Deck Repair in Fort Collins
Boards are cosmetic. The framing underneath is the safety question, and that is the first thing I look at, because there is no point putting new boards onto a structure that is going.
Every deck repair starts underneath, not on top.
Framing first, always
Boards are cosmetic. Joists, posts and the ledger are structural. Putting fresh decking onto a frame that is failing is money spent making something dangerous look better, and it is the one outcome I actively want to avoid.
So the first thing I do on any deck job is get underneath and look at the framing, the post bases, and the connection to the house. That assessment is free and it happens before I quote anything.
The ledger
The ledger is the board that bolts your deck to the house, and it carries a large share of the load. It is also where decks fail catastrophically, generally through water getting behind it and rotting either the ledger or the house framing behind it, often invisibly behind siding.
Ledger work is outside my scope. It is a general contractor job. If I see rot there, corroded fasteners or any movement, I will tell you plainly and stop, because that is not a repair to work around.
What I do fix
Boards. Soft, split, cupped or splintering ones, at $35 each once I am on site. New timber will not match weathered timber straight away, and it evens out over a season, faster if the whole deck is stained afterwards.
Popped boards. Re-secured with screws rather than nails driven back down. Nails work loose again through freeze and thaw cycles; screws do not.
Railings. A wobbling railing is a safety item, not an annoyance. Usually the posts rather than the rail itself. Some are a straightforward re-fix, some turn out to be structural, and I will tell you which after I have looked.
Stain, and when
Every two to three years in this climate. Altitude UV, dry air and big temperature swings are hard on horizontal timber, which takes far more punishment than a fence does.
Timing matters more than people think. Late spring or early autumn, a dry stretch either side, moderate temperature, and not in blazing direct sun. In a Colorado summer that means starting early in the day and following the shade around.
What is included
- Checking the framing, ledger and posts before quoting any board work.
- Replacing soft, split or cupped boards, matched as closely as stock allows.
- Re-securing boards that have popped, with screws rather than re-driven nails.
- Making railings solid, including posts that move when you lean on them.
- Replacing individual balusters and rail sections.
- Sanding back rough and splintered areas.
- Cleaning, then staining and sealing.
What it costs
| Job | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board replacement, each | $35 | Plus the minimum call-out for the visit |
| Re-secure popped boards, per deck | $125 to $210 | Screwed rather than re-nailed |
| Railing made solid | $150 to $340 | Depends how many posts have moved |
| Sand and stain, standard deck | $340 to $640 | Half to full day. Weather dependent |
| Framing assessment | free | Part of quoting any deck job |
Full rates, block pricing and the minimum call-out are on the pricing page.
I repair deck surfaces and railings. I do not do structural deck work, and the ledger board where the deck attaches to the house is specifically outside my scope. It is also the connection that fails most often and most dangerously. If I see rot at the ledger, corroded fasteners or movement in the posts, I will tell you it needs a contractor rather than covering it with new boards.
What I do not do here
- Rebuilding or replacing a deck structure.
- Any work on the ledger connection to the house, which is the most common structural failure point.
- New decks, deck extensions, or anything needing a permit.
- Stairs rebuilt, as opposed to a tread replaced.
- Decks I judge unsafe. I will tell you and stop.
Who to call instead: a general contractor or deck builder for structural repairs, ledger work, stairs and anything permitted.
The full list is on what I do not do.
How it works
- Send a photo. Text or email a picture. Most jobs get priced without a site visit.
- Get a flat price. Written and fixed before I start.
- I show up and finish. On the day I said, parts in the truck, swept up after.
Why a solo operator
The same person quotes the job, does the job and cleans up after it. There is no call centre, no dispatcher and no rotating crew who have not seen your house. The price you were given is the price, because the person who quoted it is the person holding the tools.
Related work
Deck repair questions
Is my deck worth repairing?
It depends on the framing, not the boards. Sound joists and posts with tired decking is very much worth repairing, and it is a fraction of a rebuild. Soft joists, movement in the posts, or rot where the deck meets the house means you are looking at a contractor and a rebuild, and I will tell you that rather than selling you boards.
What is the ledger and why do you keep mentioning it?
It is the board bolting the deck to your house, and it carries a large share of the load. It is also the single most common point of catastrophic deck failure, usually through rot or corroded fasteners hidden behind the siding. It is outside my scope, and if it looks wrong I will stop and tell you.
My railing wobbles. Is that serious?
Take it seriously. A railing is the thing between somebody and a fall, and most wobble comes from the posts rather than the rail. Sometimes it is a straightforward re-fix and sometimes the post connection has failed, which is structural. I will tell you which after looking.
When should a deck be stained?
Every two to three years here. Late spring or early autumn is ideal. It needs a dry stretch, moderate temperature and no direct blazing sun on the surface while it goes down, which in a Colorado summer means starting early.
Can you replace just a few boards?
Yes, and it is $35 a board once I am there. Matching is the honest caveat: new timber will not match weathered timber immediately. It settles in over a season, and staining the whole deck afterwards evens it out much faster.