If anything, without the basics of a white picket fence, backyard wood deck, or concrete porch the exterior of your home would appear to be lacking and dull. But even worse than a barebones outdoor space for your house is a platform that has fallen into disrepair which is not only an unsightly eyesore but also a safety hazard for anyone who struts or sits upon it. Only irresponsible homeowners treat their porches as just a physical platform as they quickly find themselves needing frequent Norfolk County porch repair. Norfolk County, MA residents however who are keen about participating in the proper upkeep of their deck including routine maintenance with an annual professional inspection and pressure washing cleaning service will find they don’t require a porch repair service anytime soon. Lately, if you’ve noticed your porch’s boards have hairline cracks or fractures, small holes or dents, have become loose or have begun to sag or sink under due to rot from mold and mildew growth or corrode from discolored rust–these are all culprits that your deck has deteriorated. Most Norfolk County homeowners hope for a picturesque porch to make their humble abode more charming, but of course, having a badly damaged one defeats the purpose of having one in the first place. Not only will your home’s property value plummet but you also put into jeopardy your sense of personal safety as you can potentially trip on a loose floorboard due to a broken fastener.
What Makes Mr. Handyman Topnotch Service Provider?
At Mr. Handyman of Central-Eastern Norfolk County & S. Shore, we demonstrate a notable track record of over 18 years has been of service to Norfolk County and nearby areas of Plympton, Quincy, Randolph, and Hingham for professional porch repair. Norfolk County, MA clientele can expect our team members to be well-equipped with the knowledge, skill set, and techniques for a Norfolk County porch repair as we always advocate for our customers by honestly listening to their paint points and feedback and in turn offer authentic and effective results-oriented solutions for exterior home remodeling, especially porch repair. Norfolk County, MA residents who are indecisive can go ahead and book a no-obligation consultation appointment in which they can sit down, discuss and customize a solution for your Norfolk County porch repair and take into any future upgrades you are planning to make such as swapping out the material from concrete to wood. Our handyman always arrives unformed and prompt and can even accommodate any last-minute emergencies such as your platform accidentally caving in. We always leave the premises neat after our work shift and dispose of the rubble at the proper facilities so there’s no need to chase after us, unlike some shady contractors who do not do so.
How Do We Approach a Norfolk County Porch Repair?
By depending on a savvy handyman for Norfolk County porch repair you can be rest assured they will make minor mends by tweaking loose nuts and bolts to remove any loose or warped floorboards and conducting a total overhaul of your porch so that it is once again structurally sound. We best advise Norfolk County homeowners to be keen about maintaining their porches by staining and sealing them occasionally to preserve their original appearance. If you suspect your porch has become rickety, unable to uphold as it once used to, it may be about time for a Norfolk County porch repair. Norfolk County, MA can expect us to refurbish their platform if it's made of the following materials:
- Pressured Treated Wood: There are three main varieties of wood used for a wood platform including pressure treated, redwood, and cedar. Pressure-treated wood is a great alternative to natural and organic wood as it’s more resistant to decay, bodes well in moist areas, wards off pests, and is more fire-resistant than just real wood. But it's still a wood-based product and still vulnerable to harmful local weather conditions including harsh sunlight exposure and can crack and disclosure if not cared for properly with the occasional pressure washing and added stain.
- Cedar Wood: Another durable wood material that can handle fluctuating temperatures, withstand heavy pressure, and bodes well in humid and most conditions. Best of all it doesn't have to be stained and requires less maintenance. It still needs to be cleaned of any build of dirt and debris however and if you fail to do so it can discolor and fade to a paler gray.
- Redwood: Redwood is durable as it doesn't easily warp or split and is also resistant to pests. It’s a popular choice for a porch given its natural reddish color and texture, but you can expect a Norfolk County porch repair as redwood dents if it’s exposed to heavy amounts of pressure for example from lugging around furniture on the patio.
- Natural Stone: Natural stone is both durable and eco-friendly plus it embodies an everlasting presence, unlike other porch materials. It does require regular maintenance though as natural stone pavers begin to crumble a handful of years down the line and require a porch repair. Norfolk County, MA can also expect weeds to grow through any loosened joints as the sand that glues the stones together needs to be replenished.
- Steel: A steel porch is not commonplace but one of the most durable materials as it’s lightweight, able to withstand heavy pressure and handle fluctuating temperatures, and of course resistant to fire. But you’re not off the hook for maintenance as it does require pressure washing to get rid of any dirt, dust, mold, mildew, or moss. If you overlook this don’t be surprised to see discolored rust crop up on your platform.
- Aluminum: Aluminum is not as durable as steel but it's still sturdy and doesn’t crack or warp easily and still a better substitute for wood as it’s resistant to mold. It can, however, get noisy if put under heavy amounts of pressure including foot traffic, and becomes slippery once exposed to freezing temperatures.
- Fiberglass: One of the most delicate but tasteful materials, fiberglass is not only durable but waterproof and has lesser maintenance. The only thing to be mindful of is that it can be a nuisance for a Norfolk County porch repair, Norfolk County, MA clients can expect that the boards cannot easily be corrected if cracked and usually require the replacement of the entire board making fiberglass a more expensive option.
