How to Remove Old Boards From a Wooden Deck

Remove the old deck board and replace with new lumber.

Wooden decks are susceptible to the weather. The boards on your wooden deck will break, rot, crack or split over time. Replacing individual boards is one way to keep your deck looking nice, as well as structurally sound. Removing old boards requires drilling holes near the ends of the boards. These holes provide an area to pry the board away from the deck without having to damage or remove adjoining deck boards.

Things You'll Need

• 1-inch hole saw
• Drill
• Crowbar
• Scrap piece of wood
• Jigsaw

Instructions

1. Bore a hole into each end of the board with a 1-inch hole saw and drill. Position the hole saw 1/2 inch from the end of the board to avoid cutting into the deck joist.

2. Insert a crowbar into the hole and place a scrap piece of wood under the crowbar. The scrap wood will give you leverage and help protect the boards next to the one you are removing.

3. Pry the end of the old board with the pry bar until you are able to slide the pry bar under the edge of the board opposite the hole. Pull out the pry bar and insert it under the edge of the board to completely pry up one end. Repeat for the other end of the board. Lift the board away from the deck and move it out of your way.

4. Bore additional holes as necessary wherever the board crosses over a joist, keeping the hole saw away from the joist directly. If necessary, cut the width of the board with a jigsaw, using the hole as a starting point. Sometimes this makes removing the board less difficult.

References

• Bob Vila: How to Replace a Damaged Deck Board