Repair and maintain the balcony/deck

1631 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by de-nagorg, Jun 22, 2020

dracodoc

Discussion Starter · Jun 21, 2020

I found some serious rotting under 2 boards of our balcony/deck. I guess I need to replace the board.

I'm not sure how this rotting developed, and how can I prevent it happen again. Rain can fall on the edge board, but not this one.

Other than that board, there are also two problems I need to address:

2. One side joist have lots of peeled off paint, nails pop out, also some cracks

I'm thinking removing the paint, sand it, add some 3M bondo rotted wood filler, paint it.

Maybe also add some deck screws? Should I add a sister joist?

3. The boards that on the outer side have lots of cracks and paints peeled off.

Should I remove the paint, sand and stain them again, or maybe just replace the boards?

Do I need to stain the under side too?

The one on the edge have most cracks, but the fence is bolted to it so I'm not sure if I can replace it. Can I just use rotted wood filler to treat it?

And here is the whole album with more pictures

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dracodoc/albums/72157714808563623

Thanks!

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kwikfishron

· #2 · Jun 21, 2020

dracodoc said:
I'm not sure how this rotting developed, and how can I prevent it happen again.

It looks like the bottom of the deck boards are painted too.

If that's the case then once the top side paint was compromised and moisture got into the decking the bottom side paint kept that moisture trapped (imo).

If for whatever reason you must have brown deck boards replace them with a brown composite decking.

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dracodoc

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 21, 2020

Thanks! That explained the problem, and I understand why I heard better not to stain the bottom.

I just measured the boards, which have depth of 1.5", width of 3.5", length of 97/102" depend on position. Also the space between joist are 16".

I checked home depot and found the thickest composite board are 1". I was hoping to just replace the 5 outside boards as the inner boards are still in good condition, but replace them with 1" composite means the surface will not be level -- unless I add some spacer on top of joist? I'm also not sure the joist arrangement is OK for the composite board.

I don't have preference on brown color. I can replace some boards and stain all the board with a different color if needed.

kwikfishron said:
It looks like the bottom of the deck boards are painted too.

If that's the case then once the top side paint was comprised and moisture got into the decking and the bottom side paint kept that moisture trapped (imo).

If for whatever reason you must have brown deck boards replace them with a brown composite decking.

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de-nagorg

· #4 · Jun 21, 2020 (Edited)

Eventually, you will need to replace all the decking anyway.

Why not just go ahead and do it all with Composite.

That way you never need to stain / paint the decking again.

About those joists, filling them is not a good idea, best is to try to remove them, by going underneath into the space under the inside floor, and remove them.

They are most likely cantilevered in there, and hopefully the builder allowed a way to replace them.

Next best remedy is to sister onto them.

But wood filler is too weak to hold up pigeons, much less your family.

Addendum: I took a second look at your pictures, disregard the part above about cantilevered, your deck is standard issue, with joists added to the rim joist.

Much easier to replace, when you are replacing the decking.

ED

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dracodoc

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 21, 2020 (Edited)

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll consider the composite option. Though to replace all boards I probably need to hire some professionals, as I'm not comfortable to replace joist, remove all boards and install them in 2nd floor...

For the joist, the end of it have big holes, so I think at least it need sister joist. I'm a little afraid of replacing it, not sure how to do it safely.

de-nagorg said:
Eventually, you will need to replace all the decking anyway.

Why not just go ahead and do it all with Composite.

That way you never need to stain / paint the decking again.

About those joists, filling them is not a good idea, best is to try to remove them, by going underneath into the space under the inside floor, and remove them.

They are most likely cantilevered in there, and hopefully the builder allowed a way to replace them.

Next best remedy is to sister onto them.

But wood filler is too weak to hold up pigeons, much less your family.

Addendum: I took a second look at your pictures, disregard the part above about cantilevered, your deck is standard issue, with joists added to the rim joist.

Much easier to replace, when you are replacing the decking.

ED

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Nealtw

· #6 · Jun 21, 2020

I agree the decking is close to end of life and the joists should have some attention.

Good time to do it before the whole thing needs replacing.

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dracodoc

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 22, 2020

Other than hire somebody to replace the whole deck, if I was going to do it by myself, I think I can do these partial remedies:

1. fill and stain the joist
2. add a sister joist
3. replace several boards, stain them first (I only need to stain top and side? Some boards have green mold on side)

4. clean and stain other boards

Nealtw said:
I agree the decking is close to end of life and the joists should have some attention.

Good time to do it before the whole thing needs replacing.

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Nealtw

· #8 · Jun 22, 2020

dracodoc said:
Other than hire somebody to replace the whole deck, if I was going to do it by myself, I think I can do these partial remedies:

1. fill and stain the joist
2. add a sister joist
3. replace several boards, stain them first (I only need to stain top and side? Some boards have green mold on side)

4. clean and stain other boards

Am I right if i guess that the deck is 20 plus years old?

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dracodoc

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 22, 2020

The house was built on 1971, we bought it at 2015. The last owner bought it at 2005. I don't know about the actual age of deck...

The inner boards looks much better, doesn't look like 20 plus years old to me...

Nealtw said:
Am I right if i guess that the deck is 20 plus years old?

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Nealtw

· #10 · Jun 22, 2020

If you just change a few tey want to be installed while they are wet while they will bend to straight and then you have to wait some time for them to dry before staining them.

If i was doing it, like you are thinking I would go a little further and remove all the outer boards, and inspect all the joists from above at least the part out in the weather.

The end one would be cut off at the building, sister in a full length new one behind that and then replace the short piece.

If the rest of the joists are in good shape, fill the old nail holes with match sticks cover the top of the joists with deck joist tape and place new 2x4s.

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HotRodx10

· #11 · Jun 22, 2020

The boards that you can see are rotted may not be (and likely aren't) the only ones that are rotted. All the deck boards may be in similarly bad shape, but the paint is hiding it. I'd recommend being very cautious with it until they are replaced.

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de-nagorg

· #12 · Jun 22, 2020

dracodoc said:
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll consider the composite option. Though to replace all boards I probably need to hire some professionals, as I'm not comfortable to replace joist, remove all boards and install them in 2nd floor...

For the joist, the end of it have big holes, so I think at least it need sister joist. I'm a little afraid of replacing it, not sure how to do it safely.

There appears to be a concrete patio underneath this, and depending on your age and physical abilities.

A Safeway scaffolding is an easy tool to use to get yourself up to the proper height to replace all of this thing.

Rental stores have them to rent, and they are quite sturdy, on a concrete patio.

ED

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