Deck and fence repair
Soft boards, loose railings, sagging gates and posts that have rotted at ground level. Repaired, resecured and sealed.
What we repair
The parts that matter for safety
Two areas carry the most risk on a deck. The first is the ledger, where the deck attaches to the house. A ledger fixed with nails rather than through-bolts or structural screws, or one without flashing above it, is where water gets in and where failures start.
The second is the railing. A rail has to resist a person falling against it, and that load goes into the posts and their connections, not the rail itself. A rail that flexes when you push it is telling you something about the fixings below it.
Posts at ground level are the third thing to look at. Wood that sits in soil or in a pocket of standing water rots from the outside in, and the damage is often hidden until the post is pushed.
Repair or replace
Isolated damage is a repair. Boards get swapped, rails get resecured, a post gets reset. Where the framing underneath has gone, or the majority of boards are soft, replacing is usually the better use of the money and we will say so rather than keep patching.
Walk the structure
Boards, railings, stairs, posts and what is going on underneath. Soft spots show up with a probe long before they show up to the eye.
Separate safety from cosmetic
Anything structural gets flagged first. Appearance items can wait if budget is a factor.
Price the options
Repair, partial replacement, or rebuild, so you can see what each costs before deciding.
Repair and seal
New material gets fixed with hardware suited to treated lumber, then sealed where appropriate.
What changes the price
Deck and fence repair in Madrid, Boone, Ankeny and Ames
Decks, fences and gates across Boone County, Story County and the rural properties of north central Iowa.
Common questions
How do I know if my deck is still safe?
Push on the railings, look at where the deck meets the house, and check the base of the posts. Movement at the rail, rust streaks at the ledger, or wood that gives under a screwdriver are all worth looking at properly.
Can you match the existing boards?
Usually close. New treated lumber starts out lighter than weathered wood and darkens over a season or two. Where an exact match matters more than cost, replacing a whole run rather than single boards blends better.
Is it worth repairing a fence post, or should it be replaced?
If the rot is confined to the base, a post can sometimes be sistered or reset. If it has spread up the post or the post moves freely, replacing it is the sounder repair.
When should a deck be sealed?
After it has been cleaned and allowed to dry, and in temperatures the product is rated for. New treated lumber usually needs to weather before it will take a finish.
Do you work on composite decking?
Yes. Composite boards do not rot, but the framing underneath them is still timber, and that is often where the problem is.
Do I need a permit?
Repairs normally do not. Structural changes and new construction can, and the rules differ between Madrid, Boone and Ames. Worth a call to your local building department before a larger job.
Tell us what needs doing.
Free estimates anywhere in the service area. The fastest way to reach us is a call or a text.
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We'll get back to you at the number you gave us. If it turns out to be urgent in the meantime, call or text (515) 373-1207 and you'll get a faster answer.
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