Decks fail in two ways: visibly (rotted boards, peeling stain, wobbly railing) and invisibly (failed ledger connection, rotted post base below the surface, corroded fasteners in the framing). The visible failures are cosmetic. The invisible ones are why decks collapse — often during the summer cookout with 15 people on them — and why deck safety is a real issue in the Chicagoland housing stock, much of which was built in the 1990s and early 2000s before current code requirements for ledger attachment and post bases.
Dynasty Restoration's deck repairs start with a safety inspection. We check the ledger connection to the house, the post-to-footing bases, the beam-to-post hardware, and the joist hangers and fasteners before we discuss which boards need replacement. Cosmetic repair without addressing underlying issues is not something we do.
Common Deck Repairs
Rotted Decking Boards
Individual board replacement, with color-matched stain or new section of composite. Often accompanies joist inspection to catch underlying rot.
Ledger Board Upgrade
Older decks were attached with nails; current code requires specific structural screws or through-bolts with flashing. This is the #1 structural upgrade we perform.
Post Base Replacement
Post-to-footing hardware that has corroded or was never installed correctly. Posts should never touch concrete directly.
Railing Repair & Tightening
Loose rails, wobbly balusters, and failed post connections. We bring the railing back to code — 42" height, <4" baluster spacing, and rigid.
Stair Repair
Rotted stringers and treads replaced, code-compliant rise and run restored, handrail at proper height.
Fastener & Hardware Upgrade
Corroded nails and screws replaced with modern stainless or coated hardware rated for pressure-treated lumber's current chemistry.
Repair or Replace?
A deck with sound framing and a few bad boards is a clear repair job. A deck with multiple failing structural components — ledger, posts, beams — often hits a point where repair costs approach replacement and the final product is still a 20-year-old deck with piecemeal fixes. We'll walk it with you and give you an honest recommendation. If replacement is the better call, we'll say so and won't waste your money on halfway measures.