A deck usually looks worse than it is. Grey, splintered boards are a surface problem. Soft joists, a loose ledger or a sinking post are structural problems, and they are the ones that decide whether you are paying a few hundred dollars or starting again. This guide prices each repair the way we quote them, and shows where the line sits between repairing, resurfacing and rebuilding.
Deck repair prices at a glance
| Repair | What it involves | Typical 2026 price |
|---|---|---|
| Re-fasten loose or popped boards | Pull nails, drive new deck screws, 200 sqft deck | $400 - $900 |
| Re-screw and reset cupped boards | Flip or reset boards, full re-screw, 200 sqft | $600 - $1,400 |
| Replace 8 to 12 deck boards | Pressure-treated | $300 - $700 |
| Replace 8 to 12 deck boards | Cedar | $600 - $1,400 |
| Sand and re-stain | Clean, sand, one or two coats | $3 - $6 per sqft |
| Joist hangers | Replace missing or rusted hangers | $80 - $150 each |
| Frame audit and hanger refit | Typical 200 sqft deck | $400 - $1,200 |
| Railing post re-anchor | Blocking and structural bolts at a loose post | $150 - $350 per post |
| Rebuild a short stair | Basic 3-step pressure-treated set | $600 - $1,200 |
| Ledger flash and re-bolt | Framing sound, new flashing and lag or through bolts | $900 - $2,400 |
| Rim joist replacement | Rotted rim at the house | $1,500 - $4,000 |
| Post and footing replacement | Temporary shoring, new footing to frost depth, new post | $1,200 - $3,500 per post |
| Vinyl membrane patch | Punch-out and heat-welded patch by a certified installer | $200 - $900 |
| Joist tape and re-lay boards | Lift decking, tape joists, re-lay, 200 sqft | $1,800 - $3,200 |
Most crews carry a minimum of roughly $350 to $500 for a service call, so a single board or a squeaky step is usually priced as part of a visit rather than on its own.
Repair, resurface or rebuild
The price gap between these three is large, so the decision is worth getting right. It rests on one question: is the frame sound?
| Option | When it is the right call | Per sqft | 200 sqft deck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Targeted repair | Frame sound, fewer than about a quarter of the boards bad | Priced per item | $400 - $3,500 |
| Resurface in pressure-treated | Frame sound, most boards worn out | $12 - $22 | $2,400 - $4,400 |
| Resurface in cedar | Frame sound, want a warmer wood surface | $20 - $35 | $4,000 - $7,000 |
| Resurface in composite | Frame sound and at 16 inch joist spacing or closer | $30 - $55 | $6,000 - $11,000 |
| Partial rebuild | Ledger or one or two posts failed, rest of frame good | $25 - $40 | $5,000 - $8,000 |
| Tear out and rebuild, pressure-treated | Joists rotting, footings shallow, or no permit on a raised deck | $34 - $64 | $6,800 - $12,800 |
| Tear out and rebuild, composite | Same, with a low-maintenance surface | $64 - $119 | $12,800 - $23,800 |
The rebuild rows are the new-deck prices from our Ontario deck cost guide plus $4 to $9 per square foot to demolish and haul away the old deck. Railings, stairs and permits are extra on every row.
How to check the frame yourself
- Screwdriver test. Push a flat screwdriver into the joists near the house, at the ends and wherever water sits. It should barely go in. If it sinks more than about 6 mm (a quarter inch) the wood is rotting.
- Ledger. Look where the deck meets the house. You want metal flashing over the ledger board and bolts through it, not just nails. Staining on the siding or the rim joist behind it is a warning sign.
- Posts and footings. Posts should be plumb and sit on a concrete footing or bracket, not buried in soil. A deck that has dropped at one corner has a footing problem.
- Bounce. Jump once in the middle. A deck that moves a lot usually has undersized or over-spanned joists, or missing blocking.
- Age and paperwork. A raised deck more than about 20 years old with no permit on file is often cheaper to rebuild properly than to keep patching.
If the frame passes all five, you are in repair or resurface territory. If it fails on joists or footings in more than one area, get a rebuild price before spending on the surface. Our deck warping, splintering and squeaking guide goes through each fault in more detail.
The 25 percent rule for boards
If more than about a quarter of the boards need replacing, resurfacing the whole deck usually beats patching. New boards next to weathered ones never match, the old fasteners stay in, and you pay the service minimum again the following year for the next batch. A resurface also exposes the joists, which is the only chance you get to tape the tops and replace anything soft before new boards cover it for another 15 years.
Repairing a composite or PVC deck
Capped composite rarely rots, but it does get scratched, burned, stained and occasionally cracked, usually at the ends. Replacement boards are straightforward if the line is still made. The catch is colour: composite fades slightly in its first months in the sun, so a new board next to a ten-year-old one can look different. The usual fix is to take a matching board from under a planter, a bench or the stair and put the new board there. Expect roughly $90 to $180 per replaced composite board installed, more with hidden fasteners.
