Another repair question (my deck)

[Jerry1]

I have an old wood deck - about 30 years old. It's actually not in bad shape. It's sturdy but the base has several boards that have rot and need replaced. One quote was $860 to replace 5 boards and the other quote was $944 to replace 6 boards. The boards are 2x4's and are about 14ft so let's say materials are about $75. So, over $750 in labor to replace some boards on a deck? Wow. DW and I kind of choked on that one. Include power washing the deck and restaining it and the low bid was $1500 and the high bid was over $1800. The deck is 10x12, so not too big.

I'm not inclined to do the work myself, but I'm wondering about getting my SIL to do it. I'd pay someone $500 to do the repair work or give that to SIL. How hard is it to just pull up some deck boards and put some new one's down? Am I kidding myself that these quotes are unrealistic?

 

[REWahoo]

Most deck construction/repair businesses aren't interested in small jobs like yours and charge what most of us consider an outrageous sum to make the job worth their while. Keep looking.

I'm running into something similar trying to find a company to install rain gutter covers on a 75 ft length of guttering along the rear of our single story house. First bid was $1,500 - yikes. I kept looking until I found someone to install basically the same covers for less than half that amount.

 

[Kings over Queens]

I have an old wood deck - about 30 years old. It's actually not in bad shape. It's sturdy but the base has several boards that have rot and need replaced. One quote was $860 to replace 5 boards and the other quote was $944 to replace 6 boards. The boards are 2x4's and are about 14ft so let's say materials are about $75. So, over $750 in labor to replace some boards on a deck? Wow. DW and I kind of choked on that one. Include power washing the deck and restaining it and the low bid was $1500 and the high bid was over $1800. The deck is 10x12, so not too big.

I'm not inclined to do the work myself, but I'm wondering about getting my SIL to do it. I'd pay someone $500 to do the repair work or give that to SIL. How hard is it to just pull up some deck boards and put some new one's down? Am I kidding myself that these quotes are unrealistic?

Factor in time to and from the lumber yard for material, overhead and profit on the truck he needs to pickup the materials. Is he using stainless steel screws? Those are expensive.

How many employees on the job? Mobilization, set up, clean up. Probably 2 guys, 3 or 4 hours, perhaps 5 if you include picking up material.

There is more than goes into it.

Side question, you say these are 2 x 4 boards, which wouldn't be typical for deck planking. You mentioned the base which has me wondering if these are structural in nature, and if so, would require more work.

 

[target2019]

Base means what?

I do have 2 x 4 decking, but that is not really standard.

For now I'll assume you mean decking, and not deck joists.

 

[pb4uski]

Most deck construction/repair businesses aren't interested in small jobs like yours and charge what most of us consider an outrageous sum to make the job worth their while. Keep looking. ...

I'm guessing that you might be able to find a handyman who are used to small jobs who would do it for less.

If each board took an hour and you paid someone $100/hr (which I think is extreme for a handyman) then 6 boards would only be $600 + $75 for materials. I would even pay a little extra to have them go to the lumberyard and be judicious in selecting the material rather than have the lumberyard select and deliver it.

 

[Jerry1]

They are 2x4's and no, they are not the joists. That's how they built them 30 years ago. The deck is original to the condo built in 1994. It's actually pretty solid structurally but it certainly is showing its age. We're trying to decide what to do given that our time horizon her is 10 to 15 years. I'd like to keep from having to replace it but if I'm going to have to replace it, better to do sooner than later. Still, it isn't happening this year since we're doing the kitchen this year.

 

[pb4uski]

Yes, the deck at our former main home had 2x6 for decking and 2x lumber was commonly used for decking. 5/4 decking is more prevalent these days.

 

[marko]

My starting point is "its not worth their time for anyone to just even show up for $300" let alone do some work. Carpenters, plumbers, electricians all make the same $/time calculation. The expense/overhead clock is ticking for them the moment they get in the truck each morning whether they have a job that day or not....

You're not paying for the nails, you're paying for the licenses, insurances, crew, fees, permits, equipment, fuel etc etc.

 

[misanman]

Our cedar deck is 30 years old and I've replaced quite a few deck boards (they are 6 x 5/4) over the years without difficulty. Use a crowbar to pull up the bad boards. A power mitre saw is handy to make diagonal cuts if you have them and I would recommend using color matched deck screws. My original deck boards used nails but any replacements are secured with screws. You might want to stain the boards before installation. Without knowing much detail, it sounds like a half day's work for the home handyman.

 

[HarveyS]

A handyman would likely do it for less. It appears to me that in the case of the deck companies you are paying for a full day of labor, even though you only need a few hours. The deck company likely will not have another job to pair with your job, so you get the full-day charge. A handyman probably doesn't want a full day of labor, so you pay for what you use. Are there any neighbors with a similar issue that you could pair with your job for the deck companies?

 

[Aerides]

A handyman would likely do it for less. It appears to me that in the case of the deck companies you are paying for a full day of labor, even though you only need a few hours. The deck company likely will not have another job to pair with your job, so you get the full-day charge. A handyman probably doesn't want a full day of labor, so you pay for what you use. Are there any neighbors with a similar issue that you could pair with your job for the deck companies?

This is probably a good reason for the math. I'd probably just go with the $1500 all in and be done with it. Deck ready for Memorial Day weekend vs. not.

But if you do go handyman or other route, do make sure whoever it is, is licensed/insured, etc.

