Your home’s outdoor deck is an essential part of your home, bringing together both the outdoor and indoor spaces. Even if your deck is already soundly built, it still experiences a fair bit of wear and tear from the elements. How could you know if it is time for a new deck, or if it just needs a smaller repair? Inspecting key aspects of your deck will help you determine whether it is safe or if you need to contact a decking contractor. Keeping this in mind, we have written a list of five areas of the deck for critical assessment. Here are some ways to tell if you need to install a new deck.

Materials

Your deck’s condition and signs of wear will show a bit differently depending on the material used for the construction process. Composite and vinyl decking experience fading, while wood decks near the end of their life cycle show insect damage and warping. Knowing your decking material and common surface damages associated with it can help you determine if a quick repair or more severe replacement project is the best course of action.

Posts

You will have to replace your deck posts if you dig out any dirt or find rot or water damage at the very base. You could replace one or two posts without tearing the whole deck down. But if the issue persists in every single post, it may be time to start over with a new deck. Make sure your deck posts are secured into concrete footings, and these posts haven’t moved or shifted off the surface of the footings. This goes for any deck, but especially if the deck is in an elevated structure.

Joists

Joists hold your deck floor stiff and leveled. They have to be correctly sized and spaced for load, which your professional decking contractor could calculate. This is not a project that should be done without assistance. The old-fashioned approach of notched deck joists is no longer considered sound or reliable and has been replaced with the current use of galvanized metal hangers for joists.

Railings

Look out for rot and water damage. An unsteady railing in need of repairs can be very dangerous, especially with people leaning and sitting on railings.

Age

If you complete all the other steps and notice no damage, but your deck is currently six years or older, call for a professional inspection. An older deck is much more prone to elemental surface damage, whether it is from foot traffic or the elements. Set up an annual decking inspection to ensure your safety.

Trust Eastern Shore Porch and Patio

When you embark on your next project for your property, trust Eastern Shore Porch and Patio to help. We service Bethany Beach, Ocean City, Lewes, Salisbury, and the Delmarva area. You can request a quote today! If you have questions or concerns, call us at 302-436-9520 or send us an email at info@esvinylproducts.com. For updates and ideas, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube.