A cost effective deck restoration in Frenchs Forest.
Peter recently undertook the restoration of an old deck in Frenchs Forest on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
The customer had a large L-shaped deck at the rear of their home, most of which was covered by a roof. However, one section of the deck was exposed to rain and sun, leading to extensive wood rot over the years.
Assessing the damage. Planning the deck restoration.
The customer contacted Peter after they fell through one of the rotting pieces of deck timber. This was no longer a project that could be put off!
During his initial inspection, Peter crawled underneath the deck to thoroughly examine the condition of the timber bearer and joists. He determined that only the area exposed to the elements was affected, while the rest of the deck was still in good condition and could last several more years.
Relieved by this news, the customer agreed to have Peter replace only the damaged section.
Removing the rotten decking timbers.
Peter began the project by carefully removing all the decking timbers, which revealed joists that were severely affected by wood rot. Only two of the original joists were without rot and could be retained.
Unfortuntely, whomever built the deck originally had not taken additional measures to protect the timber from rain, contributing to their deterioration and the spread of wood rot. The railing in this section also needed replacing, as unpainted and raw timber areas had allowed wood rot to spread.
Reinforcing the structure.
The original deck’s construction had lacked sufficient support for the large timber bearer that held both the deck and pergola roof.
To provide adequate support to the timber bearer, and prevent it from sagging or warping, Peter installed a new timber support post which he concreted into the ground with a galvanised post stirrup.
Installing new materials.
Joists: Peter replaced the rotten joists with H3 treated pine for durability against the sun and rain. To extend their lifespan, he painted them before installation and ensured all raw timber ends were sealed with quality exterior paint.
Decking: The new decking timbers were cut to size and painted on the underside before being installed to provide additional protection.
Railing: Peter installed modern horizontal railings as requested by the customer, giving the new section a contemporary look. Positioned at the end of the deck, the modern railing added a stylish touch while distinguishing the updated section from the original.
Finishing touches and painting.
And finally, Peter painted the new railings in a durable exterior paint in white. The customer had some leftover grey outdoor paint which Peter used as an undercoat for the decking. Eventually the entire deck will be painted to give it a fresh look.
Future restoration plans for the rest of the deck.
This deck restoration project is still a work in progress. Peter has already begun removing other random decking timbers that are showing signs of rot and replacing these with new boards. Once this is complete, he will pressuer clean the entire deck and paint it a uniform colour, transforming it into a cohesive outdoor space.
CONTACT PETER
If your outdoor living area has seen better days, contact Peter for expert deck restoration advice and repairs. Call Peter to discuss cost effective solutions that will restore your deck to its former glory, transforming it into a functional (and safe) space.
Peter is a local Northern Beaches handyman who services clients from Palm Beach to Manly, Terrey Hills to Balgowlah, and everywhere in between. No job too small.
Get all your repair jobs fixed at once. Why not prepare a list of all those annoying property maintenance and home repair projects that have been bothering you and get Peter to fix them in one go.
Peter Mitchell
That Handy Guy