Deck -- start over? Or repairs possible?

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Nov 14th, 2020 11:47 pm

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Apr 17th, 2020 3:00 pm

aceofklubs [OP]: Newbie; Apr 6, 2020; 49 posts; 29 upvotes; Halifax

Apr 17th, 2020 3:00 pm

Deck -- start over? Or repairs possible?

Complete newbie when it comes to renos lol.

When we bought the home, one area noted on the home inspection was the deck. Here's what was noted:

- Beam supporting the rear of the deck is two-ply. Inspector said it must be three-ply.
- Support joists are fastened to the side of the building. Joist hangers and 4 inch lag bolts need to be installed for additional support.
- Deck is sagging from front to back. Myself, I noticed the columns were not put into a concrete base, only into the ground.
- Surface boards deteriorated.

With all of this, is it worth it to replace the entire deck, or pick away at the repairs individually? I noticed the homeowners put in a small "addition" to the deck to join the pool to the main deck. I plan on constructing a deck around the pool in the next year or so...very unsure on what to do. My plan was to say "eff it" and start from scratch, but I could also pick away at this by constructing the deck around the pool first, then re-do the main deck portion.

Thoughts? Will be attaching pics for reference.

Images

Controller -- CPA, CMA
HVAC Industry -- Lennox dealer

16 replies

Apr 17th, 2020 3:02 pm

Jerico: Deal Fanatic; Jan 25, 2007; 9960 posts; 5246 upvotes; Paris

Apr 17th, 2020 3:02 pm

Start over and here is why:
Joints attached to house
Wood supports into ground.

That’s 2 major points of potential failure and no way I can easily see to correct those without taking it down.

+5

Apr 17th, 2020 3:03 pm

Jerico: Deal Fanatic; Jan 25, 2007; 9960 posts; 5246 upvotes; Paris

Apr 17th, 2020 3:03 pm

After pics... OMG deck blocks? And that span from house to first beam is too much.

+2

Apr 17th, 2020 3:04 pm

SubjectivelyObjective: Sr. Member; Jun 26, 2019; 966 posts; 710 upvotes

Apr 17th, 2020 3:04 pm

Let's see the pics, but from the sounds of it I would just scrap it and start a new, and probably combine this deck into your new deck.

Assuming you are going to do footings, you're going to have to rip up or move most of the deck anyways. Sounds like your supports also need to be replaced and your boards are in bad shape.

So just based on that, sounds like your whole deck needs to be replaced. Doing it once piece at a time doesn't really make sense to me.

+2

Apr 17th, 2020 3:06 pm

SubjectivelyObjective: Sr. Member; Jun 26, 2019; 966 posts; 710 upvotes

Apr 17th, 2020 3:06 pm

Jerico wrote: ↑ After pics... OMG deck blocks? And that span from house to first beam is too much.

+1, after pics, scrap it and do it right.

+3

Apr 17th, 2020 11:26 pm

tempperm: Sr. Member; Mar 10, 2004; 692 posts; 231 upvotes

Apr 17th, 2020 11:26 pm

SubjectivelyObjective wrote: ↑ Let's see the pics, but from the sounds of it I would just scrap it and start a new, and probably combine this deck into your new deck.

Assuming you are going to do footings, you're going to have to rip up or move most of the deck anyways. Sounds like your supports also need to be replaced and your boards are in bad shape.

So just based on that, sounds like your whole deck needs to be replaced. Doing it once piece at a time doesn't really make sense to me.

I agree. And I m the type of person loathe to touching anything because of money/time. It's really about the footing for me. Because of the span you likely need 2 rows of footings unfortunately.

Apr 18th, 2020 7:01 am

cartfan123: Deal Fanatic; Sep 8, 2007; 9004 posts; 10283 upvotes; Way Out of GTA

Apr 18th, 2020 7:01 am

If you plan to stay there for the longer term I’d probably start from scratch. Make it structurally sound plus aesthetically pleasing.

Using glass Railing and Trex boards could make it look good also. Why rebuild something that looks the same? The all wood deck is sorta dated. So use as a chance to add value thru a modern look.

Mind you all this stuff adds up pretty quick. So make sure you do a budget and ensure compliance with bylaws.

+1

Apr 18th, 2020 7:47 am

CaptSmethwick: Deal Fanatic; Oct 12, 2007; 5250 posts; 2612 upvotes; Ottawa

Apr 18th, 2020 7:47 am

Yup. As much as it sucks, I agree with the above advice on demolition and rebuild. Don't even bother trying to salvage the wood as it is very very tired.

On the positive side, this will let you integrate your AG pool better and potentially give you more pool-side decking.

On the negative, getting a permit for a new deck might call an inspector's attention to the fact that you have a pool in an unfenced backyard. If I were the OP, I would look into the bylaws around fencing off the area around the pool. Halifax might just require a locking gate up to the deck if there's no ladder down to the ground from the pool.

+3

Apr 18th, 2020 8:58 am

aceofklubs [OP]: Newbie; Apr 6, 2020; 49 posts; 29 upvotes; Halifax

Apr 18th, 2020 8:58 am

CaptSmethwick wrote: ↑ Yup. As much as it sucks, I agree with the above advice on demolition and rebuild. Don't even bother trying to salvage the wood as it is very very tired.

