Get matched with top deck maintenance specialists in Mallory, WV

Installing an ornamental or decorative porch column takes around three to five hours. Structural columns take longer because your pro has to install a jack to hold up the roof while switching the column out. If there's any structural damage, it can add several days to the timeline to repair the damage.

While building your deck, you might come across something called the four-inch sphere rule. Essentially, this railing requirement for a deck states that a four-inch ball should not be able to fit through any gap in the deck railings. The gap between spindles and between the decking and the bottom of the railing must be less than four inches to prevent small children or pets from squeezing through the gap.

In most cases, repairing a deck costs much less than replacing it. Deck repairs cost around $2,000 on average, while the cost of deck replacement is at least $7,900. Repairing involves fixing issues like loose boards or small cracks, which requires less material and labor. If the deck has extensive damage, though, the cost of repairs can add up quickly, and it may be more cost-effective to replace the deck entirely.

When it comes to rotten deck wood, there really is no fixing it in the traditional sense—it needs to be removed and replaced. While you can certainly do this yourself, we don’t recommend it as some of the issues causing wood to rot could have spread throughout your deck and an untrained eye may not be able to notice. The good news is that replacing deck wood isn’t the most expensive project, and can seriously increase the quality and aesthetics of your home.