What to Expect from Deck Repairs
What to Expect from Nash Painting's Deck Repair
Now that winter is finally over, you’re probably eager to get back out on your deck and enjoy the fresh air. Not so fast, though. As we’ve discussed in the past, winter can do a number on your wooden deck. The onslaught of snow and freezing temperatures can lead to warping, fracturing, and even rot. So, before you can take full advantage of your deck, you’ll want to ensure that it’s stable, secure, and well-equipped to handle whatever environmental conditions are bound to come its way. This may mean you need to invest in deck repair.
If you’ve never had to fix your deck before, you might wonder how to go about this process. Nash Painting is here to help. Here’s what you can expect from deck repairs, and what you should do to prepare for them.
Inspect Your Deck the Right Way
You won’t know if your deck even needs fixing until you evaluate its overall condition. But where do you begin? And what should you look for? You’ll want to visually inspect every inch of your deck, of course, but you should prioritize any structural components, such as the ledger, joists, and beams. If these parts exhibit any weaknesses, your deck is at risk of collapsing, which can damage your home and injure anyone on, underneath, or near your deck.
In terms of what you’re looking for, your main concerns are cracks, warping, missing pieces, and rot. These first three types of damage are relatively easy to locate. Rot, on the other hand, can be elusive. Parts of your deck that contact the ground are more susceptible to rot, so you might check these areas first. If some of the wood has rotted, it might appear darker than the unaffected areas. In order to determine if there’s rot, gently push a screwdriver into the wood. If it goes through easily, the wood has rotted.
Some Things May Need Replacing
The size and scope of your deck repair job depends on the severity and spread of damage. If you’re dealing with some minor fracturing, loose screws, and/or peeling/faded wood deck paint, repairs will be relatively minimal. On the other hand, if your deck is experiencing extensive rot, missing major components, and/or severely warped or cracked, your repair job may turn into a replacement job.
Indeed, any components that are beyond repair, whatever the reason, should be replaced with the same type of wood or something sturdier (such as a synthetic material). For instance, if enough rot has spread across your deck, no amount of repairs will effectively solve the problem. In this scenario, the rotted materials must be removed from the deck and replaced with new features.
Budget Accordingly
Because deck repairs range in size, they range in cost, too. The average cost of a deck repair varies from region to region as well. Generally speaking, you can expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $500 on a smaller repair job and up to $2,500 on a larger one. The more prepared you are for these costs, the better.
Invest in Proper Protection
Ultimately, if you want to avoid major deck repairs (and the costs associated with them) in the future, it’s important to properly protect your deck after it has been fixed. Namely, invest in a high-quality wood deck stain that guards your deck against the effects of moisture, UV rays, friction, impact, and extreme temperatures for several years. If you’re not sure how to choose a deck stain or apply it the right way, hire a reliable contractor to help. In addition to staining your deck, make sure you keep it clean throughout the year. You might hire pressure washing services once a year to blast away dirt, debris, and any mold or mildew that’s begun to grow.
Better yet, hire a single Nashville painting company that handles pressure washing, deck repair, deck staining, and more. Let Nash Painting help you get your deck back in action for this season and many seasons to come. To learn more about us, our services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!