treated(PT) lumber and therefore more susceptible to rot, but if the decking was PT, it will last longer. My desk is @25 yo, unpainted PT, and I am currently treating it with a penetrating oil product that I got at ReStore ages ago, meaning to do this project for some years. Some of the decking that gets the most sun is in poor shape, but if I can eke out several years, that will be nice. The back deck was treated with some deck stain stuff about 8 years ago. That stuff lasted maybe a year, wore off fast. The wood under the decking should be assessed. The wood under my deck is fine, I will need to replace the decking and rails only.
posted by theora55 at 12:06 PM on October 16, 2017

Since you're in the Chicago area, I would suggest having DeckTech out to take a look at the situation. They can be a bit on the expensive side if you contract with them to do the work, but I would trust their assessment of your deck and what it would take to bring it up to what you'd like.
posted by DrGail at 1:06 PM on October 16, 2017

At a glance, your deck still looks serviceable. That said, you probably need a contractor's opinion about the structural integrity of the stuff you can't see. From my experience, it's the unseen structural stuff that will tell you whether you're in repair or replace territory.

consider using some of the new composite decking materials

We built our little deck a couple years ago out of a Trex substitute. It was stunningly expensive--so stunningly expensive that I didn't want to use it, but my civil engineer husband talked me into trusting him on this one. Two years later, I'm glad we did it--we just sweep it and occasionally hose it off, no need to treat or stain or watch our for mildew or termites or dry rot or... any of the typical concerns. It looks great, feels great underfoot, and I never have to worry about splinters.

Good luck!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:37 PM on October 16, 2017

This is totally saveable, and at this time of year there are other things to worry about. The boxy trim around the front sections is to support the edges of the upper deck. There are dark stains that will meld it all together. I would go slightly darker than the upper deck, for now, and go with it. I would leave the railings light, or go to a warm wood tone. The only other structural thing, would be to put a molding around the bases of the columns. Just round off the top of some 1x6 and box it in with 45 degree angles. Then the round upper at the base of the columns is continuous.
posted by Oyéah at 5:54 PM on October 16, 2017