Deck, Porch, and Fence Repair

Wood rots fast in Florida. Deck boards, porch joists, fence posts — anything in contact with moisture or soil will eventually fail. We replace rotten boards, sister in new joists where the old ones have gone soft, and reset posts that have rotted at ground level.

For ground-contact lumber, we use pressure-treated rated for that use. For decking surfaces, pressure-treated is the budget option, cedar looks better and lasts longer, and composite costs more upfront but doesn't rot or splinter. We'll walk you through the trade-offs.

Deck railings that wobble usually mean the posts aren't secured properly or the rim joist they're bolted to is rotted. We'll pull the railing, check the structure, replace what's bad, then re-mount everything solid. If the railing is just loose hardware, that's a quick fix — lag bolts and washers.

“Wood rots fast in Florida. Deck boards, porch joists, fence posts — anything in contact with moisture or soil will eventually fail.”

Fence repairs are usually gates that sag or posts that have leaned. We reset posts in concrete if they've rotted at the base, replace gate hinges and latches, and add diagonal bracing to gates that are racking. Chain-link fence repairs are less common but we handle them — replacing tension wire, re-stretching fabric, resetting posts.

Porch repairs often involve replacing the tongue-and-groove porch flooring. It's a tedious job because you have to pull boards without destroying the ones you're keeping, then match the profile and fit the new ones in. If the joists underneath are bad, that's a bigger structural job.

Deck staining and sealing is separate from repairs but often needed after we replace boards. New wood needs to weather for a few weeks before staining, and the deck needs to be clean and dry. We'll pressure wash it first, let it dry for a day or two, then apply stain or sealer. It needs to be redone every couple of years in Florida's sun and humidity.

Pressure-treated lumber has a green or brown tint from the treatment chemicals. It takes months to fade to gray if left untreated. If you want it to match existing weathered wood immediately, we can apply a gray stain after it's installed.