Rebuilding a Deck Part 1 - Removal of Wood Down to Framing Structure

Often you can have a deck which looks like it is in really rough shape but the structure is actually still in good condition. In this case you can save yourself time and money by simply removing everything down to the core structure, make any repairs needed, and then install new deck boards. This is a perfect weekend project and approachable by new home owners and weekend warriors.

In this Part 1 video I will show you the following:
1) Tools Needed (list below) and Plan of Attack
2) Removal of Old Wood
3) 2 Different Methods of Disposing of Old Wood
4) ProvideTips on How I Approached This Project
5) Time and Cost Estimates

Tools Used

Tools Every Weekend Warrior Needs

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[hill]

I would have salvaged that deck 100%. That deck is in solid shape. Just as he did, I would also take out the top seats and store them somewhere in the back yard to be processed later. Take off at least 10 boards at a time, flip them and resurface the back of the wood applying wood putty on the holes to sand them. I would treat them with 2 coats of wood oil and reinstall them. I would do the same for the benches. I restored my deck which was way worse than that one reusing the back side. I invested on deck screws, sand paper and wood putty and deck wood oil thus saving thousands in a time when wood is premium at big box stores. Good luck to all of you out there doing this project and excellent work building that deck Everyday Home Repairs.

[bkwilsonks]

Your explanation & tips are so helpful to someone like me, who is learning in preparation for my own DIY project. Thank you!

[jromo]

Wow THANK YOU SO MUCH for not having music on your time lapse!! I can not tell you how annoying it is when people play generic house/dubstep music to their video. So informational as well, really great job! Keep it up!

[markjackson]

I have a large deck (built in the 80s or 90s), it's still sturdy and though mine looks better than the one on your video it needs rebuilding and your great video has given me the SOBER courage to do it myself. Great Video and Thanks.

[redsoul]

Good video. I found it after demo the floor of my Mom's deck. It was rotten very bad butbthe joists were good. I started demoing with a sledge hammer and a flat pry bar. Till my uncle came up. He had talked to another reletive that does contracring. Tip to to remove the boards was 2 2x4s one as a brace one as a lever. I had a somewhat good 2x4 for the brace and used a 5' piece of angle iron for the lever. Went much easier than the flat bar and i did not have to by a tool i probably will never use again

[karenno]

Do you have a video or short explaining "when is it time to replace decking board?" How much organic growth is too much? How do you know when board is too water logged? How much splintering is too much? etc

Warped/sagging, broken, soggy wood is clear but before that point... When is removing organic growth, good scrubbing, careful pressure washing, sanding (if needed?), & re-staining not advised & new decking recommended instead?

Thanks for your content. This is my favorite home DIY channel.

[gigglesilly]

Good tear out work for just one guy, cool to see you working so hard. Good job

[ism]

Great video. I’m taking my parents deck apart and needed a little guidance.

[deannacharette]

Really helpful and you describe the process so efficiently and easy to understand. Many thanks

[Buttersplaysgames]

I’m fixing my parents deck and I originally thought it was just going to be a deck board swap. Turns out the frame was rotten, damn that sucks. Start pulling the frame and some of the posts are rotten. So what was thought (and planned) as a simple week project turned into digging out concrete supported posts that had been left to rot since the 80’s. I’m 26 with no experience in carpentry other than natural ability and what I can find online. Dug out old posts and re-cemented them. But I’m in over my head. I can swim but

[tomsparks]

Glad I found your channel -- very well-instructed.

[anotherbuttchair]

I’m working on deck here in Sept, now October, replaced six 16 foot long cedar pieces, sanded, power washed, washed with mold removal stuff, borrowed some tools, all in all I salvaged the deck, replaced only a handful of large pieces, but cost including primer paint? Rented truck, Gonna be about 400 bux, Not cheap! Cant even imagine what it would cost if I replaced it all, I’d say at least 3000? Just on material

[nexusly]

Damn you are the fastest worker I've ever seen

[jasonporeda]

Around here, we have a bulk trash pick-up day that will take that sort of stuff for you every other other week. For free. Or if I didn't want to wait that long, there are drop off points, like the one you went to, but it's free to drop off. (Tallahassee, FL)

[Redfiregtag]

Mt tip for demo-. Use a deck wrecker a special decking removal pry tool

[rdel]

Pretty simple. Our transfer station is a bit cheaper here in RI luckily. One word of advice…get some safety glasses on! Like the gloves but imagine life without eyes my friend..one wrong flick of a nail, board, etc..food for thought. (25 years+ in construction/industrial building field)

[siobhanirish]

2 thoughts. 1. you suggested possibly taking old deck where wood is burned. Pressure treated wood should not be burned due to the chemicals in the wood. 2. if you started the floor tear out at the house and worked your way out, you always have intact floor boards to use with the crow bar for prying leverage and it saves jumping in and out of the framing. enjoyed the video

[MountainManFred]

not sure if you mentioned...you can also call for a roll-off dumpster etc. seems like around $340 for 20 yard for about a week. you fill it..then they come back by and haul it away.. it's more expensive than doing it yourself, but they take it away...you keep working..

[gimydaloot]

It does not look like that deck is rotten. Could have easily sanded it down & painted it. Would have saved a bunch of lumber and money. Despite that, thanks for making this video there is definitely a lot of good information in here.

[ggeiser]

Great video. My deck is 12X12. We began with bare ground after tearing out all the previous rotted out deck. First we strategically placed nine concrete bases. Upon that we ran 2X6 es. All wood is pressure treated. Atop those boards we added 2X4 s 16” apart. On top we placed composite fake wood decking. Top layer in place with hidden metal fasteners. et vala! Good looking life time deck.