Deck Repair in Mukilteo, WA

Many Mukilteo homes sit on hillsides facing the water, so the deck is often the main outdoor space and is sometimes well off the ground. Damp air off the sound and long rainy months are hard on wood, fasteners and finishes. If a board feels soft, a railing moves or the stain has worn off, we can come out and look.

What Mukilteo weather and terrain do to a deck

Mukilteo sits on the bluffs above Possession Sound. A lot of homes here, from the older streets near Old Town to the newer neighborhoods around Harbour Pointe, were built to make the most of a slope or a view. That often means a deck on the back of the house that stands on tall posts, or a deck that is the only flat part of a steep yard. A tall deck puts more weight on the posts, beams and the board that ties the deck to the house, and a small problem there matters more than it would on a deck a foot off the grass.

The weather adds to it. Fall through spring is long and wet, and many decks under tall evergreens hardly dry out between storms. Moss and algae grow on the boards, needles pack into the gaps, and water sits where boards cross the joists. On lots close to the water, the damp salty air can also wear on screws, nails, joist hangers and metal railing parts faster than it would further inland.

Common problems and what usually causes them

Rot is the problem we see most. It usually starts where water collects and stays: the tops of joists under the deck boards, the ends of boards, the bottoms of stair stringers and posts set in or right on the soil. The ledger board, where the deck attaches to the house, is the most important spot to check. If the flashing above it is missing or has failed, water runs behind it and rots the board and sometimes the wall framing behind it.

Some signs to look for: boards that feel spongy or flex underfoot, dark stains or soft spots you can push a screwdriver into, nails or screws that have backed out, rusty or flaking joist hangers, a railing that moves when you lean on it, and gaps opening between the deck and the house. Stairs are worth checking too. Treads and stringers often go soft before the main deck does.

Deck services we offer in Mukilteo

Deck Repair covers loose or damaged boards, sagging joists, stairs and failed fasteners. Rot Repair is for wood that has gone soft. We cut out the damaged sections, check how far the rot has spread and replace what needs replacing. Deck Inspection is a careful look at the whole structure, from the posts and footings to the ledger and the railings, so you know what condition the deck is in before you decide anything.

Deck Railing covers repairing loose posts and rails or putting in new railings. Deck Staining and Sealing protects wood from the wet months, and it works best on boards that are clean and dry before the finish goes on. Composite Decking is an option for people who want boards that do not need staining. The framing underneath is still wood, so it needs to be in good shape first.

Deck Replacement makes sense when the frame itself has failed. Deck Building is for a new deck where there was none, or a different layout from the old one. Emergency Deck Repair is for a deck or stair that is unsafe right now, such as a broken stair or a railing that has pulled loose. We do this work during our regular business hours, and we put those calls ahead of planned projects whenever we can.

Repair or replace: how we decide

If the posts, beams, joists and ledger are sound, repair is usually the better choice. Replacing worn boards, fixing a stair or adding new railings can give a deck many more years. If rot is limited to a few spots, we can often cut it out and sister new wood alongside the old.

Replacement starts to make sense when rot runs along many joists, when the ledger has rotted behind the flashing, or when the posts and footings are failing. On a tall deck on a slope, we are cautious. If the frame is not something we would trust, we will tell you, even if a cheaper repair is possible. New boards on a weak frame only hide the problem.

What a visit involves

A visit starts on top of the deck. We walk the boards, check the railings and stairs and look at the finish. Then we go underneath, if the deck is high enough to get under, and check the posts, beams, joists, hangers and the ledger where it meets the house. We probe the wood in the places where rot usually starts.

Afterwards we explain what we found in plain terms: what is sound, what is not, and what we would do about it. If there is more than one sensible way to go, such as repairing now and refinishing later, we lay out the options so you can choose. If you have photos of the deck from when it was built, or of a spot that has bothered you, they help.

How to book in Mukilteo

We work in Mukilteo from our base in Everett. You can call us at (425) 010-0006 or email info@deckrepaireverett.com. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We are closed on Sundays and do not take after-hours calls.

When you get in touch, tell us roughly how big the deck is, how high it sits off the ground and what you have noticed. Use the Request a Deck Estimate button on this page and we will contact you to set a time.

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