- Concrete: Concrete is an entry-level option for a front porch given that it's an incredibly durable, versatile, and inexpensive option. Plus you won’t need as many porch repairs, Norfolk County, MA property owners will discover that can last you decades. Unlike a wood porch too, a concrete one is closed-off and doesn’t allow curious critters or wild animals including rodents and skunks to make the space underneath their breeding ground. It is however pricer to install and not exactly the most luxurious nor comfortable material to unwind and relax on.
- Vinyl: Plastic has always been the safe and entry-level choice for home renovation, especially for a porch repair as it is durable, doesn’t warp, peel or fade, can withstand both heavy pressure and various temperatures and you can even adopt a copycat material which imitates the real thing. For example, authentic wood can be mimicked by a wood-grain palette. The only thing to keep in mind is that apart from being more expensive it’s not a biodegradable material so any bits and pieces which shed from refinishing a vinyl platform need to be physically removed as they can decompose and pollute the environment.
How Do We Conduct a Porch Repair for Minor Fixes?
After many years of use, your porch had a good run but all that wear and tear wreaks havoc on your platform and the only way to remedy the structural damage is to ask for a Norfolk County porch repair. Norfolk County, MA clients can expect a professional handyman to do their utmost for a quality porch repair from the very get-go from inspecting, and making repairs to cleansing and sealing off the finished platform.
- Routine Inspection: First and foremost, our handyman must proceed to perform a thorough observation of the current condition of your porch. If there is significant damage on the joists or posts due to water and moisture damage the porch itself may not be salvageable. If that’s the case you may require a brand-new porch installation instead.
- Back-Up Support: For any damaged joists we will reinforce them with another supporting joist measured and fit to the same dimensions as the old joist, and then we will proceed to seal them so they remain waterproof. We will secure the joists to one another using special deck screws of galvanized nails. We will also secure the new joist to the ledger board which is usually found at the very edge of the porch and serves to uphold any joists.
- Double Check: Now we will proceed to assess the porch’s surface by thoroughly inspecting it for any cracks or rotted areas. If any boards are broken we will proceed to replace them.
- Quit Screwing Around: Next we will proceed to replace any nails which have popped out or bent wayward using deck screws as replacements. We will pry out the old, damaged screws using the claw end of a hammer or small crowbar.
- Securely Fasten: We will make sure any fasteners are nice and tight and sit flush with the porch. We do so by using a socket wrench to tighten the lag screw and also using a crescent wrench to tighten nuts on any lag bolts. We will also ensure the metal hangers which support and uphold the joists beneath the deck are nailed in on either side of the porch.
- All About Stability: For any wobbly areas of the porch we will continue to tighten screws and bolts as these hold the porch’s railing in place. If we find the lag screws and bolts are securely tight but the railing itself is still shaky we will double up and drill a couple of new bolt holes in each railing post and secure them with extra bolts. If this doesn’t work you may need to replace the railing.
Why We Are the Notable Choice for Porch Repair
Sometimes no porch at all is the better alternative to a flimsy one but you don’t have to compromise if you receive a Norfolk County porch repair early on. Our trustworthy team members are eager to assist you as they work wonders in giving your porch the refurbishment it’s begging for through a Norfolk County porch repair service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Porch Repair
How do you fix a buckled porch floor?
To prevent buckling from happening we recommend using galvanized nails that have a smaller nail head. You can nail these using a hammer to wedge in the heads about one-eighth of an inch deep. Any gaps between the nail heads can be covered with wood filler and a fresh coat of paint so the nail remains hidden out of plain sight.
Why is my porch pulling away from my house?
If your porch seems to be dragged away from your house water and moisture damage are usually responsible as they cause topsoil to erode. As a result, the very ground on which the porch sits begins to shift and move and the foundation itself begins to sink as well. Settling is normal especially if the property is newly built. But if you find yourself with a damaged platform it’s about time for a Norfolk County porch repair service.
What causes a porch to sink?
There are two key reasons why a porch sinks. Firstly, as mentioned before, if the soil underneath the porch becomes waterlogged or supersaturated from the extra water runoff from the gutters and its downspout it can cause the erosion of the topsoil causing the porch to shift. If your gutters haven’t been scrubbed clean of debris or are bused in any way whatsoever we recommend taking care of that problem so your platform doesn’t become a wading pool for leftover and extra water spillage. Second, it can be due to a bad installation job as the angle in which the porch sits must be positioned so that the soil the porch sits on top slopes towards the house rather than away from it to prevent soil from eroding on the underside of the porch.
Does Your Beautifully Designed Terrace Need a Refurbish? Ask Mr. Handyman Today!
We all want to walk onto the porch first thing in the morning to grab our mail or let out our dog for a potty break and the last thing we want to worry about is if our porch is holding up to snuff. A Norfolk County porch repair, Norfolk County, MA homeowners are not something to be indifferent about. Our courteous customer service representatives are on standby and earnestly await to hear from you. Plus you rather as well take advantage and ask about our other residential and commercial exterior home renovation services from siding repair to deck installation to gutter repair.
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