When Should I Replace my Maryland Deck?

Decks will eventually reach the end of their life-span regardless of your efforts to maintain them. Mother nature is a tough adversary, and 9 times out of 10 she will win any battle. While it may be hard to part with your old deck, there are some signs you need to look out for to know when you should replace it.

Wobbly Railings

One of the most important parts of your deck will be the railings. Railings are what, in essence, keeps people on your deck. If your railings start to wobble, and after all your efforts of tightening back up loose screws they still wobble, it may be time to have your deck or at the very least its railings replaced. We recommend calling in a local Maryland deck company to let them have a look and see which of the two would need to be done to ensure safety.

Rotting Substructure

Rot is one of the main culprits of damage to your deck. If you notice parts of the deck’s support will simply break away when you apply any force, it’s probably due to rot (or bug damage, but we’ll get to the later). Rot is a common issue with wood decks simply because wood will eventually rot over time—especially with the weather we get here in Maryland. If your supports or deck boards show signs of rot, it is definitely time to call a decking contractor and have them install a new deck.

Bug Damage

Bugs such as carpenter bees, termites, or carpenter ants can really do a number to a wood deck, making it structurally unsafe. If you’re inspecting your deck and notice holes or a visible presence of bugs, it is a good idea to call in a local pest control company to have them assess the damage. You may be lucky and will only need to control the pests, but if the damage is extensive you will probably need to contact a deck construction company as well.

Soft Spots

If you walk across your deck and notice soft spots in your deck boards then this is a major cause for concern. This could be due to a variety of the reasons listed above, as well as broken decking boards or supports. If your deck has soft spots in a localized area you may be able to just repair that spot. If the damage is more extensive, it’s time to call in your trusted deck building company in Maryland.

For help with assessing the health of your current deck, or designing and building a new deck, give North American Deck and Patio a call today! North American Deck and Patio is a full-service Maryland deck design and construction company that offers services to ensure that you have a high quality, stunning deck for your home. For a free consultation, give us a call at 866-535-1961 or fill out the form on our website 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