Decks wear out slowly, so problems tend to go unnoticed until they're serious. In Ontario, freeze-thaw cycles, UV exposure and wet springs are especially rough on wood decks.
Here are 7 warning signs your deck needs repair and should be looked at by a professional.
1. Soft or Spongy Boards Underfoot
Walk the deck slowly and press down on the boards as you go. If one feels soft or springy, or gives more than solid wood should, that's rot. Rotted boards are a structural and safety problem. They can break under someone's weight with no warning.
2. Visible Rot at Post Bases
Posts that sit on or close to the ground are the most vulnerable part of a deck. Push a screwdriver into the base of each one. If it goes in easily, the wood is rotten. One bad post can make the whole deck lean, or bring it down.
3. Ledger Board Issues
The ledger board is what ties your deck to the house. If it's pulling away, rotting, or the flashing is letting water get in behind it, you have a structural problem and a moisture problem at the same time. Don't put this one off.
4. Loose or Missing Fasteners
Years of expansion and contraction work nails and screws loose. Loose boards and railings are how people get hurt. Look for boards that rock when you step on them, fasteners that have popped up and railings that wobble.
5. Cracked, Splitting, or Checked Wood
Small surface checks along the grain are normal as a wood deck ages, and they're mostly cosmetic. Deep splits, cracks that go right through the board, or cracks running across the grain point to structural weakness. You need to know which kind you're looking at.
6. Grey, Dry, or Peeling Finish
Once the stain or sealer fails, nothing is keeping moisture out of the wood. It goes grey first. Checking and splitting come next. In Ontario's climate, an unprotected deck breaks down 3 to 4 times faster than one that's properly sealed.
7. The Deck Shifts or Bounces
A well-built deck shouldn't flex or shift in any way you can feel when you walk across it. If yours does, you could have loose connections, heaved footings or damaged structural members. That calls for a full inspection.
Seeing any of these signs? Call (289) 928-5689 for a free deck assessment. Fixing a structural problem early always costs far less than replacing the whole deck.
Owner of Handy Man And Home Repairs. 16 years in construction, 15 of them as a Home Inspector. Works across Durham Region, Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland.