Deck repair: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering deck repair

Deck repair is steady work, and customers come back to pros who find the rot at the ledger and the joists instead of only replacing the boards they can see. Win the job by probing the structure, showing the damage and writing the repair scope so the customer can decide with full information.

What customers ask

  • Is my deck safe to stand on while you repair it?
  • Can you just replace the boards, or is the frame bad too?
  • Will the new wood match the old?
  • How long will the repair last?
  • Do I need a permit for the stairs or the ledger?
  • Can you fix the railings at the same time?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask when the deck was built, what the boards are made of, and whether the railings or stairs have been loose or moved.
  • On site, probe the boards, the joists, the beams and the ledger with a screwdriver, and take photos of each soft spot before you quote.
  • In the quote, separate the surface boards, the structural repairs, the ledger work and the railing or stair repairs, so the customer sees each part.
  • Show the damaged sections on the deck with photos or marked boards, and explain why each one needs to be replaced.
  • Explain the cause in plain words and quote the fix for it, such as flashing, drainage under the deck or a new post base.
  • Give a sealing and inspection plan in writing, with the next check date recommended for the deck.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of board replacements, joist sisters and ledger repairs, shot from below and above
  • Repair types you do, such as board replacement, joist sistering, post resets and stair rebuilds
  • Decking materials you match, including pressure-treated pine, cedar and composite
  • Your service area and whether you also handle deck building, staining and porch repair

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a yearly deck inspection focused on the ledger, the fasteners and the railing connections
  • Suggest a seal or stain refresh on the timing the wood needs, explained as protection
  • Mention a deck rebuild or a porch repair as information when the frame shows wider decline

Licenses and permits

Whether deck repair needs a contractor license varies by place, and structural repairs, ledger work and stair changes are commonly done under a contractor license in many areas. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What do I do when the customer wants to replace only the top boards over rotted joists?

Tell the customer that the surface repair will not carry the load, and quote the joist repair as the fix. Document the findings with photos and the decision in writing.

Should I close a deck that has a failed ledger?

Yes, advise the customer to keep people off the deck until the ledger is repaired, and say so in writing on the day you find it. Offer a repair date that starts as soon as the customer approves the scope.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

More decks, fences and outdoor structures guides for pros

Start here

About this guide

Get deck repair requests

Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.

Join as a pro
Sign up free