Deck Repair 101: When to Patch, When to Replace
Deck Repairs 101: When to Patch, When to Replace
If your deck’s starting to feel soft underfoot or the railings seem a little shaky, you’re not alone. Between Midwest winters and humid summers, decks in the Iowa City area take a beating. The big question is: do you fix what’s there, or is it time to rebuild?
Here’s how we help homeowners figure that out.
Components of a typical residential deck
When a Repair Makes Sense
A lot of deck issues can be handled without a full replacement — especially if the main structure is still in good shape.
Repairs are usually the right call when:
Only a handful of boards are cracked, cupped, or rotting
Railings are wobbly, but the posts are still solid
Stairs creak but the stringers are sound
Screws or nails are popping but the wood isn’t failing
Water damage is limited to one area
In these cases, we can often swap out boards, tighten fasteners, add bracing, and clean things up — giving your deck a fresh lease on life without a full rebuild.
Example of a few selected boards, replaced with Cedar for better fit and instant ability to seal/paint
What Affects the Lifespan of Your Deck’s Structure
Not all decks age the same — and there are a few clues that can help you estimate how healthy your substructure might be.
Here’s what we consider:
Age of the deck:
Decks over 20 years old, especially those built before modern treated lumber standards, are more likely to have underlying issues — even if they’ve been patched before.Height off the ground:
Most decks that sit five feet or more off the ground tend to fare better, since airflow underneath helps keep moisture from settling. They’re also easier to visually inspect for sagging joists, rot, or shifting hardware — a huge plus when evaluating options.Proximity to the ground:
Lower decks can trap humidity and debris, especially if there’s limited ventilation or drainage. That moisture speeds up rot and deterioration, even if the surface looks fine.Drainage and slope:
If the yard tends to stay wet around the deck or if water pools underneath, the framing might be at risk — especially over time or through freeze-thaw cycles.Visible signs of algae or mildew:
A little algae buildup doesn’t always mean a deck is failing — but it does show where moisture is lingering. Those areas are worth keeping an eye on, and they may need attention sooner than others if rot starts to set in.Material used:
Some older decks were built with untreated or minimally treated lumber, which may not hold up as well — even if the surface boards have been replaced in the meantime.Maintenance history:
Decks that haven’t been sealed regularly or maintained tend to show signs of deterioration earlier, especially in our climate.
If your deck checks several of these boxes — especially age, ground proximity, and visible wear — it’s a good idea to approach repairs with a little more caution.
When It’s Time to Replace
It’s safe to say, if you’re seeing this, you’ll be replacing at LEAST the boards, and probably most of the substructure.
If the deck’s bones are failing, repairs won’t hold for long — and sometimes they can even make things less safe.
You’re likely looking at a replacement if:
The support posts are rotting, cracked, or leaning
Joists are undersized, splitting, or sagging
The ledger board isn’t properly attached to the house
A large percentage of the boards are damaged
Railing posts are pulling away from the structure
The whole deck feels bouncy, sloped, or unstable
In these cases, rebuilding (fully or partially) is usually the smarter, safer move — and it gives you a chance to bring the deck up to modern code.
Our Take
We usually say: if more than a third of the deck needs work, it’s worth looking at a rebuild. But if it’s mostly surface-level issues, a solid repair can buy you years of safe, usable space.
What We Look For
When we work on a deck, we’re not just replacing what’s broken — we’re making sure the entire structure feels better than before. That means:
Checking for hidden movement, rot, or fastener failure
Adding bracing where needed to eliminate wobble
Matching boards and fasteners for a clean, consistent look
Cutting and sealing exposed ends to prevent future rot
To eliminate side-to-side sway on this elevated deck, we installed V-bracing between the joists using pressure-treated lumber. This simple structural upgrade significantly improves stability and peace of mind without requiring a full rebuild.
It’s not about doing the bare minimum — it’s about leaving things solid.
Not Sure What You Need?
That’s normal. Many homeowners aren’t confident if what’s going on with their deck is a serious issue, or not — and we don’t expect you to know.
We offer thoughtful, no-pressure assessments that start with a few questions and request for photos. If it looks like something worth digging into further, we’ll let you know. But you’ll never be left guessing — and you won’t get pulled into an unnecessary site visit just to be “sold.”
Reach out here to start the conversation. We’ll help you figure out what makes sense for your space, timeline, and budget.
