Deck joist service life?

[kooshball]

My deck is roughly 20-years old and has started to see the railings and a few top boards decay so it is time for some repair work. The joists look fine but realistically, how long do they last? I would hate to resurface and rail the deck just to have joists failing in 5-years...but if they have another 10+ I wouldn't feel too bad.

any idea what is a typical life for deck joists?

[Phil S]

We just put new deck boards on my deck. The joist were fine, only the decking required changing. The deck was originally built in 1979.

[robliles]

I just replaced the decking and railing on my deck that was 35 years old. I learned three things. One, I am getting too old to be doing that kind of work, two, 2"x8"x16' treated lumber weighs about 100 times what it did 35 years ago when I built the original deck, and, three, a nail gun shooting 16d ring shank stainless steel nails is truly a gift from above. I had to replace one post underneith but the rest of the "structure was fine. What kills lumber, etc. is that every day sunshine.

[Jeff]

If you have a few bad ones try scabbing in a new piece instead of replacing the whole shebang...

https://sites.google.com/a/carolinac...bing-the-frame

[Bill_In_Asheville]

Ditto on the nail gun. Wow. My life is saved. Also chop saw with extension blocks. Life is good.

I just replaced the decking and railing on my deck that was 35 years old. I learned three things. One, I am getting too old to be doing that kind of work, two, 2"x8"x16' treated lumber weighs about 100 times what it did 35 years ago when I built the original deck, and, three, a nail gun shooting 16d ring shank stainless steel nails is truly a gift from above. I had to replace one post underneith but the rest of the "structure was fine. What kills lumber, etc. is that every day sunshine.

[kooshball]

Thanks folks. I will probably just resurface then and maybe add a girder to take some bounce out...13' span seems a bit far for 2x8s

[Gofor]

Just make sure your fasteners are okay to use with the ACQ treatment of today's lumber (if going treated boards). They recommend hot-dipped galvanized, stainless, or the coated ones. The electro-galvanized will corrode rather quickly.

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