Grace Woodwork
Deck Repair in Kilgore and East Texas
Soft or split boards, a railing that moves when you lean on it, stairs that sag, a finish that has washed away. We repair wood decks and refinish them for East Texas sun and rain.
Why East Texas decks wear out
The Texas A&M Forest Service calls the Pineywoods the wettest part of the state, with most of the region getting 32 to 50 inches of rain a year. Add long hot summers and a deck lives a hard life: wet, then baked, then wet again.
Rot needs water. The USDA Wood Handbook says serious decay only happens when wood stays wetter than about 30 percent moisture, which is why it starts where water sits: board ends, the tops of posts, under planters and mats, and against the house. Termites look for the same damp wood; Texas A&M AgriLife notes that subterranean termites need contact with soil or another moisture source.
Most deck problems start small. A board softens at one end. A railing post loosens a little more each season. Catching them early keeps a repair to a repair.
Safe checks you can do yourself
The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) publishes a simple checklist homeowners can follow. These checks only involve looking, pressing, pushing and probing with a screwdriver; leave anything that needs power tools or lumber to someone who repairs decks.
- Probe for rot with a screwdriver in damp spots, board ends and around fasteners
- Look at the ledger, the board where the deck meets the house, for rot, gaps or rust
- Check the flashing over the ledger is in place and sending water away
- Look for rusted or loose fasteners and connectors
- Push on the railings; they should not move
- Walk the stairs and look for sagging, loose treads or soft stringers
Stop and call if you find: a soft or rotten ledger, posts or joists; a deck that sways or sags; a railing that moves when you lean on it. These parts carry the load. Keep people off that area until it has been looked at.
NADRA itself says its checklist does not make a deck code compliant and recommends having a deck builder or home inspector evaluate it.
What we repair
- Deck boards: rotten, split or cupped boards replaced, and loose ones refastened
- Railings: loose posts resecured, broken balusters and top rails replaced
- Stairs: worn treads replaced and loose steps tightened
- Trim and skirting: fascia and lattice repaired or replaced
- Finish: cleaning, then stain or sealer to protect the wood
When the problem is in the framing, the posts or footings, or the ledger connection to the house, that is structural work. We will tell you what we see, and where the job needs a structural assessment or a permit, we will say so before anything is quoted.
Replacement lumber outdoors is pressure-treated, and the American Wood Council advises treating every cut end and drilled hole, because the preservative does not reach the center of the board.
Deck and porch together
Many East Texas houses have both, and they fail in the same places. If the front porch needs work too, see porch repair. The shop is in Kilgore and we work across Longview, Tyler, Henderson, Marshall and the other towns we serve.
Common questions
How do I know if my deck boards are rotten?
Press a screwdriver or an awl into the wood, especially in damp spots and around fasteners. The North American Deck and Railing Association says decay may be present if the tool sinks in easily, a sliver breaks off short instead of splintering, or the wood feels soft and spongy.
Should I repair or replace my deck?
If the damage is limited to some boards, a railing or a set of stairs, repair usually makes sense. If the framing, posts or the connection to the house are failing in many places, replacement may cost less in the end. We tell you which after looking.
Do I need a permit to repair a deck in Kilgore?
Replacing a few boards usually is not structural, but work that changes the structure can need a permit. The City of Kilgore's building services FAQ says to ask before you start; check with the city, or with your own city if you live elsewhere, before structural deck work.
How often should a deck be stained or sealed?
It depends on the product and the sun. USDA Forest Products Laboratory guidance puts clear water repellents at roughly 6 to 12 months and clear water-repellent preservatives at 1 to 2 years; pigmented stains last longer, and foot traffic shortens every finish on a deck. If water soaks in instead of beading, it is time.
How much does deck repair cost?
It depends on what is damaged and how much. National cost guides publish wide ranges, from small board repairs to jobs in the thousands. We quote your deck after seeing it.
Send a photo and we will tell you what it needs.
A phone picture is plenty. You will hear what the piece needs, what it will cost and roughly how long it will take before anything starts.
- HoursMonday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- The shopKilgore, Texas, working across East Texas
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