Updating Old Deck Material

Updating an old deck by replacing certain areas and keeping the frame is a great idea to rejuvenate the look and enhance the sturdiness.

Over time a deck will age.  Pressure treated wood, if not maintained properly, will rot.  Wood rails and wood floor boards can splinter, causing safety issues which are especially concerning when the deck is around a pool because people will be walking around barefoot.   Floor boards can heave and split the wood or pull out hardware causing not only safety concerns but durability issues as well.  Rails will also eventually rot and loosen as the hardware attached weakens from structural movements.  Older styles and cheaper styles of composite decking may fade over time.  The hardware may push depending on the stability of the ground and what the frame sits on.

Most projects that involve choosing a material style and color will usually be priced depending on what you choose.  With decking, you can either chose between pressure treated or composite wood.  Pressure treated wood will be least expensive and you need to stain and or seal it every year or so to protect it.  Composite wood is basically maintenance free.  Depending on the manufacturer, there is a variety of styles and a variety of colors that are available.  There are plenty of different manufacturers to choose from.  You can even mix and match the floor boards and railing. Many people use wood floor board and a vinyl railing.

When it comes to railing there are even more choices.  The materials you can choose from include wood, vinyl, composite, aluminum and even glass.  The materials on the railing can even be mixed, such as having vinyl posts and aluminum balusters.

Adding on to an existing deck is also an option in some cases.  An extension of the frame or a separate frame would have to be installed but in many cases in is possible to add on without removing an existing frame.

If you have an existing deck then you should be able to keep the frame if it was built well.  By being able to keep the frame you will save thousands of dollars.