If the underlying frame is the issue, composite is not a reason to keep a failing structure. Most composite lines need 16 inch joist spacing, or 12 inch for diagonal patterns, and many older frames were built at 24 inches for wood.
Repairing a vinyl deck
Vinyl membrane decks, the sheet-vinyl surface over plywood that is common on raised decks and walkouts over living space, are a different repair entirely. Small punctures, cigarette burns and lifted seams can be punched out and heat-welded with a patch by a certified installer, typically $200 to $900. What cannot be patched is rotten plywood underneath. If the deck feels soft, or water is showing up below, the membrane has already let water through and the plywood needs to come up. Full re-covering generally runs $8 to $15 per square foot before any plywood or framing repair. Because these decks often sit over a room, fix leaks early.
What drives the price up
- Height. Anything more than about 1.2 m (4 ft) off the ground needs shoring and more setup time.
- Access. Lumber carried through the house or around a tight side yard adds labour.
- Hidden rot. Most repair quotes include an allowance or a unit price for extra joists, because you cannot see them until boards come up. Ask for that price in writing.
- Discontinued materials. Matching an old composite colour or an unusual board width can force a larger section to be replaced.
- Permits. Structural repairs to a raised deck can trigger a building permit, especially ledger or footing work.
- Hot tubs. A deck carrying a hot tub needs engineering on any structural change.
Permits for deck repairs
Like-for-like board replacement and resurfacing on an existing deck generally do not need a building permit in Hamilton, Burlington or Oakville. Structural work is different. Replacing footings, changing the ledger connection, altering stairs or guards, or enlarging the deck can require one, and any new raised deck generally does. When in doubt, call the city building department before work starts. Our permit guide for Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville has fees and timelines.
Where the cheap repair quote is cutting
- New boards over rotting joists. The deck looks new and fails within a few years.
- No flashing on the ledger. A few dollars of flashing protects the rim joist and the house wall.
- Screws into old nail holes. They strip and pop. New screws go beside the old holes.
- Posts set in soil. A post sunk in dirt rots at grade. Posts belong on a footing with a bracket.
- Staining too soon. Fresh pressure-treated boards need to dry, often a few months, before stain soaks in.
- No extra-joist price. Without a written unit price for hidden rot, the final bill is open-ended.
When to book
Most board, stair and railing repairs can be done any time the deck is dry and above freezing. Staining needs dry weather and temperatures roughly between 10 and 30 C. Footing work needs unfrozen ground. Spring fills fastest, and late summer to mid-autumn is often the easiest window, with dry wood and time to finish before snow.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to repair a deck in Ontario?
Most repairs land between $400 and $3,500 in 2026. Re-fastening boards on a 200 sqft deck is $400 to $900, replacing 8 to 12 pressure-treated boards $300 to $700, and replacing a post and footing $1,200 to $3,500 per post.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a deck?
Repair is cheaper when the frame is sound and fewer than about a quarter of the boards are bad. If the frame is sound but most boards are worn, resurfacing at $12 to $22 per square foot in pressure-treated is the usual answer. Replace when joists or footings have failed in more than one area.
How much does it cost to resurface a deck?
New decking on an existing sound frame costs about $12 to $22 per square foot in pressure-treated, $20 to $35 in cedar and $30 to $55 in composite. On a 200 sqft deck that is $2,400 to $11,000, before railings and stairs.
Can you put composite decking on an old wood frame?
Only if the frame is structurally sound and the joists are at 16 inch spacing or closer. Many older frames are at 24 inches and need extra joists added first. Taping the joist tops is worth doing at the same time.
How much does it cost to replace one deck board?
The board itself is cheap. Most of the cost is the service visit, which usually carries a minimum of $350 to $500. Replacing 8 to 12 boards in one visit runs $300 to $700 in pressure-treated and $600 to $1,400 in cedar.
Can a vinyl deck be repaired?
Yes. Punctures, burns and lifted seams can be patched and heat-welded for about $200 to $900. If the plywood underneath is soft, the membrane has to come up, and full re-covering runs about $8 to $15 per square foot before plywood repair.
Do I need a permit to repair my deck?
Not usually for boards or resurfacing. Footings, ledger connections, stairs, guards and any enlargement can require a building permit. Check with your city before structural work starts.
How much does it cost to stain a deck?
Cleaning, sanding and re-staining typically costs $3 to $6 per square foot, so $600 to $1,200 on a 200 sqft deck. Pressure-treated and cedar decks need it every few years to stay protected.
- Our deck building service
- Deck cost in Ontario
- Why is my deck warping, splintering or squeaky?
- Pressure-treated vs cedar vs composite decking
- Deck cost calculator
Deck just dirty, not damaged? See how to clean a wood or composite deck before paying for repairs.
Rebuilding the stairs? Check the current deck stair code because the minimum run changed in 2022.