Does Your Home Need Bellevue Deck Repair Services? Here Are 6 Warning Signs:

From grilling dinner and relaxing with a cold beverage to chasing the kids and dogs around and socializing with friends, one of the very best parts of warm weather in Bellevue is leisure time outside, unless you have damage that requires professional Bellevue deck repair services.

When your deck is in rough shape, issues such as rotting boards and wobbly railings aren't just unsightly cosmetic issues — they're dangerous hazards that your guests have to navigate around. Even worse, that damage can spread and threaten the stability of the whole structure or even affect your house.

If your outdoor space is looking worse for wear, you need deck repair from skilled Bellevue handyman service professionals, like the skilled technicians at Mr. Handyman of Southeast Bellevue, to get it back in perfect condition. With years of hands-on experience in Bellevue deck repair and other trades, including specialization in carpentry, we can give you back your dream deck quickly and efficiently.

1. Rotting Wood

This is number-one because it's a huge problem for wood decks in Bellevue. In fact, many Bellevue deck repair problems relate back to wood rot in some way. Because that rot causes timber to soften and crumble, it can lead to structural damage and eventually cause the whole structure to collapse if neglected. It can also spread to your house and cause extensive damage there. Not sure if your wood deck is suffering from rotted timber? Examine it carefully for these signs of trouble:

• Discoloration where wood appears darker or lighter than the rest, or has a white, yellow or purplish hue

• Texture changes that make timber spongy, stringy, or webbed with cracks

• Wood is breaking into cube-shaped chunks (called cubical fracture) or crumbling into "sawdust"

• Mushrooms sprouting from timber (in very advanced cases)

Why Are My Deck Boards Rotting?

Any timber that is outside and exposed to the elements is particularly vulnerable to wood rot in Bellevue. That's because wood rot is a form of decay caused by wood-eating fungi that require the timber to have a moisture content of 20% or higher to begin growing, and outdoor timber is frequently soaked by rain and snow melt. The damage can be accelerated in a damp climate such as Bellevue’s.

Can You Fix Rotted Wood with Deck Repairs?

Yes and no. There's no way to restore rotted wood back to its former condition, so wood rot repair usually means replacing affected timber altogether. That doesn't necessarily mean you need to tear down your entire deck. If the rot isn't too widespread, just the rotten boards can be replaced, then finished with a coat of paint or wood stain followed by sealant to help repel moisture. If the patches of rot are very small or removing the timber would be prohibitively difficult, your handyman may be able to repair it by scraping out rotten parts and filling holes with epoxy wood filler.

2. Grimy, Slippery Surfaces

Is your composite deck covered in a thick layer of dirt and grime, or slippery from algae growth? That grime harbors harmful bacteria and debris that can cause more damage over time. Don't get out the bucket and scrub brush just yet, though — Mr. Handyman has a far more effective and efficient cleaning solution. Pressure washing machines blast highly pressurized water to remove stubborn grime and stains from outdoor surfaces in Bellevue that other cleaning methods can't budge, which makes them a useful option for maintaining surfaces that aren’t made of natural wood and preventing the need for future Bellevue deck repairs. Once we're done pressure washing, those boards will look just as good as the day they were installed.

3. Peeling Paint or Wood Stain

Do you avoid stepping out on your deck in bare feet because you're worried you'll get a splinter from weathered, gray wood covered in shreds of peeling paint? Peeling paint or wood stain is a problem because it's unattractive, but more importantly it's an early warning sign of wood rot. When wood begins to take on moisture, it swells and pushes on paint, causing it to crack and peel off. The timber then takes on a weathered appearance and the next step is rotting boards.

How Do You Complete Deck Repairs for Weathered Surfaces?

If you haven’t kept up with routine Bellevue deck maintenance and need to refinish or repair worn, weathered surfaces, you’ll have to strip away any worn paint or stain. You may also need Bellevue deck repair service to fix other issues before you start refinishing. Once the surface of your outdoor living space is smooth and clean, your handyman will apply wood stain or paint, then seal it to avoid moisture incursion in the future.

4. Loose Railings

Grab on to your railing and give it a firm shake. It shouldn't move at all. If it does, that's a sign that you need to get it repaired sooner rather than later. Handrails are often the only thing between you and a nasty fall; even if your porch is low to the ground, it can still cause injury if someone leans against it and it can't hold their weight. It may be that the fasteners have pulled loose where the railing connects to a wall or another section of railing, and if that's the case then your repairs will likely just involve re-securing it. But if the dreaded wood rot is at play, the railing will need to be replaced during your appointment for Bellevue deck repairs.

5. Creaking Stairs

If your stairs creak and groan like they're being tortured when you step on them, it's not you — it's them. Stairs creak and dip down when stepped on because they are, you guessed it, suffering from rot (we really weren't kidding when we said most problems with outdoor wooden surfaces relate back to rot). It's easy enough to take a tumble down the steps, so you don't need the added hazard of weak, crumbling stairs. If the damage is very minor, small repairs may be possible, but the best course of action will probably be to replace the staircase.

6. Water Pooling Around Footings

When you're looking for damage that requires repairs, it's important to check the underside as well. If you see water pooling around concrete deck footings, that's a big problem. Landscaping changes or just soil shifting over time can lead to grading and drainage issues in Bellevue. That excess water washes soil away from posts, leaving too much exposed — compromising the stability of the structure. In the winter, the water in the soil around concrete footings freezes and then thaws, which can lead to cracked footings. It's important to get that soil graded properly, so the water can drain away and not result in damage that requires professional repairs.

How Can I Avoid the Need for Deck Repair in Bellevue?

Regular maintenance is the best way to keep everything looking great and prevent the need for Bellevue deck repairs in the near future. Here are a few basic maintenance tips that any Bellevue homeowner can follow:

• Move items such as potted plants and furniture to a new location periodically to avoid moisture building up underneath

• Trim nearby bushes and branches, so they're at least a few feet away to avoid having moisture-laden leaves brushing against nearby surfaces

• Avoid mats and rugs that trap water and cause the timber underneath to rot; If you can't do without them, plastic is a better choice than natural materials

Rely on Mr. Handyman for Your Bellevue Deck Repair Project!

Whether you're in Bellevue or a nearby area such as Renton, you can count on the service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Southeast Bellevue for expert workmanship and outstanding customer service. We’re here to help with loose boards and many common deck repair problems.

Give us a call today at 425-276-6344 to request service and find out more about how we can enhance your home and make your life easier with our repairs! We offer a wide range of professional Bellevue handyman services.