Deck repair and rebuilds in Missoula
Some decks need a few new boards. Others look fine from above and are failing underneath. Here's how a builder figures out which one you have.
Most deck damage comes from water that sits where it shouldn't: on flat boards, behind the ledger, around the base of posts, or in the end grain of joists. Freeze-thaw cycles through a Missoula winter make it worse. The only way to know how far it's gone is to look underneath and probe the wood.
What gets checked on a repair visit?
- The ledger. Is it bolted into the house rather than just nailed? Is there flashing over it? Is the wood behind it soft?
- Footings and posts. Have footings shifted or lifted? Are posts sitting on loose blocks or rotting at the bottom?
- Joists and beams. Sagging, splits or rot, especially at the ends and under board joints.
- Connectors and fasteners. Rusted hangers, missing bolts, and hardware that wasn't made for treated lumber.
- The surface. Soft boards, split treads and loose railing sections.
Fix it or replace it?
When the frame and footings are sound, replacing some boards, a few treads or a railing section is usually simple. When the ledger is rotted, footings have moved, or a lot of framing is soft, a rebuild is often the safer and better use of money than patching. A rebuild also gives you the chance to set footings at the right depth, fix an awkward layout, or switch to composite. Bigger repairs and rebuilds may need a permit, so ask.
Why older decks shift
Some older decks around the valley were built with shallow footings or posts set on blocks at the surface. After enough winters, the ground can push them up unevenly, and the deck starts to slope, lean or pull away from the house. The lasting fix is usually new footings dug to the required depth, not shims under the posts.
After a storm or a heavy snow year
Big snow loads, falling branches and summer windstorms can crack railings and damage boards or pergola tops. Take photos before anything is moved, and talk with your insurer before repairs start.
Is it safe to use the deck meanwhile?
A railing that moves, stairs that rock, or a deck separating from the house are safety problems, not cosmetic ones. Keep people off that area until a builder has looked, and don't host a crowd on a deck you're unsure of.
Repairs on older Missoula homes
Many older houses on the Northside, in the University District and around downtown have porches and decks that were added or rebuilt over decades. It's common to find several generations of framing in one deck. A careful builder will tell you what can stay and what needs to go.
Every deck is priced by the builder after a site visit, once they've measured, looked at the ground and the house, and talked through materials with you. We don't quote prices, and any figure you hear before that visit is a rough guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I just replace the deck boards?
Often, if the framing and footings are in good shape. Have the builder check the ledger, joists and posts before new boards go on, so you aren't putting a new surface on a failing frame.
How do I know if my deck needs a full rebuild?
Rot at the ledger, footings that have moved, and widespread soft framing are the usual signs. A builder can probe the wood and give you a straight answer.
Related services
More background: Missoula deck guide.
Thinking about a new deck, or worried about the one you have?
Call the number above and a Missoula-area deck builder will talk through what you need.