Commercial Worn Deck Repair in California

The framing decides that more than the boards do. If the joists, beams and connections are sound and most boards are worn only at the surface, we restore old deck surfaces by replacing the boards that are past saving and sanding and refinishing the rest. If the framing is decayed across much of the deck, new boards on it would not last, and replacement is the better spend.

A walk of the deck to map the wear, boards lifted where the surface stays damp, framing repairs where needed, replacement of failed boards, new screws in place of popped nails, cleaning, sanding, and a finish applied over the whole deck. On a property with many decks, we do the same for each one and quote them separately.

Often, yes. Weathering from sun and rain affects a thin layer at the surface, so a grey, rough board that is still firm usually sands back to sound wood. We repair weathered deck boards this way when they are not split through and not soft. Boards that are cupped, split along their length or soft when probed are replaced.

Boards take on water and dry out over and over, swelling and shrinking each time, and that slowly works nails out of the joists. When fixing an old deck, hammering them back in does not hold for long. When repairing old decks, we pull popped nails and fasten the boards with deck screws.

California’s building codes do not require a permit for ordinary repairs, but that exemption does not cover removing or cutting a structural beam or load-bearing support. Replacing deck boards and refinishing usually falls under ordinary repair, while replacing joists, beams, posts or the ledger usually needs a permit. Each city and county applies the rules in its own way, so we confirm with them and handle the permit when one is required.

Industry stopped using CCA, a preservative that contains arsenic, in lumber for decks after December 31, 2003, so decks built before 2004 may have it. The EPA does not call for removing existing CCA decks. When we repair decking of that age, we follow the EPA’s precautions: dust masks, goggles and gloves when sanding or cutting, dust and offcuts collected and disposed of, and no burning of scrap.

On worn boards, we use penetrating stains and sealers on sanded wood. They soak into the boards and wear down gradually, so they can be renewed without stripping. Film-forming coatings such as paint sit on top of the wood, and on a traffic lane they tend to wear through and peel. On CCA pressure-treated decks, the EPA notes that regular coats of a penetrating finish, such as an oil-based semi-transparent stain, may reduce how much of the chemical leaves the wood.

No. The inspections under SB 721 and SB 326 cover exterior elevated elements, such as balconies and decks, with a walking surface more than six feet above the ground. A low patio deck is outside that scope. On the same property, upper balconies and elevated decks usually are covered, and we can repair both in one program.

On townhome and condominium communities, a ground-floor patio deck often serves as a resident’s backyard, and repairing those decks is the work described on this page. For other kinds of property, a call or a few photos of the deck are usually enough for us to say whether the job fits what our crews do.

We work across the Bay Area, Central Valley and Sacramento, with free property assessments scheduled within a week. Repairs, carpentry, permitting and finishing come from one CSLB-licensed contractor (#1060736). Call (916) 848-2728 and give us the city, and we will tell you when we can walk the decks.