I'm dealing with some cracked deck boards, and the screws holding them in place are completely sunk and stripped. I've tried using a rubber band around the drill to get a grip, but that didn't work at all. Honestly, I'm so frustrated that I'm considering ripping up the entire deck, but that's not really in my budget. Does anyone have tips on how to remove the old boards without breaking the bank?
3 Answers
A screw extractor with reverse threads could really help! It backs out the screws for you. I found a decent one online; they're pretty handy for situations like this.
If you're okay with losing the boards, just cut them up and rip them out. Once the screws are exposed, you can either pull them out or cut them off. It might be quicker than trying to get them out whole!
You can also cut the board between the joists and pry it up. After that, grab some channel locks or vice grips to remove the old screws. By the way, what's with the rubber band trick? I’ve never heard of that one!
I think they say it helps grip the stripped screws, but it doesn't work great. Better to just cut them out!
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely check that out!