Home / Remodeling Guides / Deck Repair or Replacement
Deck Repair or Replacement in Gainesville, GA
Warning signs, costs and permits for repairing, resurfacing or replacing a deck in Gainesville, Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Lake Lanier and across Hall County.
Quick answer: If your deck's frame (the posts, beams, joists and the ledger board attached to the house) is solid, repair it: board, stair and railing repairs in Gainesville typically run about $500 to $6,000, and resurfacing a sound frame with new boards and rails runs about $4,000 to $18,000. If the frame is rotted, the footings are failing or the deck is more than about 20 to 25 years old, replace it: a new pressure-treated deck typically costs $2,000 to $20,000 and cedar or composite $5,000 to $36,000, plus about $500 to $3,000 for tear-out. EBD Construction LLC, a licensed and insured general contractor based in Gainesville, Georgia, inspects and rebuilds decks with its own crew, and owner Eric Bubniak pulls all permits himself. Call 404-925-7481 for a free consultation.
Who repairs and replaces decks in Gainesville, GA?
EBD Construction LLC repairs, resurfaces and rebuilds decks across Gainesville, Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Buford, Murrayville and around Lake Lanier. The same three-person crew that builds new decks and screened porches does the inspection, tear-out and rebuild, so you get a straight answer about what can be saved. Eric will tell you if a repair is all you need.
Should I repair or replace my deck?
It comes down to the structure underneath, not how the boards look. Here's how we decide:
| What we find | Usually means | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| A few soft or cracked boards, loose stairs, a wobbly rail; frame solid | Repair | $500 to $6,000 |
| Frame solid, but most boards are worn, splintered or cupped and rails are dated | Resurface: new decking, stairs and rails on the old frame | $4,000 to $18,000 |
| Rotted ledger, joists or posts; sinking footings; no flashing at the house | Replace | $2,000 to $20,000 pressure-treated, $5,000 to $36,000 cedar or composite |
| Tear-out and haul-away | Added to a replacement | $500 to $3,000 |
| Replace and cover or screen it | New deck plus a roof or screened porch | $10,000 to $56,000+ |
Tip: Composite decking is heavy and lasts 25 years or more, so we only put it on a frame that will last that long too. Putting new composite on a 20-year-old frame usually means tearing it all off again in a few years.
What are the warning signs a deck is unsafe?
Check these, especially on a deck more than 15 years old:
- The ledger board. This board bolts the deck to the house and is where most deck collapses start. Look for rot, missing bolts (nails alone aren't enough), and no metal flashing above it.
- Soft or spongy wood. Push a screwdriver into joists, posts and boards. If it sinks in easily, that wood is rotting.
- Wobbly railings. Push hard on the rail. It shouldn't move. Rails should be at least 36 inches tall, with gaps between balusters too small for a 4-inch ball to pass through.
- Posts and footings. Posts buried directly in the dirt, leaning posts, or sinking concrete footings.
- Rusted fasteners and hangers. Older galvanized nails and joist hangers corrode, especially against treated lumber.
- Loose or uneven stairs. Stairs fail before the deck does. Treads should be solid, evenly spaced, with a handrail you can grip.
- Bounce. A deck that bounces or sways when people walk across it may be undersized or missing bracing.
How long does a deck last in Georgia?
A pressure-treated pine deck typically lasts about 15 to 25 years in North Georgia, depending on how well it's sealed and how much sun and shade it gets. Shady decks near Lake Lanier stay damp longer and rot sooner. Cedar lasts about as long with regular sealing. Composite decking can last 25 to 30 years or more, but the treated wood frame underneath still ages, so it should be checked too. Cleaning and sealing a wood deck every 2 to 3 years adds years to its life.
How much does deck repair cost in Gainesville, GA?
