Deck Repair Services

Our repair estimates are written and itemized. We don't quote by verbal handshake and we don't upcharge once work begins. When we show up to a deck repair call in London, Woodstock, St. Thomas, or anywhere else in the region, we arrive ready to assess honestly. If a deck is better off fully rebuilt, we'll tell you plainly and explain the numbers on both sides so you can decide without pressure.

The most frequent calls we get involve rotted ledger boards where the deck meets the house, soft joist ends from inadequate flashing, popped or stripped fasteners that let boards shift underfoot, and railings whose posts have rotted at the base or were never properly through-bolted. We also handle stair stringer repairs, beam sagging from settlement, and cracked or checked posts that have lost structural section. Each defect gets a root-cause fix — not a cosmetic patch.

Fastener repairs mean full board removal, inspection of the joist below, and re-fastening with correct-gauge screws or hidden clips. Post replacements are done with matching material and proper base hardware — steel saddles, not direct wood-to-concrete contact. Ledger repairs always include flashing correction, because a new ledger without proper waterproofing just rots again. We document everything with photos before and after.

Deck failures are among the most preventable home accidents. Our assessments look at the full load path — ledger attachment to the house rim joist, beam-to-post connections, joist hanger conditions, diagonal bracing on elevated decks, and the condition of every guard post at its base. We use a moisture meter and a probe on every post and joist end we can access. If we can't reach something, we'll tell you so rather than guess.

In Ontario, decks taller than 600 mm above grade are regulated structures. Any repair that changes railing height, adds stairs, or modifies the load-carrying members may require a permit, and we'll identify that requirement at the estimate stage. We carry WSIB coverage and liability insurance — both matter when structural work is involved and inspectors may need to sign off on the result.

Repairs make economic sense when the framing is largely sound and defects are localized. A single rotted joist surrounded by dry, solid lumber is an easy repair. But a deck where more than 30–40% of the frame is compromised, where the ledger has been improperly attached for years, or where the substructure has settled unevenly is often a better candidate for a full rebuild — and trying to patch it incrementally costs more in the long run.

Master Decker will lay out both options with honest numbers. We don't steer homeowners toward full rebuilds just to raise the invoice. But we also don't perform repairs we know won't last. If a structural issue is beyond safe repair, we'll say so clearly. Either way, you get a written scope, a fixed price, and a job that's completed with the same hardware standards and workmanship guarantee we apply to new builds.