How to Repair Deck Boards

Deck boards can become weathered and require repair over time.

Maintaining your deck is important for the safety of family and guests. Deck boards weather over time and can begin to degrade if the finish wears. Small areas of rotten deck boards can be repaired if attended to in a timely manner. Repairs are less costly and time consuming than replacement of decking. Therefore it is important to inspect, maintain and repair your deck seasonally.

Things You'll Need

• Paint scraper
• Wire brush
• Wood epoxy primer
• Wood epoxy filler
• Poly brush
• Putty knife
• Sanding block
• Medium-grit sandpaper
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Deck finish
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Scrape the damaged areas on the deck boards with a paint scraper to remove any loose paint.

2. Brush the damaged areas of the deck boards with a wire brush to remove loose pieces of rotted wood and other debris.

3. Apply a thin coat of epoxy primer onto the damaged areas of the boards with a poly brush. Allow the primer to set up as directed on the primer package.

4. Pack epoxy filler into the damaged areas to fill them using the blade of a putty knife. Allow the filler to dry.

5. Sand the repaired areas with a sanding block. Begin sanding with medium-grit sandpaper and finish the sanding process with fine-grit sandpaper until the repair is flush with the decking boards.

6. Apply deck finish to the repairs and allow it to dry prior to use.

Tips & Warnings

• Inspect your deck in the fall and spring to identify areas in need of deck finish or repair.

• Wear eye protection when sanding.

References

• Hammer Zone: Repairing Rotted Exterior Wood
• The Family Handyman: How to Use Epoxy on Wood for Repairs

Resources

• Ron Hazelton's House Calls: How to Restore a Weathered Deck