Deck Repair Cost Guide with 2023 Prices

How Much Does it Cost to Repair a Deck?

A deck is a significant investment, and in many cases, a repair may be an economical choice compared to a full replacement. Small repairs and even replacing all the deck boards is often significantly less costly than a full rebuild and can offer an updated look.

Still, it helps to know how much the repair work is going to cost you. So, how much does it cost to repair a deck? The short answer is: it depends.

Most homeowners spend $1,500 to $3,000 on a repair project. Here are the factors that affect the cost:

Size of Deck

The size of your deck is a fundamental aspect in regard to calculating the cost of your deck repairs. If you’re thinking of hiring a professional and want to get some quotes for the work you need done, one of the first things you’ll be asked is what size the deck is.

You should be prepared for this question. While some repairs are small and isolated, others may impact the entirety of the deck, such as a rotting structural beam, which is why it’s important to know this information.

Some deck repairs may be priced in square feet, with costs ranging from $10 to $55 per square foot. It’s easy to measure and calculate this; simply multiply the length by the width in feet to find the square footage.

Once you have these measurements, pricing material and labor gets a lot easier because you can calculate how many deck boards, hidden fasteners, and screws you need for your deck. If you want to find out how many boards you’ll need, measure the length of the boards you currently have to use as an estimate.

Let’s not forget the other elements of a deck, however. When calculating repairs, it is easy to forget the railings and balusters that make up a significant proportion of your deck. As such, you can estimate the number of balusters you need for your railing by taking into account the length of the railing and the number of posts it has.

Extent of Work Needed

This, along with the size of your deck, is the most crucial factor in regard to cost. If the damage is minor, the price will be minor. Similarly, if the damage is extensive, be prepared to pay thousands to get your deck looking in good shape again.

Cost to Repair Floor Boards

A common repair project is to replace or update the floor boards on the deck. Replacing a single broken deck board could be as cheap as a couple of dollars, but updating the entire floor to composite decking could cost thousands.

Replacing deck boards costs about $10 to $50 per square foot, depending on the material. A typical deck board flooring upgrade costs about $1,000 to $2,000.

Cost to Repair Railings

Railings and balusters are another common repair item on a deck as they wear over time. Addressing a wobbly post might cost $100. Replacing a small section of railings often costs around $400, while replacing the entire deck railing can cost up to $5,000 for a large deck.^[1]

Cost to Repair Stairs

Repairing stairs often costs around $100 to replace a single tread, with most repairs falling between $150 and $300. Replacing an entire set of deck stairs runs around $125 to $210 per stair, including removal of the old stairs.

Joists and Beams

If the structure is sound, then repairs of boards, posts, and railings may be more economical than replacing the whole deck. But the cost of labor to replace core structural elements such as joists and support beams may make some repairs more expensive than replacing the whole deck.

Rot, sagging areas, termites, and significant damage can cost up to $10,000 to repair. While costly, this can still often be less than the cost of a new deck, depending on the size and the materials used.

DIY Versus Hired Labor

Doing your deck repairs yourself will be more affordable, but consider that professionals often have the tools needed and carpentry skills to create a long-lasting repair. Hiring professional help might seem more expensive in the short term, but it can save you a lot of money in the long term.

If you’re adamant about doing things yourself, supplies for repairing your deck can cost anywhere from tens to hundreds of dollars. If staining or varnishing your deck, a tin of good quality stain costs around $30 to $50.

To get a more long-lasting finish, consider cleaning or power-washing your deck first. Deck cleaner costs around $10 to $20. Thus, cleaning and staining your deck will cost around $60 or more, depending on its size.

For more extensive repairs like replacing rotten deck boards or completely redoing some or all of your deck, the costs go up dramatically. Having any degree of rot on the deck will typically result in repairs that cost between $300 to $5,000 to remove and replace all the rotted sections to make the deck safe again.

Replacing the entire thing may require a budget of thousands, while repairing a part may only cost hundreds.

Find how much stain you’ll need to refinish using our deck stain calculator.

Estimated Costs

It’s clear that there are many things to consider when you’re trying to calculate the cost of your deck repairs. However, it’s still possible to provide some ballpark estimates for you by assuming measurements for some of the variables. Assuming, then, that you need a section of your deck replaced entirely, here are some estimated repair costs for deck flooring:

Costs for common deck board materials.
Material	Cost per Square Foot
Pine, pressure-treated flooring	$8 – $10
Redwood, select heart flooring	$11 – $20
5/4″ x 6″ recycled composite lumber	$15 – $20
2″ x 8″ recycled composite lumber	$20 – $35

Costs for common deck repairs.
Problem	Cost to Repair
Cracking	$150 – $500
Holes	$150 – $500
Creaking Boards	$150 – $600
Missing Nails/Hardware	$100 – $300
Rot	$300 – $5,000
Sagging	$750 – $10,000
Wobbly Stairs	$200 – $2,000

All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.