Do you have an aging wood deck that’s starting to fall apart? I’m sure you are wondering how to tear down your aging wood deck, so Just Rubbish Removal has put together a guide below.
A new wooden deck can last a decade or longer if it’s well-maintained. If it wasn’t, now it’s time to get rid of it and get a new one put in.
Signs It’s Time to Tear Down Your Aging Wood Deck
Soft Spots Require You Tear Down Your Aging Deck
If you see dark brown or green soft spots on the boards of your deck, it can be a sign it’s time to replace them. When soft spots have been found, it means the wood underneath has most likely rotted. You can test this by poking it with a screwdriver to get an idea of what’s going on.
How to Fix that Aging Wood Deck:
1. Start by cleaning the damaged area with a stiff brush. This will remove any loose paint or rotten wood. Follow this step with medium grit sandpaper and shave off any remaining splinters.
2. Once you have removed the rotten wood, apply deck cleaner to the area. If the wood is unfinished now from the paint being removed, apply a deck stripper if the wood is finished. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions so you are using the product safely and effectively.
For most products, you will let the cleaner or stripper sit on the wood for about 10 to 15 minutes. After sitting, scrub the wood with a stiff brush and then rinse off the product with a water hose. Then, allow the wood to dry.
3. Scoop wood filler out of the tub with a putty knife. If your filler product comes in a tube, it will need to be mixed with a hardening agent. Squeeze the filler onto a disposable plate and mix it with the amount the manufacturer suggests. Mix the hardening agent and filler until it thickens.
4. Scrape wood filler into the holes with a putty knife, press it into the holes, and apply 1/8 inch more if needed. Continue adding filler to the holes in increments of a 1/8 inch until the filler reaches the correct level, which is above the level of the deck.
5. Give the filler time to dry. Double-check the instructions on the back of the container to determine the amount of time it needs to dry. If the product starts to shrink as it cures, continue to add more filler to the hole again and continue to let the new layers dry.
6. With medium grit sandpaper, sand the top of the filled holes until the filler is level with the surface of the deck. Repeat this process with any holes that are left.
Fasteners Popping Up
As time passes, deck boards will get dry due to continuous exposure to sunlight and start to splinter. When the nails and screws pop up, the bolts in the wood will become loose. To fix this issue when you go to rebuild your deck, it is recommended to use screws that are 2.5x longer than the materials that are being fastened down.
Once you have removed all the old pieces of wood, toss them in a pile to go in the haul-away truck from Just Rubbish Removal to make for easy cleanup.
Loose Boards on Your Aging Wood Deck
Loose boards on your wooden deck will be cracked, loose, and rotten. You will need to do further inspection underneath the frame of the deck. These boards need to be replaced as soon as possible to prevent injury.
How to Tear Down Your Aging Wood Deck
Tips Before You Start:
- Research your local codes and the requirements for permits.
- Apply for necessary permits.
- Prepare a budget.
- Clear off your wood deck and place items in a temporary space.
- Donate items you don’t use anymore, like grills, patio furniture, and more.
- Hire Just Rubbish to remove broken wood and dispose of the wood safely.
Tools for Tear Down:
These should be all the tools you need to tear down your aging wood deck. If you don’t have these tools, you can find them at your local hardware store.
- Closed-Toe Shoes
- Protective Glasses
- Work Gloves
- Pry Bar
- Hammer
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Sledgehammer
- Reciprocating Saw
- Saw
Aging Wood Deck Demolition in Seven Steps:
Decks are built from the bottom up, so you should follow the same steps to remove your old deck. Reversing the order is simply the easiest way to demolish it.
1| Remove Handrails- Once you have removed all the items from your deck, you can start by removing the handrails. Work from one side of the deck to the other, starting with the top of the railings and then moving to the bottom of the rail. The easiest way to remove this is by using a crowbar if they are nailed together. You can also reverse the screws with a drill if your handrails are screwed together. Keep a jar or container nearby to drop in loose screws. You don’t want them to fall into your yard and someone steps on them.
2| Pry Off Deck Boards- The best way to take off your deck boards is to start on one side. Pull up the deck boards and go one by one until you make it to the other side of the deck. You can do this with a claw hammer and a pry bar and remove the screws. Make sure you are continuing to collect your screws and nails.
3| Cut Away the Deck Frame from Your House- Grab your reciprocating saw and cut away the frame from the board fastened to your house. Do this step slowly and allow the weight to pull it away from your home.
Once all the deck boards are removed, the next thing you will do is take off the mainframe board that’s connected to the house. Stack similar-sized boards together for better disposal.
4| Cut Joists Away- Grab your sledgehammer and hit the ends of the floor joints where they are fastened to the hangers. If the sledgehammer doesn’t work, you can use the reciprocating saw at both ends.
5| Remove the Hanger Boards- With the pry bar, pull the hanger boards away from the foundation and break the outer hanger boards from the deck support post with your sledgehammer.
6|Remove Support Posts- Using your shovel, dig around the concrete footings and pull back and forth until the support posts are loose and can be pulled from the ground. You may want to grab a wheelbarrow or have Just Rubbish haul them away.
7|Pull Steps Apart- If your steps are not already dry-rotted or falling apart, go ahead and remove them with your pry bar from the risers and support post.
Contact Just Rubbish Removal After You Tear Down Your Aging Wood Deck
After you tear down your again wood deck to build a new one for Springtime, call the professionals to haul away the scraps. Just Rubbish Removal has been in business for over 12 years, and since the day it started, they have guaranteed fast and reliable service. Their staff is fully trained, licensed professionals that can get any job done.
If you’re starting on your next demolition project, office remodels, or clearing out an old storage unit; Just Rubbish is the company to call.
Reach out today to get on the schedule at your earliest convenience.
