Deck Repair Question

[Nomad]

For you carpenters, what’s the best way to tackle a hole like this. Rip out the whole board and put a new one in or cut a short one and patch it in?  Deck is 25 years old.Thanks. 

Edited August 15, 2022 by Nomad

[Greg]

replace whole board, otherwise you'll be looking at the extra cut lines wishing you did the whole board

[Batsto]

Is that from dry rot? Greg is right, but I patched in under our deck furniture.

[Nomad]

1 minute ago, Greg said:

replace whole board, otherwise you'll be looking at the extra cut lines wishing you did the whole board

That was going to be my next question, how do I cut the lines nice and even and make it look good. LOL thanks I’ll replace the whole board

[Nomad]

2 minutes ago, Batsto said:

Is that from dry rot? Greg is right, but I patched in under our deck furniture.

Yes I believe so I already replaced some other boards in a different area.

[Greg]

To make a nice cut you can either use a chop saw, or take a speed square and use it as a fence for a circular saw

Cut a scosh long and trim a hair at a time to fit nice and tight

Edited August 15, 2022 by Greg

[Batsto]

5 minutes ago, Nomad said:

Yes I believe so I already replaced some other boards in a different area.

Nice work! It’s amazing how those boards dry rot. 

[Kype]

replace the whole board. but when you install the new board make sure the crown is down. otherwise its gonna "cup" and look like hell. 

if screws are stripped. cut them flush with a sawzall or use easy outs. 

if all the screws come out nicely, dont use the same screw holes when you install the new piece. find another spot to screw it down even if its a couple inches away. 

[Nomad]

3 minutes ago, Kype said:

replace the whole board. but when you install the new board make sure the crown is down. otherwise its gonna "cup" and look like hell. 

if screws are stripped. cut them flush with a sawzall or use easy outs. 

if all the screws come out nicely, dont use the same screw holes when you install the new piece. find another spot to screw it down even if its a couple inches away. 

Thanks, but the boards are held down with nails

Not one loose board after 25 years with the nails. I didn’t build the deck it was here when I bought the house.

Edited August 16, 2022 by Nomad

[Nomad]

Looks like they used a nail gun all the nails are about an eighth of an inch below the surface of the wood. I used a hammer and cat claw to loosen the nails and then rip the board up

Edited August 16, 2022 by Nomad

[Live to Hunt]

Ask Matt he knows decks 

[trapoholic]

Replace entire board. Before installing look at the growth rings on the edge of the board. They should look like the top half of a ball. If you install with rings looking like a happy face- that is incorrect.

Edited August 16, 2022 by trapoholic

[Nomad]

1 minute ago, trapoholic said:

Replace entire board. Before installing look at the growth rings on the edge of the board. they should look like the top half of a ball. If you install with rings looking like a happy face- that is incorrect.

I got lucky with the ones I did already only one happy face

[jumpthestring]

I will do the repair , if you let me hunt your spot.lol

[CJ3a]

We used to use 10 penny button heads, three per board.   Those nails were tough to use but the boards will never move