Most likely your structural parts are in decent shape and safe for your guests. If that is the case, then all you have to do is replace your existing deck or certain bad boards and rails and stairs thereby saving considerably in comparison to a complete deck rebuild.
So just how can I tell if my deck is still in good structural shape? Can I remodel my present deck with long lasting composite decking and rails? These questions will be answered along with practical tips.
Expect to spend more than a few weekends to finish your project. What is nice though, is that you can work at your project in sections thereby not disturbing the household, or making it very inconvenient, but be sure you block off or lock your entry doors that open onto the deck to ensure everyone's safety till you are finished. Tools that are needed for the project include a 4 foot level or bigger, screw gun, circular saw, measure tape, carpenters square, and a miter saw for accurate cuts on angles and rails. For demo work, you'll need a sledgehammer, pry bars, and you may have to curt some wood boards in half to make it easier to pry off and easier for disposal.
First lets discuss if your deck should be completely remodeled;
1. Lets start from the ground up. Check the footings, look to see if your upright posts are warped or the deck itself above the footings looks warped. If it looks warped, your footings may not be very deep into the ground. To ensure a good footing, you can replace them with deeper ones, by digging right next to the old footing, and pour a new cement footing.
2. Next examine the posts themselves, and all of the framing, to see if the wood is sound, not rotted or badly cracked. To check for rot use a sharp tool such as a screwdriver or pointed tool. Probe for soft spongy wood. If found you should replace the wood at least up to one foot each way past the rotted area to ensure you have removed the rotted piece.
It's best then to replace the rotted wood with pressure treated wood of the same dimension. Never use cedar or redwood to frame a deck. If your deck is framed in that material, it's best to tear it down and start over, since these woods are not recommended for framing due to their ability to take the load.
To check your structural integrity of the frame, make a drawing of your deck, the sizes of the lumber, and the spans of all major pieces. This is for you to take to the Building department for an inspector to see. By doing so you will know if your deck frame is structurally sound and the spans are adequate and safe for the existing load of the deck. You can apply for a building permit too and get an on-site inspection for further safety reasons.
4. Other building considerations: When using lag screws which in this case, bolt into the ledger between your joists into the house or structure, use ½ inch lag screws. Sometimes the Building department for only require 3/8 inch, so ask your local Inspector.
5. It's required that all joists be attached at the ends with a metal joist hanger. Make sure that each hanger is nailed properly through the guide holes with hander nails, not roofing nails. Next check you metal flashing that is usually found behind the deck ledger, which is attached to your house or structure from which the joists run out. There must be flashing behind this deck ledger at the bottom and over the wood siding. If it is not there, you need to add it so water does not accumulate in the cracks and sits against the structure causing wood rot.
6. Unleash the demo crew. Actually it doesn't take too long to demo a deck. Now it's time to demo the old deck, assuming now that the frame is in good shape. You start with knocking out the old railing with a sledgehammer. If you are going to reuse any of the wood, you will have to plan to remove it by first removing the nails or screws carefully to reuse it. After the railing is removed, start removing the old decking boards. If you have ordered a dumpster then all the nails and lumber will obviously go into the dumpster so your yard will not be a mess and a potential injury area. As far as nails in the old wood, don't bother removing nails or screws if you are not going to reuse this wood, just throw it away into the dumpster. For wood that has lag screws in them such as posts, you may have to loosen the bolts or screws to remove this wood.
7. Next remove the deck boards. Unscrew them or pry them loose, using a crowbar, flat bar and a large pry bar, starting at one end to the other. Start the removal process opposite your structure or house so to have an easy way off the deck. If nails were used, there will usually be left some nails showing on the joists which will need pulling out. If your deck was originally screwed down, this will take more time to remove them. If the head is stripped, here are some tips. Use a Phillips head that is new and fits perfectly in to the screw head. If impossible to remove and the head is somewhat up above the boards, you can use vice grips on the head and turn the screw out. Another way is to use a saws-all with a metal cutting blade and cut the head off, the deck board will just pull out of the leftover screw as you are prying the board out. Or try drilling through the head removing most of it and then pry the deck board over it. Any leftover screws on the joists will break off by using a hammer to bang it back and forth until it breaks off.
Soon all you have left is the original deck frame, and it's ready for the new decking and railing. Be sure to replace anything that looks not sound on your steps for safety reasons. Enjoy!
Darrell Suchocki invites you to benefit form his 25 years of experience in the construction trades as a builder and outdoor decking installer. See his website at http://decks-n-floors.com/ for comprehensive information about building decks and differences of composite decking vs wood decking. Also find pertinent information on the different brands of composite decking, vinyl and plastic, plus much more. All to make better home improvement buying decisions. Plus see other articles related to the home construction trade. http://decks-n-floors.com/
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