Small repairs, like replacing a few boards, tightening or rebuilding a rail section, or resetting a stair, usually run $500 to $2,500. Bigger repairs, like a new ledger with flashing, new posts and footings, or a full set of stairs, usually run $2,000 to $6,000. Resurfacing with new boards and rails on a sound frame runs about $4,000 to $18,000 depending on size and material. These are general area ranges, not quotes; Eric gives you a written estimate after he looks underneath.
Do I need a permit to repair or replace a deck in Hall County?
Replacing a few boards or a rail section usually doesn't need a permit. Rebuilding the structure, replacing stairs or footings, or building a new deck does, with footing, framing and final inspections. Homes in Gainesville city limits are permitted through the City of Gainesville and homes in unincorporated Hall County through Hall County; Flowery Branch, Oakwood and Buford handle their own. Lake Lanier docks and shoreline work are handled separately by the Army Corps of Engineers. EBD Construction pulls all required permits itself.
How long does deck repair or replacement take?
Most repairs take 1 to 3 days. Resurfacing takes about 1 to 2 weeks, and a full tear-out and replacement usually takes 1 to 3 weeks once permits are issued. Fall and early spring are great times to rebuild in Gainesville, so the deck is ready for summer.
- Free consultation. Eric gets under the deck and checks the ledger, posts, joists, footings and stairs.
- Straight answer and estimate. Repair, resurface or replace, in writing, with material options.
- Permit. Eric pulls it if the work needs one.
- Tear-out and rebuild. Footings, frame, decking, stairs and railings.
- Inspection and walkthrough.
Should I upgrade while I'm replacing the deck?
Replacement is the cheapest time to change things. Popular upgrades include going to composite or cedar, adding cable or metal railings for a better view, making the deck bigger, adding a landing to long stairs, or putting a roof over it to make a covered or screened porch. If you're weighing a screened porch against a sunroom, see screened porch vs. sunroom.
Where does EBD Construction repair and replace decks?
- Gainesville
- Flowery Branch
- Oakwood
- Buford
- Braselton
- Murrayville
- Clermont
- Lake Lanier homes
- All of Hall County
Why hire EBD Construction for your deck?
- The same crew every day. Three full-time builders who have worked together for over a decade, not a rotating cast of subcontractors.
- You talk to the owner. Eric Bubniak is your point of contact from the first visit to the final walkthrough.
- Permits handled for you. Eric pulls every permit himself and schedules the inspections.
- Reviews you can check. EBD Construction has 5-star reviews on Thumbtack, and references from past customers are available on request.
- See the work first. Browse the project gallery or walk through a real EBD whole-home project.
Deck repair and replacement FAQs
Can you put new boards on an old deck frame?
Yes, if the frame is sound. Resurfacing saves the cost of a new frame and footings. We check every joist and the ledger first, and replace any bad pieces before the new boards go on.
Can you replace just the deck stairs?
Yes. Stairs often wear out before the deck does. New stairs with solid stringers, a landing on long runs and a sturdy handrail typically cost $1,000 to $5,000.
Is it worth replacing a wood deck with composite?
If you plan to stay, often yes. Composite costs more up front but doesn't need sanding or sealing, and it won't splinter. Pressure-treated pine is still the lowest-cost option.
How often should a deck be inspected?
Look it over yourself every spring, and have a contractor check the ledger, posts and stairs every few years once the deck is 10 to 15 years old.
Do you repair decks on Lake Lanier homes?
Yes. Lake decks are often tall and on steep lots, so they need careful inspection. See the Lake Lanier guide for more lake-home projects.
Is EBD Construction licensed and insured?
Yes. EBD Construction LLC is licensed and insured, all work is guaranteed, and references are available on request.
Ready to get your deck checked?
Call Eric Bubniak at 404-925-7481 or fill out the form below for a free consultation. Tell us roughly how old the deck is and what you're seeing, and Eric will tell you whether it's a repair or a rebuild.
Get your free consultation
Tell us a little about your project. Eric will call you within one business day to talk it through and set up a time to see the space.