Repairing Dangerous Decking

The Existing Decked Area:

The decking was in very bad shape, especially the part where my client had to step down from the patio to reach the decking around his summer house. The boards there were rotting, and the frame beneath was so damaged that part had no support at all. My client, an older man with back problems, stopped using the garden because the only way there was across the unsafe decking. He was afraid of falling through, which was even more dangerous since he lived alone.

Design Brief:

To make the decking safe, create a gap between the decking/frame and the patio wall to reduce water getting into the wood. Cut out and replace any rotten frame and decking boards. Use new timber for frame repairs. Use some old decking boards from the client to lower the cost of buying new ones.

Issues to be resolved:

Rotten decking frame
Rotten decking boards
Change decking design to prevent future problems
Build a safe structure

Solutions and tasks completed:

• Removed all decking boards

• Removed rotten and broken support framework

• Installed new joists, adding additional noggins and bracing

• Added vertical supports resting on pavers where necessary

• Cut out sections of rotten decking boards

• Reinstalled old decking boards

• Replaced rotten board sections using reclaimed decking timbers & then new timbers where needed