Identify All Damaged Areas
The first step that you need to do when undertaking a deck repair project is to identify all of the damaged areas. The damaged areas may seem obvious at first glance, but the truth is that there could be many hidden portions of damage that you don’t see as well.
Make sure that you also get under the deck so that you can evaluate whether there is any damage to the structural supports. If this is the case, then you’ll also have to include support beams to the list of materials that you need to repair your deck.
Measure the Damaged Portions
The next step is to measure out the damaged portions. As the old saying goes, if you want to be an efficient DIYer, you need to learn how to measure twice so that you cut once.
Break out your tape measure and figure out what the dimensions of the damaged planking and support beams are. That way, you can use this information to cut the new materials exactly to length. If you do the job right, you won’t have to do any amateurish jerry-rigging to make the new pieces fit together with the old.
Make a Cut to Cleanly Remove Damage
Once you have everything properly measured, the next step is to make a clean cut to remove the damage. It’s important that you cut exactly according to your measurements.
While cutting, there are many things that could accidentally go wrong. That’s why it is uber-important that you wear appropriate safety gear as you make the cuts. Put on eye protection, heavy gloves that can withstand some pressure, work boots, and tough jeans. Don’t wear anything that you would be sad to part with, as clothing can easily get torn on ripped during woodwork.
Cut and Install New Deck Boards
Now that you have the old stuff out of the way, it’s time to bring in the new materials! Cut everything to size as you have already measured, then use your fastener of choice (dowels, wood glue, screws, etc.) in order to get the materials locked together.
How to Repair Your Deck, Made Simple
There you have it—with this super-simple guide to deck repair, there’s no excuse for you to still have a broken deck in the backyard. This project may be a little time-consuming, but fixing your deck can ultimately be a very rewarding experience.
For more home improvement advice, be sure to take some time to check out the rest of the articles on our website.
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