Design & DIY 6 signs you need to repair or replace your deck By Allan Britnell Published: March 25, 2021 Updated: October 7, 2022 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Photo by Renamarie/Shutterstock Dodgy deck boards If you have the odd missing or severely rotted deck board, you might be able to replace it with new lumber. But large areas of rot in multiple spots could indicate that the deck has reached the end of its life. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Photo by danceswithwords/Shutterstock Cupping and warping If you have deck boards that are curving up and pooling water in the middle, remove and reinstall them so the hump is on the upper side and will help shed water. Splinters can be sanded down, but you should re-stain the deck boards so they don’t dry out and crack further. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Photo by JustinG88/Shutterstock Loose ledger board In most cases, a deck is attached to the home or cottage with a ledger board — a horizontal piece of lumber that’s tied into the building’s framing. Inspect from above and, if possible, from below to make sure this key framing member is securely fastened to the structure. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Photo by Tricia Daniel/Shutterstock Railing repairs Inspect your entire railing for missing vertical pickets or wobbly sections. Reinforce any loose sections. Note that the gaps between pickets should be no more than 4”-wide to prevent a young child being able to squeeze through. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Photo by Margoe Edwards/Shutterstock Postal code Inspect each support post for signs of rot, and to make sure that the hardware connecting the post to the deck and footing is secure. If the deck is on concrete footings, check to make sure that frost hasn’t shifted them on an angle and that the supporting soil hasn’t eroded away. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Photo by alexmisu/Shutterstock Stair repair Inspect each stair tread, section of railing, and the stringers — the angled framing that supports the stairway — for signs of rot and loose fasteners. Tighten or replace as needed. Each step should be of a uniform height (the rise) and depth (the run) within ¼” variation in order to avoid a tripping hazard. View in Fullscreen Related galleries These cottages maximize every square inch with built-in storage Restoring this cedar log cabin on Lake Huron was a labour of love Let the light in: 5 ways Cottage Life readers brightened their outhouses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 signs you need to repair or replace your deck As the snow melts away, it can unveil an ugly sight: the decrepit state of your deck. Here are six areas to check to this spring to determine if you need to repair or replace your deck. Featured Video Related Story 7 ways to fix your cold floors Related Articles Here’s what’s on the Cottage Coach’s holiday list this year General 4 tricks to restore scratched furniture Design & DIY Cottage Q&A: Is there a substitute for creosote? Design & DIY Gift guide: The best cottage blankets to gift this season Design & DIY