Pacific Northwest Decks resurfaces decks in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene when the existing frame is still worth keeping.
Resurfacing can be worth it when the existing frame has enough life left. New decking and railing carry long warranties, but those warranties do not mean much if the frame underneath only has a few years left. The question is simple: will the existing frame last as long as the new materials we are installing?
Before we recommend resurfacing, we verify the frame is worth keeping. We check for rot on top of the joists, failing fasteners, settling, poor original construction, and whether the deck is pulling away from the house. If the frame is rotting, moving, poorly built, or not going to last with the new materials, we will not resurface it. The entire deck will need to be replaced.
First, we discuss your current deck’s condition and material options. Since the existing frame stays in place, resurfacing is not a full layout redesign. It updates the space with new decking, fascia, and railing.
Resurfacing can also include structural repair if needed, such as replacing footings, posts, or beams, or adding joists for picture framing the new decking. We ensure the frame is as flat as the existing structure allows, and we tape the entire frame with G-Tape, protecting it from water. Resurfacing prepares the existing frame for new materials, but since the original structure remains, the finished project will not perform the same as a full deck replacement.
Our process starts when you send photos of the deck. This lets us do a preliminary review before coming out and make sure we are aligned on where the project is likely headed. It saves both of us time if the deck is not a resurfacing candidate or the project is not a good fit.
If the project fits our resurfacing framework, we inspect the existing frame, talk through material options, and provide a proposal. Once the project starts, the old decking, fascia, and railing are removed. We check the frame again, plane it as flat as the existing structure allows, tape it with G-Tape, and install the new materials.
Resurfacing is for an existing deck with a frame that has a lot of life left but needs to be refreshed. The decking is worn out, the fascia is aged, the railing is starting to be unsafe, and the whole deck is showing its age. But if the structure has enough life for new materials, your deck is a candidate for resurfacing instead of a full replacement. In our experience, only 5% of the resurfacing projects we are contacted about actually fit this framework. The rest need to be replaced.
Some clients prefer to spread payments out instead of paying for the full project at once. When available, financing options can be shown directly through our JobTread proposals so you can review estimated monthly payments while looking at the scope of work.
Pacific Northwest Decks does not provide the financing or receive a kickback if you choose to use it. Financing is handled through a third party, and the terms are between you and the lender.
These are the questions people usually ask before deciding whether deck resurfacing is the right option. The answers below will help you understand frame condition, what gets replaced, and when full replacement is the better choice.
Deck resurfacing costs less than full replacement because the existing frame stays in place and, when the scope stays limited to resurfacing, a new permit is not required. That alone can save a few thousand dollars before any material or labor differences are considered.
That does not make resurfacing a cheap project. You are still replacing the decking, fascia, railing, and preparing the existing frame for new materials. Most resurfacing projects we take on fall somewhere between $20,000 – $50,000+, depending on size, material choices, railing, stairs, structural repair, and how much work the existing frame needs. Full replacement costs more because the entire structure is removed and rebuilt.
Most deck resurfacing projects take a few weeks to a month or more once work starts. The timeline depends on deck size, material lead times, railing, stairs, structural repair, and how much work the existing frame needs after the old decking is removed.
No. Deck resurfacing does not come with the same warranty as a full deck replacement because the existing frame remains. Full deck replacements receive our full warranty package because we are building the structure and finish details from the ground up.
Resurfacing carries a one-year limited workmanship warranty on the specific new work we perform, unless the proposal states otherwise. New decking and railing may also carry manufacturer warranties, but the existing frame is not covered as new construction. We can stand behind the work we install. We cannot warranty the remaining life, condition, alignment, or performance of framing we did not build.
If we find rot after the old decking comes off, the project has to be reassessed before new materials are installed. If the rot is isolated to the posts or beams, we will provide a change order for the additional structural repair. If the rot is in the joists, ledger, or larger frame system, resurfacing is no longer viable and we will provide a change order for deck replacement. We do not cover rotten framing with new decking.
If the project is limited to replacing the decking, fascia, and railing without major structural changes or frame work, we do not have to pull a new permit. That changes if the project becomes a replacement, requires major structural work, or includes something like a roof cover. Permit requirements depend on the scope and the jurisdiction, so we will tell you if your project needs a permit.
Send us photos of your current deck and tell us what you want to update. We’ll review the frame, talk through material options, and let you know whether resurfacing looks like the right path or if the deck needs to be replaced.
Pacific Northwest Decks is owner-led by Caleb White. Learn more about how the company started, why we stay selective, and what standard we hold every project to.