Your deck is more than just some boards nailed together. It is where you grill out as well as relax with family. You also enjoy those warm weather months we get here in Duluth on your deck. When your deck starts showing its age, you have a decision to make. You can go for a quick fix, or you can commit to something more substantial. We have seen a lot of decks come and go around Duluth. The right choice depends on a few things for your Duluth Custom Decks project.
Option 1: Spot Repair & Individual Board Replacement
This option is exactly what it sounds like. You might have a few warped boards. You might also have some splinters popping up. Sometimes a section is just looking rough. You pull out the bad ones and put in new ones. This is often the first thing folks consider for their Duluth Custom Decks. It seems like the easiest as well as the cheapest route.
Cost
Initially, spot repairs are definitely lighter on the wallet. Replacing a few boards might run you anywhere from $200 to $600. This depends on the material as well as how many boards you are swapping out. If you are handy and just need to replace a few pressure-treated planks, you might even do it for $200-$500. It is a quick hit to the budget, not a gut punch for your Duluth Custom Decks.
Durability
Here is where it gets tricky for your Duluth Custom Decks. This is especially true with our Duluth weather. Our freeze-thaw cycles are brutal on wood. Heavy snow loads also cause problems. The Lake Superior humidity is also very hard on wood. If you are just replacing a few boards on an older deck, those new boards are going to stick out. More importantly, if the underlying issue is not addressed, you are just putting a band-aid on a bigger wound. This underlying issue could be widespread rot. It could also be structural problems. You might fix one spot. You could then have another problem pop up somewhere else next season.
Maintenance
You will still have to maintain the whole deck. This includes the new boards as well as the old boards. That means regular cleaning, staining, and sealing. This is especially true if it is wood. Those new boards might take stain differently. Getting a consistent look can be a real headache. If you are dealing with persistent mold or algae growth, cleaning individual sections will not solve the recurring problem. This growth is common in our humid summers in Duluth.
Appearance
Unless you are a magician, those new boards probably will not perfectly match the old ones. Wood weathers and fades over time. You will likely have a patchwork look. If aesthetics are important to you, this can be a real downer for your Duluth Custom Decks. It might look