 

[engineernerd]

I agree that this job sounds more suited to a handyman. And it can be a great thing to develop a relationship with a good local one, preferably found via word-of-mouth from friends and neighbors.

The word-of-mouth aspect gets the relationship off to a good start (better trust on both sides), and he knows a good impression will improve his relationship with his other customers, too.

 

[jazz4cash]

I agree with the handyman suggestion, or even a painter My deck is ~25 yrs old. 2x6 pressure treated decking. I just replaced two 14 footers. Not sure what base means but that sounds like joists/support lumber. You could order material from Home Depot and have it delivered for $75 or less. Easy job.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

My upstairs wooden balcony off my bedroom is also needing work. It's 10 x 20 and a lot of the nails are popping up so the floor moves when I walk on it so I rarely go out there any more. The wood itself is in okay shape for 35 years old I think but it's long overdue for new paint. Would replacing the nails with larger deck screws be the answer? I do know I'll also need to replace the wooden railing as they're definitely not safe to lean against and need to be replaced with a metal railing. I just want to sound as if I know what I'm talking about when I get estimates. I may even consider just blowing the dough and having a covered patio built all along that entire side of the house and a new stuccoed balcony built but right now I'm just looking at my options

 

[engineernerd]

RetiredAndLovingIt, I dunno, easiest way to find out is to try it on a few boards (cheap and easy if you have a pry bar to pull the nails and a drill to install the screws). But after 35 years and too little paint you might be wrong about the condition of the wood. If the nails are loose in their holes, water could be going down through the nail holes and rotting the supporting joists, too.

 

[wolf]

Not recommended. Lazy man fix. Pull up the board. Flip over. screw down. Done.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

Not recommended. Lazy man fix. Pull up the board. Flip over. screw down. Done.

That only works if the wood rot isn't too far along. I know, I replaced *all* the deck boards on my 30 year old deck.

 

[momoney]

Are the 2x4s laid on the skinny side or the wide side? If they are on the skinny side, it's definitely a more complex job. And you need a dry, straight 2x4.

Send a picture of the problem if you can.

 

[Surewhitey]

+1 for flipping...

 

[pacergal]

Not recommended. Lazy man fix. Pull up the board. Flip over. screw down. Done.

That is what DH has done on our two decks, unless rot is present. We have replaced both decks once since we have been in this house, 36 years.

 

[jcfradio]

I have an old wood deck - about 30 years old. It's actually not in bad shape. It's sturdy but the base has several boards that have rot and need replaced. One quote was $860 to replace 5 boards and the other quote was $944 to replace 6 boards. The boards are 2x4's and are about 14ft so let's say materials are about $75. So, over $750 in labor to replace some boards on a deck? Wow. DW and I kind of choked on that one. Include power washing the deck and restaining it and the low bid was $1500 and the high bid was over $1800. The deck is 10x12, so not too big.

I'm not inclined to do the work myself, but I'm wondering about getting my SIL to do it. I'd pay someone $500 to do the repair work or give that to SIL. How hard is it to just pull up some deck boards and put some new one's down? Am I kidding myself that these quotes are unrealistic?

What type of deck material are you using? I need to replace 5 cedar deck boards that are 2X6x8 ft and they are are $32 each at Home Despot; so about $200 after taxes. Add in the other costs mentioned by pb4uski and you can triple this cost at least, so what appears to be a small job can add up quickly. If you can find a local handyman to do this in a couple of hours (you supply the materials), that would be the best way to go.

 

[jazz4cash]

if using pressure treated the cost is 1/3 the cost of cedar. I know cedar is more, but didn’t think it should be that much difference.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I have an old wood deck - about 30 years old. It's actually not in bad shape. It's sturdy but the base has several boards that have rot and need replaced. One quote was $860 to replace 5 boards and the other quote was $944 to replace 6 boards. The boards are 2x4's and are about 14ft so let's say materials are about $75. So, over $750 in labor to replace some boards on a deck? Wow. DW and I kind of choked on that one. Include power washing the deck and restaining it and the low bid was $1500 and the high bid was over $1800. The deck is 10x12, so not too big.

I'm not inclined to do the work myself, but I'm wondering about getting my SIL to do it. I'd pay someone $500 to do the repair work or give that to SIL. How hard is it to just pull up some deck boards and put some new one's down? Am I kidding myself that these quotes are unrealistic?

Buy the materials (wood and deck nails) and get a handyman for $300 or so (for board replacement). Lot of the cost is staging (securing materials) and clean up.

 

[Music Lover]

Factor in time to and from the lumber yard for material, overhead and profit on the truck he needs to pickup the materials. Is he using stainless steel screws? Those are expensive.

How many employees on the job? Mobilization, set up, clean up. Probably 2 guys, 3 or 4 hours, perhaps 5 if you include picking up material.

It only takes 15 or so minutes to replace 5 deck boards, you do not need 2 people for 3 or 4 hours. Add the time required to pick up the boards and it should be an hour or less.

For reference, I've laid boards on a 12' x 16' deck (33 - 12' boards) that I framed the previous day in about 4 hours by myself.

 

[Kings over Queens]

It only takes 15 or so minutes to replace 5 deck boards, you do not need 2 people for 3 or 4 hours. Add the time required to pick up the boards and it should be an hour or less.

For reference, I've laid boards on a 12' x 16' deck (33 - 12' boards) that I framed the previous day in about 4 hours by myself.

Cool.

You available? I know a guy who's looking to hire someone for a job.