Deck Post Repair · CSLB #1060736
Commercial Deck Post Repair in California
We repair and replace the posts under decks, balconies and walkways for apartment communities, condominium associations and HOAs in the Bay Area, Central Valley, and Sacramento. A post carries the load of the beam above it down to the footing, so deck post repair starts with holding that load on temporary shoring, then deals with the post, its base and its connection to the beam as one job.
- CSLB #1060736 Licensed California contractor
- 9+ yrs Repairing deck structure on occupied buildings
- Shored first Beam supported before any post comes out
- Commercial & HOA Apartments, condominiums & HOA communities
01 Why it matters
The bottom of a deck post is where the code, the hardware and the water all meet
The California Building Code has a specific rule for posts that stand on a slab or footing in direct contact with the earth. Section 2304.12.2.2 requires such posts to be naturally durable or pressure-treated wood, unless all three conditions are met: the post is not exposed to the weather, it stands on a concrete pier or metal pedestal at least 1 inch above the slab with an impervious moisture barrier, and it is at least 8 inches above exposed earth. A deck post standing in the open, with no roof or overhang over it, does not meet the first condition.
The hardware is built around the same point. Simpson Strong-Tie describes its AB-series adjustable post bases as giving a 1-inch standoff for the post and says that standoff helps keep the end of the post dry. The American Wood Protection Association’s Colin McCown notes that wood near or in contact with soil is especially vulnerable to water damage, and that wood at 20 to 30 percent moisture is wet enough to deteriorate.
So when we repair rotted deck post bases, replacing the wood is half the job. The new post goes on a standoff base, the footing under it is checked, and soil and mulch are kept off the base. That way the new post does not go back into the conditions the old one stood in.
A new post on the same wet base is the old problem with new wood. The base and the footing are part of the repair.
02 The D&B difference
What we check on every post before we touch it
Top, bottom and face
We probe the base for soft wood, look for splits along the face, and check the connection at the beam. Each post on the deck gets its own line in the report.
Shoring goes in first
No post comes out until the beam is carried on adjustable steel shoring set on timber pads. The shoring stays until the new post and its connections are complete.
The footing is part of the job
With the post out, we check the footing it stood on. A post bearing on a cracked or undersized footing gets a footing repair before the new post goes in.
03 · Service Areas
Where We Work in California
Every city links to a dedicated local page — crews, recent projects and compliance details for that area.
Sacramento Metro
20 cities
East Bay
28 cities
North Bay
14 cities
Central Valley
13 cities
South Bay & Peninsula
27 cities
Don’t see your city? We likely still cover it — call (916) 848-2728.
04 How a project runs
How we repair deck posts, from shoring to the final connection
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01
Assessment
A free walk-through within a week. Every post is probed at the base, checked for splits and plumb, and its beam connection is inspected.
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02
Quote
Itemized within five business days: posts to replace, footings to repair, connectors and shoring listed separately.
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03
Shoring
Adjustable steel shores on timber pads take the beam load on each side of the post.
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04
Removal and footing
The damaged post comes out, and the footing below is checked and repaired where needed.
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05
New post
A pressure-treated post set in a standoff post base on the footing and fastened to the beam with a manufactured connector.
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06
Close-out
Shoring removed, soil and mulch pulled back from the base, and the post painted to match where the property asks.
05 Scope
What our deck support repair covers
Posts Bases and footings Connections
- Replacement of rotted, split and damaged posts
- New pressure-treated posts sized for the beam they carry
- Temporary shoring of the beam during the work
- Galvanized standoff post bases on concrete footings
- Footing repair or replacement under failed posts
- Soil and mulch cleared from post bases
- Post-to-beam connectors replaced or added
- Field-cut ends of pressure-treated posts finished per AWPA M4
- Beam checked at each post for soundness and bearing
Built to current code: CBC 2304.12.2.2 posts and columns · CBC 2304.12.2.6 wood in contact with the ground · CRC R507.3, R507.4 and R507.4.1 footings, posts and post-to-footing restraint where the Residential Code applies · Health & Safety Code 17973 (SB 721) exterior elevated elements
06 Investment
What sets the price of deck post repair
Pricing follows a free walk-through, with every post listed by condition.
What sets the number
- Number of posts to replace
- Post height and the beam each post carries
- Footing repair under the posts
- Connectors at the base and the beam
- Shoring needed for each post
- Access under the deck and around landscaping
Why posts are priced one by one: some posts need new wood, some need a new base, and some need nothing. Pricing each post apart keeps the work on the ones that need it.
