I'm looking to replace my deck, but the quotes I've received are really high, ranging from $12,000 to $25,000. Given that it's a simple, large deck that's about 2 feet off the ground, I believe we can handle the replacement ourselves to save some cash. In the meantime, I'm worried about its safety, especially for my kids walking on it. I'm considering using cedar fence pickets as a temporary fix. I plan to trim the dog-ears and screw them over the existing planks. Is this a terrible idea?
2 Answers
Using cedar fence pickets isn't a good idea! They're not strong enough to support weight, so it's probably not going to improve safety much. You might just be wasting money on a temporary fix. Since you're concerned about the integrity of the deck, make sure to check the joists underneath, as those can pose safety risks too if they're worn out. Might be better to look into temporarily sistering some joists if you can.
Cedar pickets are too thin for a deck, and they can be rough, which isn’t great for bare feet. Instead, you might want to look at throwing down an outdoor rug or two for now—that might make it a bit safer until you can replace the deck entirely!
Totally agree! An outdoor rug can help with safety and it's cheaper than dealing with more structural issues.
Exactly! If the structure is already compromised, just slapping pickets on won’t really help. Better to fix the underlying issues first.