A deck that looks tired is not always a deck that is failing. Surface weathering is cosmetic. Rot is structural. Telling them apart saves you from replacing sound boards.
Checks you can do in ten minutes
- Press a screwdriver into the board. If it sinks in easily, the wood is soft and likely rotten.
- Look at the underside and joists for dark, crumbling timber.
- Check that fixings are tight and not rusted through.
- Note any boards that flex or bounce more than their neighbours.
If the wood is sound
Grey colour, old stain, algae and black spot sit on the surface. Cleaning removes them and a fresh coat of oil or stain restores the colour. Laser cleaning avoids the water that pressure washing forces into the grain.
If it is not
Soft boards and rotted joists need replacing for safety. You can still clean the sound boards to match, so you do not have to redo the whole deck.