Does My Deck Need to be Replaced?

You’ve had your deck for years. You’ve started to see little areas that can be improved, but you aren’t completely sure if it’s time to have your deck replaced. To figure out if it’s time for a new deck, be on the lookout for these telltale signs. 

Rusted Hardware and Nails

Rusted hardware isn’t just an eyesore, it’s also an indication that it’s time to update your deck. The longer you wait, the longer your deck’s nails and bolts will continue to rust. This will ultimately become a safety issue since these are the things that hold your deck together. It’s best to not allow them to continue to rust and become weaker; replace your deck in the near future. 

Rotted Wood

Wooden decks tend to last around 15 years. If your wood:

• Feels soft & spongy
• Appears darker in certain areas 
• Has mushroom-like fungus on the surface
• Has a musty smell to it

…it most likely has begun to rot. You may find that small patches of your wooden deck have rotted, and if that’s the case you might be able to get away with replacing only the affected boards. However, if you notice that structural and support beams are rotting, it’s time to replace the entire deck. 

Loose Floorboards

Your deck is never supposed to move. If you’ve noticed that your deck has a few loose boards, you’ll want to investigate how they came to be before you go forward with any repairs. If it is indeed only just a few boards that are loose, you can easily replace them. However, if it’s more than a few boards, it’s best to have your entire deck replaced. 

Compromised Joints and Beams

Your deck’s joints and beams are the most important part of its structure. If they are compromised, the entire deck is at risk for collapsing. To have them fixed, the boards that make up the platform of your deck will need to be removed. This takes a long time, even for a professional Maryland deck builder, and that is why most homeowners choose to simply have their decks replaced instead. 

Bring The Life Back Into Your Deck

If you’ve found any of these conditions on your deck, renowned Maryland deck builder North American Deck & Patio can offer affordable deck replacement solutions. We use only the best materials on the market so you can be sure that you’ll be enjoying your new deck for many years to come. Don’t wait any longer, call or contact us today! 

“Jim at North American patio and deck's came up with the most ingenious way of utilizing our small very slanted very water drained environment and turned it into a virtual oasis. Making this deck the envy of all our ambitions and gem for the community.”

– C. Cross