On the positive side, this will let you integrate your AG pool better and potentially give you more pool-side decking.

On the negative, getting a permit for a new deck might call an inspector's attention to the fact that you have a pool in an unfenced backyard. If I were the OP, I would look into the bylaws around fencing off the area around the pool. Halifax might just require a locking gate up to the deck if there's no ladder down to the ground from the pool.

Good point. AFAIK, the deck was original to the house and the pool is 2 years old...I'm starting to learn the hard way that the previous owners did a poor job of maintaining things although I hear it's par for the course around here.

The good news is, where I live (just outside Halifax) there's no bylaws for fencing. Bad news is, still need a permit.

Better get cracking on this quick if I want to enjoy it for summer I guess. Thanks everyone...confirmed my thoughts.

Controller -- CPA, CMA
HVAC Industry -- Lennox dealer

Apr 18th, 2020 10:06 am

MrFrugal1: Deal Addict; Jan 2, 2012; 3684 posts; 2644 upvotes; KINGSTON,ON

Apr 18th, 2020 10:06 am

cartfan123 wrote: ↑ Using glass Railing and Trex boards could make it look good also. Why rebuild something that looks the same?

Yikes. You just doubled the cost of the build.

Apr 18th, 2020 10:16 am

MrFrugal1: Deal Addict; Jan 2, 2012; 3684 posts; 2644 upvotes; KINGSTON,ON

Apr 18th, 2020 10:16 am

aceofklubs wrote: ↑ Good point. AFAIK, the deck was original to the house and the pool is 2 years old...I'm starting to learn the hard way that the previous owners did a poor job of maintaining things although I hear it's par for the course around here.

The good news is, where I live (just outside Halifax) there's no bylaws for fencing. Bad news is, still need a permit.

Better get cracking on this quick if I want to enjoy it for summer I guess. Thanks everyone...confirmed my thoughts.

Make absolutely sure there is no bylaw regarding pool enclosure/locking gate/fencing. It could be a major PITA to retrofit if the inspector shows up and suddenly realises it's not just a deck. Most regions (even in small communities) have adopted modern codes requiring at least one of those aspects. The deck bylaw will probably be in lock step with the Nova Scotia Building Code for most elements of the structure ( framing member sizes and spans, fasteners, guards and handrails), with local codes added to the mix for things like pier depth. Where I am in Ontario, the pier depth requirement is four feet.

+1

Apr 18th, 2020 10:20 am

t3359: Deal Expert; Dec 26, 2005; 16934 posts; 1784 upvotes; Thornhill

Apr 18th, 2020 10:20 am

I think a few mistakes were made in the first steps of building the deck. To fix those, you gotta start from the beginning again. I think you’d be better off scrapping it.

Wear a mask if you’re going to chop up PT lumber.

bjl

What we do in life echoes in Eternity... and in Google cache.
RFD discounts for Schluter products

+2

Apr 18th, 2020 12:34 pm

MrFrugal1: Deal Addict; Jan 2, 2012; 3684 posts; 2644 upvotes; KINGSTON,ON

Apr 18th, 2020 12:34 pm

t3359 wrote: ↑ Wear a mask if you’re going to chop up PT lumber.
bjl

Also, don't burn that PT lumber in a fire pit; it's hazardous waste and needs to go to landfill.
Older PT lumber was treated with CCA, or chromated copper arsenate, and you can be poisoned by doing so.

+2

Apr 18th, 2020 12:34 pm

Jerico: Deal Fanatic; Jan 25, 2007; 9960 posts; 5246 upvotes; Paris

Apr 18th, 2020 12:34 pm

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Yikes. You just doubled the cost of the build.

Doubled? The glass railing is incredibly expensive. And when I did mine (in 2008 which is a while ago) trek 4xed my decking. Just the decking was more than the project budget.

+1

Nov 13th, 2020 12:59 pm

Katedontbreak: Sr. Member; Aug 29, 2019; 749 posts; 313 upvotes

Nov 13th, 2020 12:59 pm

Jerico wrote: ↑ After pics... OMG deck blocks? And that span from house to first beam is too much.

but yet this monstrosity stood for what ....looks like it's at least 20 years old. Isn't that the typical lifespan of a properly built standard pt deck?

Nov 13th, 2020 10:55 pm

User452441: Sr. Member; Oct 22, 2016; 663 posts; 563 upvotes; Comox Valley

Nov 13th, 2020 10:55 pm

Without a doubt, scrap it, and start new. With this PANDEMIC, start looking for, and buying your lumber now, if you get a good deal on it,

Nov 14th, 2020 11:47 pm

rocking23nf: Deal Guru; May 29, 2006; 10261 posts; 2818 upvotes

Nov 14th, 2020 11:47 pm

i think some of the comments on here are a bit overboard, is it code? probably not, was it when it was built? it might have been.

i have a cabin that is from the 60s built on wood blocks sitting on concrete pavers, its a 24x24 A frame with a upper floor. its 60 years old and still going strong.

its not like a double 2x8 is just going to one day snap in half, maybe if you put 80 people out on the deck.

is the deck sagging? wobbly? rotten?

its certainly showing its age, but unless that beam is showing signs of failing (hard to tell from the photo), i wouldnt be rushing to the store to replace the deck unless you hate the deck.

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