Decks and costs
Deck Repair or Replacement? The Signs, and What Each Costs
The short answer
If the damage is limited to a few boards, a railing or a stair, and the frame underneath is sound, repair it. Most deck repairs cost $750 to $2,500 on HomeGuide's figures.
If the posts, joists or the board that holds the deck to your house are rotting, or the deck is 15 years or older, replacement usually makes more sense. A full replacement, tear-out included, typically runs $5,420 to $14,540 on LawnLove's national figures.
Five minutes with a screwdriver
It is the first dry weekend in spring. You step onto the deck and one board gives a little under your foot. Is that a $200 fix or the start of something bigger?
You can find out a lot yourself. The North American Deck and Railing Association publishes a simple homeowner checklist, and these are the checks that matter most.
- Poke the wood. Push a screwdriver into a few spots. If it sinks in a quarter to half an inch easily, or a sliver breaks off without splintering, or the wood feels soft and spongy, there may be rot.
- Start where water sits. Check around fasteners, under planters and anywhere that stays damp, and look for small holes that can mean insects.
- Check the ledger. That is the board where the deck attaches to your house, and NADRA calls it a common source of deck failure. It should not be held on with nails alone.
- Shake the railings. They should feel solid, especially on a higher deck.
- Look for rust and movement. Corroded fasteners damage the wood around them, and the deck and stairs should not sag or sway when you test them.
A check like this does not make a deck safe or up to code. If anything worries you, have a deck builder or a home inspector look at it.
Repair it, or replace it?
| Repair when | Replace when |
|---|---|
| A few boards are worn, cracked or loose | Rot has reached the posts, joists or ledger |
| A railing or stair is wobbly | The deck sags or sways |
| The frame underneath is sound | Repairs keep adding up year after year |
| The deck is fairly young | The deck is 15 years or older |
The age guide comes from HomeGuide. Its rule of thumb is that minor damage on a younger deck means repair, and major damage or a deck past 15 years means replacement.
How long a deck lasts
Material decides most of it. These are LawnLove's typical lifespans.
| Decking material | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| Pressure treated wood | 10 to 15 years |
| Cedar | 15 to 20 years |
| Redwood | 20 to 30 years |
| Composite | 25 to 30 years |
| Ipe | 50 to 100 years |
Western Washington is hard on wood. A Seattle deck builder notes that pressure treated decking needs staining every year or two in this rain to reach that 10 to 15 years.
What deck repairs cost
These are national figures from two current cost guides, so treat them as a starting point rather than a quote.
| Repair | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Most repairs, overall | $750 to $2,500 | HomeGuide |
| Average repair | $1,465 | LawnLove |
| Replacing a post | $150 to $500 per post | HomeGuide |
| Replacing a joist | $150 to $350 per joist | LawnLove |
| Stair repairs | $150 to $300 per stair | HomeGuide |
| Railing repairs | $150 to $5,000 | HomeGuide |
| Loose or rusted fasteners | $50 to $200 | HomeGuide |
| Replacing deck boards | $10 to $35 per sq ft | LawnLove |
The jump comes when a repair moves from the surface into the frame. Boards and fasteners are quick. Posts, joists and the ledger take more time, more lumber and sometimes a permit.
What a deck replacement costs
Replacing a deck means tearing out the old one and building new. LawnLove puts the tear-out at $5 to $10 per square foot and a typical full replacement at $5,420 to $14,540. HomeGuide's average is $30 to $55 per square foot.
Size and material move that number more than anything. We compare published prices for a new deck in what a deck costs in Thurston County.
A replacement is also the moment to change material. If you are tired of staining every year or two, composite lasts about twice as long as pressure treated on LawnLove's figures and does not need it.
Does a repair need a permit?
Washington's residential code lets ordinary repairs go ahead without a permit. That stops at the structure. A repair that removes or cuts a structural beam or load-bearing support is not an ordinary repair.
So swapping a few worn boards is usually fine. New posts, beams or a new ledger usually need a permit, and a full rebuild is treated like a new deck. Cities differ, and Olympia lists building repairs among the work to check, so ask before you start.
The details for Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater are in our guide to deck and deck cover permits.
Getting more years out of the deck you keep
- Clear leaves and debris. NADRA points out they are slippery and encourage mildew.
- When mildew appears or the coating wears through, clean the deck and apply a new waterproofing coat.
- Tighten loose fasteners, and replace any that are rusted before they damage the wood around them.
- Keep an eye on the ledger. It is the one part you most want to catch early.
Where to go from here
We repair and replace decks across Thurston and Pierce counties, and we will tell you honestly when a repair is all you need.
Send us a few photos of the soft spots, the railings and the underside if you can reach it. That is usually enough to tell you which way it is heading.
Common questions
How do I know if my deck needs to be replaced?
Check for rot in the posts, joists and ledger, a deck that sags or sways, and repairs that keep coming back. HomeGuide's rule of thumb is that major damage, or a deck 15 years or older, points to replacement. If a screwdriver sinks easily into the wood or the wood feels soft and spongy, decay may be present.
How much does deck repair cost?
Most deck repairs cost $750 to $2,500 on HomeGuide's figures, and LawnLove puts the national average at $1,465. Replacing a post runs about $150 to $500 and a joist about $150 to $350.
How much does it cost to replace a deck?
LawnLove puts a typical full replacement, including removing the old deck, at $5,420 to $14,540, with removal alone at $5 to $10 per square foot. HomeGuide's average is $30 to $55 per square foot. Size and material make the biggest difference.
How much does it cost to replace deck boards?
About $10 to $35 per square foot on LawnLove's figures, depending mostly on the decking material.
How long does a deck last?
It depends on the material. LawnLove gives typical lifespans of 10 to 15 years for pressure treated wood, 15 to 20 for cedar, 25 to 30 for composite and 50 to 100 for ipe. In Western Washington, pressure treated decking needs staining every year or two to reach its range.
Do I need a permit to repair my deck?
Ordinary repairs do not need a permit under Washington's residential code, but a repair that removes or cuts a structural beam or load-bearing support does not count as ordinary. Replacing a few boards is usually fine, while new posts, beams or a ledger usually need a permit. Check with your city before you start.
Can composite decking be repaired?
Yes. HomeGuide notes that scratches can be treated with a repair kit or color-matched filler, stains with cleaners made for composite, loose boards with new screws, and cracked or split boards by replacing them.
Code requirements on this page were last checked on 8 October 2026. Codes change, so confirm current standards with your city or county before you apply.
Planning a deck in Thurston County?
We handle the permit work as part of the build. Tell us the site and what you want.
Where this applies
We work in every one of these towns, and each has its own page covering the rules that apply there.