Deck Repair Tips

Cleaning and resealing are parts of the deck maintenance process. The deck should also be checked for possible damages that require repairing. Deck repair procedures may involve securing loose nails or boards or replacing boards that have started to rot.

Prior to starting the deck repair process one must determine what the extension of the damage is and find the cause of the problem. If dry rot or water damage has occurred, one must check for clogged drain pipes that require clearing and for drainage issues. Elements that are especially subject to damage are posts, beams and joints that are placed at or close to the ground. A deck that is close to the ground may be protected from moisture if a polyethylene sheet is placed underneath it.

If you suspect that an area might have dry rot, you may use a screwdriver or awl to test your suspicion. Soft wood should be replaced as a part of the deck repair process. What dry rot refers to is a fungus that distributes itself through wet wood. When dry rot affects the deck, all boards that have been touched by it must be removed. Not doing so because some may seem affected to a small degree leads to other boards getting infected.

One of the deck repair steps is removing screws or nails. For this, one needs a screwdriver or nail puller. Some screws may be rusty and difficult to extract.

Sometimes boards will suffer a change in shape under the influence of weather conditions. This will lead to an unbalanced walking surface or to nails popping up. Fixing the boards rather than replacing them may be the deck repair measure to be taken. Nails that have popped up should be replaced with longer and thicker nails that ensure a better hold.

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