How much does deck repair cost?

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Price guide

£77 - £2,300

low

£77

median

£400

high

£2,300

Last Updated on 09 May 2024

You installed a deck outside your home because you wanted to create a cosy place to relax. On weekends, you enjoy having dinner al fresco. Decks aren’t only there to add aesthetic appeal, but they also increase the value of your home. Many homebuyers prefer homes with decks in the backyard. In addition, the deck also increases square footage.

Whether your deck has undergone wear and tear or only needs a minor fix, it’s helpful to know the factors that affect the cost of deck repair, which ranges roughly between £77 to £2,300. Restore the cosiness and sturdiness of your deck soonest! Read on to know the average cost of deck repair in your area.

What factors affect the cost of deck repair?

So much does it cost to repair a sagging deck vs a rotting one? The number of fixes needed will significantly affect how much it costs to repair a deck. The number of materials and labour time are also factors that determine the cost of deck repair, painting, and staining.

Extent of repair

Whether you want to repair a sagging deck or need a more complicated issue addressed, the size of your deck and the complexity of the repair will be the main factors that determine costs. The extent of the repair will also tell the contractor how much time they need to do the job and how much to charge per hour.

Materials

The materials will also significantly affect the overall cost. For consideration, you will need to factor in repair materials like boards and nails, finishes like paint and varnish, and products for staining a deck. Sometimes, you will also spend extra depending on how you source or transport your material (shipping costs) and dispose of bulk waste.

Labour cost

The better part of the overall cost goes to the contractor’s labour fees, ranging from £7 to £23 per hour. The amount also varies depending on your location. Tradespeople in larger cities tend to charge higher than the ones in rural towns. The rates will also differ depending on the experience of the contractor and the complexity of the task.

If you’re also thinking of an overhaul by installing a new deck, you may ask the same contractor for a quotation so you can make a price comparison.

Deck repair price list

How different are concrete pool deck repair costs vs wooden decks? Here are price estimates for the materials or services you may need for your deck repair project.

Ordinary decking

Material/services	Cost
Timber decking boards	£390
Timber frame	£180
Fixings	£20
Membrane	£30
Preservative	£30
Waste removal and disposal	£50
Labour and profits	£300

High-end, more durable decking

Material/services	Cost
Premium IPE boards	£3000
Fixings	£240
Oil	£80
Labour and profits	£3000

Cost per board material

Material	Examples/made from	Average life span	Cost per metre
Softwood	Pine Spruce Cedar Redwood	10 to 15 years	£3 to £6
Hardwood	Beech Oak Maple Tigerwood	30 to 40 years	£4 to £10
Composite	Wood-polymer composite	25 to 30 years	£8 to £12
Trex	95% recycled materials	25 to 30 years	£6 to £15
PVC	Polyvinyl Chloride Composite	20 to 30 years	£5 to £10
IPE	Exotic Brazilian wood	60 to 70 years	£8 to £15
Plastic deck tiles	-	5 to 10 years	£33 per tile

Cost per additional material (depends on the design of the deck you want repaired)

Material	Cost
Balustrade kits	£100 per kit
Trellis panels	£2 each
Spindles	£1 each
Post caps	Starts at £2 each
Decking lights	£15 to £40, depending on the design
Steps	£50 to £215
Joists	£6 to £12 each
Weed proof membrane	£30 per pack
Postcrete	£5 per bag

Labour costs and time scales

Service	Cost
Decking installation	£20 to £50 per square metre
Decking repair labour cost	£150 to £400
Deck cleaning and maintenance	£50 to £100 per hour

Common deck repairs

Common repairs	Description
Treating deck	Some decking only needs a wash and a treatment. Once clean, you can nourish the wood to seal it again by applying a stain. It’s usually done annually.
Board replacement	Unmaintained deckings will likely begin rotting, which could have been prevented by treating it every one to two years using decking oil. This is especially common when there are plant pots that you regularly water. The moisture trapped beneath the pot causes the wood to rot. Once the rotting starts, there’s no other way but to replace it.
Overlaying	In extreme circumstances, removing the old boards and replacing them with new ones is the best method.
Deck board flipping	Some boards have a grooved and smooth side. The correct way to install it is to put the groove side face down to help the airflow better. In some deck situations, it will be more cost-effective to flip the boards over. Once flipped, it will be sanded over and oiled.
Sistering decking joists	When the top edge of a joist has signs of rotting or deterioration, it’s still possible to be restored. However, it’s necessary to sister a new structural member in parallel with the existing weakened one.
Straightening boards	When the weather drastically changes, the boards on your deck will inevitably warp. It can be difficult to straighten the boards unless you use a bar clamp plus fasteners to draw the warped boards in place.
Filling the gaps	There may be gaps or nail holes, where signs of rotting have taken place. A solution for this is to use a wood filling product, which is similar to an epoxy filler. However, take note that when the holes are too large, they can be considered structural damage, and the filler may not be suitable for them.

Hiring a professional vs DIY

In home improvements, hiring a professional is always a wise choice, as many home renovation and repair projects require the right skills and experience to ensure that the job is done correctly.

Not only will your deck be repaired properly, but you will also save on material and time. A major repair job requires the process of elaborate planning, and a professional with the right experience knows the best thing to do.

A major repair job will also require purchasing materials in bulk. A professional can make accurate predictions on how much material will get the job done and be able to get you a discounted price as a bulk deal. Hiring a professional will also save you lots of time!

If you have enough experience, you can try doing the work as a DIY project. It will cost less since you won’t have to pay for the labour. But should it lead to more issues and damages, the repairs for this go as high as £1700.

Save time and money by making sure that your deck repair project is in good hands! To get an accurate decking repair quote, put up a task on Airtasker and get in touch with a nearby repair specialist in minutes!

What factors affect the cost of deck repair?
Deck repair price list
Common deck repairs
Hiring a professional vs DIY

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FAQs

If termites have infested your wood deck, you may opt to call a pest management service. They will assess the extent of the infestation and exterminate the mites. You may also ask them for a quotation and tell them the size of your deck.

Always check if your contractor can get bulk deal discounts for the materials. You can also have your deck repaired during the off-season. And to prevent further major repairs in the future, allot budget and time for deck maintenance throughout the year.

Grab a screwdriver and try to push its tip into the wood. If it sinks, it may be rotten.

If your deck is more than 20 years old, or the repair cost is almost similar to the replacement cost, it might be a good idea to simply install a new one.

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