Final pricing follows an on-site assessment. Request a free estimate — no obligation.
In the field
Rotted bases, split posts, shoring and new connections
Deck posts at multifamily properties before, during and after repair.
07 Project example
A recent post repair under ground-floor apartment decks
The property called after a resident noticed a post that looked dark at the bottom. Several post bases where mulch had been piled against the wood had gone soft. We shored the beams, replaced the decayed posts and the split one with new pressure-treated posts on standoff bases, added post caps at the beam, and pulled the mulch back from every pier.
One post looked bad. They checked all of them, found the others before they got worse, and the deck never had to be closed. Property Manager · California apartment community
08 Case studies
Recent Projects, Documented
Real commercial properties — what the building needed, what we did, and what it delivered.
Deck ConstructionPatio Deck & Post Base Replacement Across a Bungalow Community — San RafaelDeck-by-deck replacement across a courtyard community, driven by the one detail that failed first — posts set straight…View case study 
Deck RepairElevated Restaurant Dining Deck Restoration — SaratogaA multi-level hillside dining deck taken from failing boards and moisture-damaged connections back to a sound, sealed structure…View case study 
WaterproofingElevated Walkway & Balcony Waterproofing — 40-Unit Apartment Community, Rio LindaDry rot had opened holes straight through the walkway decks. We shored the spans, rebuilt the framing underneath,…View case study 09 Client feedback
What property managers say
One post looked bad. They checked all of them, found the others before they got worse, and the deck never had to be closed.
The shoring went in the first morning, before anyone touched a post.
Our old posts sat right on the concrete. The new ones stand on steel bases, and the landscaper knows to keep the mulch off them.
10 FAQ
Questions about rotted, cracked and split deck posts
What does repairing rotted deck posts involve?
On our projects, a post with decay at the base is replaced with a new full-length pressure-treated post on a standoff base. The beam is shored first, and the footing under the post is checked while it is out.
How do you fix a rotted deck post at the base?
To fix rotted deck post bases, we remove the post, check the footing, and set the new post in a galvanized standoff post base. Simpson Strong-Tie says a 1-inch standoff helps keep the end of the post dry. Soil and mulch are cleared from the base so the wood stays dry.
Does a crack in a deck post need repair?
Not always. A check is a crack along the post that forms as wood dries. STRUCTURE magazine’s article on seasoning checks says they do not affect the design strength of a member in axial compression, such as a post, unless a check becomes a through-split. Where a check reaches a connection, the fasteners’ hold should be checked. The Western Wood Preservers Institute advises against filling checks with caulk, which can trap moisture.
Can you repair a split deck post?
A split runs through the post from one face to another. The STRUCTURE article notes that splits along the length are more often caused by excessive structural loads, so we replace a split post and check the load on it before the new one goes in.
Do deck posts have to sit above the concrete?
The code does not require a standoff for a pressure-treated post. For posts on footings in direct contact with the earth, CBC 2304.12.2.2 requires naturally durable or pressure-treated wood, and lets other wood be used only if the post is protected from weather, stands on a pier or pedestal at least 1 inch above the slab with an impervious moisture barrier, and is at least 8 inches above exposed earth. On our projects, exterior posts are pressure-treated and also set on standoff bases.
Are deck posts part of an SB 721 inspection?
Health and Safety Code 17973 defines exterior elevated elements, such as balconies, decks and walkways more than six feet above ground, to include their supports. If an inspector finds an immediate threat to safety, the law classes it as an emergency, and shoring and emergency repairs are among the measures it names.
What decides the price of the work?
The number of posts, their height, footing work, connectors and shoring. We price each post after a free walk-through.
Do you offer deck post repair near me?
We do. Our crews work on apartment, condo and HOA decks from the Bay Area to Sacramento and the Central Valley. Call (916) 848-2728 and we will set up a post-by-post walk-through.
11 Start here
Repair deck posts on your property — book a free post-by-post walk-through in California
Send photos of the post bases and the beam connections, and tell us how many decks sit on posts. We walk every post within a week, and the written price for each one follows within five business days.
CSLB #1060736 · 9+ years · Insured & Bonded · Commercial, multifamily & HOA properties across the Bay Area, Central Valley & Sacramento