I have a ground-level patio deck that's about 12x20 feet, and it seems like there's just one joist that's rotten. Recently, I've noticed a section where the decking has started to sink, so I've put a small table over it to keep people from stepping there. The deck itself is made of composite material, while the framing is treated lumber. I'm not very handy when it comes to carpentry, so I called in a professional deck builder who advised that the entire deck needs to be rebuilt for nearly $10,000. He said that it's tough to remove the composite boards without causing damage and that finding a color match for the replacement planks is also a challenge. Plus, in our city, we'd need a permit that costs $500. So, I'm wondering: is it really impossible to remove and replace those composite planks just to fix the framing, or am I possibly being overcharged? Are there any tips or tricks to get those boards up?
5 Answers
There are definitely some cost-effective ways to approach this! Instead of replacing all the decking, you can remove boards at strategic points around the rotten joist and sister a new one in there. Make clean cuts at the joists, then re-attach the boards after the repair. You shouldn't need to replace the whole deck for a single joist issue.
Even if you end up replacing all the decking, it could be a much cheaper DIY project than what the contractor suggested. Just for the materials, depending on the price in your area, it might cost around $1300 to replace everything. The job could be done in about two days if you're willing to put in the work, maybe with a friend helping out!
I've actually done this job a couple of times, and it's not as hard to remove composite decking as you might think! You can sacrifice one board—just pry it off, and then use a sawzall to cut off the screws underneath the other boards. Replacing just one joist shouldn’t be as bad as it sounds, but take your time! Just make sure you're really only dealing with one bad joist first.
Thanks for the tips! Sounds manageable.
You might consider a technique called 'sistering'! Instead of removing the rotten joist, you can add a new joist right next to it. This won't fix everything perfectly but can provide extra support for that area and save you a ton of cash, around $9,960!
But since it’s ground level, you probably can't get underneath without removing some decking first.
Yeah, that's a good point. You might need to check how the boards are laid out to see if that's even possible.
How are those boards attached? Are they using clips or screws?
They're screwed down.
That sounds like a solid plan. I’ll definitely try pulling up some boards tomorrow.