Repairing Decks and Porches
Repairing decks and porches is important. If you notice damage on a deck it should be corrected sooner rather than later. This damage can lead to safety issues. Porches should be repaired right away as well. The sooner you fix the damage the easier it will be.
Repairing damage on decks and porches is much simpler than replacing the entire structure. If you let the damage get out of hand and don't correct it when you can, you may be faced with a large expense later. With some basic tools and a few hours of time you can repair damage so that it isn't a safety concern later.
What You'll Need:
- New deck plank
- Deck nails
- Flashlight
- Circular saw
- Hammer
- Locate the joists under the deck or porch. You want to use a flashlight to look for damage. When you have a plank on a deck that is damaged it's not uncommon to find more damage when you look under the deck.
- Measure the length of the plank that needs to be replaced. You want to replace it with a plank that is the same length and thickness. If you used 1x3 planks in the original construction you want to use 1x3 planks for the replacement.
- Pry the damaged deck plank off. Wear goggles as you do this because the wood may splinter or break as you try to remove it. Be sure to remove any nails from the structure in the area you're removing the plank.
- Place the new deck plank in place. Make marks as necessary if you need to cut it back more. Use deck nails to secure the piece of wood in place.
- Stain or seal the new plank so it matches the rest of the deck or porch. This will need to dry for anywhere from four to 24 hours depending on the product you're using. Once it's dried you can start using that area again.