Deck Repair & Replacement in Aurora, CO

Deck repair and replacement choices in Aurora hinge on the hidden structure: ledger, posts, beams and footings. A few cracked boards or a wobbly rail can be fixed in a day. A ledger separating from the wall, posts sitting on blocks, or footings that have heaved out of level are structural problems, and on an older deck they can mean the whole thing should come down and be rebuilt.

What we inspect

• Ledger: whether it is bolted to the house rim, flashed, and free of rot behind it
• Footings and posts: depth, movement, and whether posts are anchored or simply resting
• Beams and joists: rot, splits, sagging spans and missing hangers
• Railings and guards: wobble, loose posts and rail height
• Stairs: loose treads, rotted stringers and handrails
• Decking: soft spots, splitting, raised fasteners and cupping

Problems common to Aurora decks

Aurora grew from 11,421 residents in 1950 to 158,588 in 1980, and many homes from those decades still have original or early decks. Older decks were often built with shallow footings, nailed ledgers and no flashing. Freeze-thaw can push shallow footings upward; the City of Aurora now lists a 36-inch frost depth. The Colorado Geological Survey also notes that swelling clay soils, common on the plains, can heave slabs and lightly loaded foundations, which shows up as decks that have tipped or separated from the house.

Signs a deck should be replaced

Angi's guidance on repair versus replacement points to large holes or split boards, widespread rot, a structure that sways, frequent costly repairs and a deck past its expected lifespan as signs that replacement is the better value. We add one more: if the framing does not meet current code and fixing it means rebuilding most of the frame, a new deck usually costs less than piecemeal repairs.

Keeping the frame, replacing the surface

Sometimes the framing is sound and only the decking and railings are worn out. In that case we can strip the old boards, replace damaged joists, add blocking and hangers where needed, and put down new wood or composite decking. Composite may need closer joist spacing than the old wood did, so we check that before quoting a resurface.

After hail or a heavy snow

Hail can split weathered boards and dent railings, and a heavy wet snow can stress an under-built deck or pergola. If a storm has done damage, we can document what we find with photos and a written scope you can share with your insurer. We do not make coverage decisions or promise what insurance will pay.

Permits for repair work

Like-for-like board replacement is usually simple, but structural repairs, a new ledger or a full replacement often need a permit. Aurora's handbook calls for one on any attached deck and on any deck over 30 inches tall. We confirm with the city and pull the permit when it applies.