Replace rotted deck boards

Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026

24/7 Express Handyman Service replaced rotted deck boards in Salt Lake, Park City and Heber. 30% wood moisture content, the average fiber saturation point, must be exceeded for serious decay to occur. (Wood Handbook, Chapter 14: Biodeterioration of Wood - USDA Forest Products Laboratory)

What deck boards costs

Salt Lake City & Millcreek	from $205
Park City & Summit County	from $225
Heber Valley & Wasatch County	from $225

Deck boards in Salt Lake City & Millcreek starts at $205: the 2-hour minimum at $95/hour ($190) plus the $15 fuel surcharge, with no dispatch fee. Time past 2 hours is billed in 30-minute steps. Larger parts are billed at cost plus 25%.

Full price sheet and estimator

Call now

(801) 999-0827 Text photos

Answered 24/7 by Tom or his dispatcher.

24/7 Express Handyman Service confirms the address, the zone rate and the dispatch fee, and takes a card, before rolling.

Quick answers

Why do deck boards rot?

Because they stay wet: the USDA Forest Products Laboratory says serious decay happens only when wood moisture content rises above the fiber saturation point, about 30%, which takes rain, condensation or contact with wet ground. Boards that dry quickly between wettings last far longer.

Can I replace just the rotted deck boards?

Yes, if the joists underneath are solid. Cut out the damaged boards, probe the joist tops and fasten new boards over sound framing. If the awl sinks into the joists too, the framing needs repair before new boards go on.

How do I keep new deck boards from rotting?

Keep them dry: fully air-dried wood usually stays at or below 20% moisture content, which the Forest Products Laboratory calls a reasonable margin of safety against decay. Leave drainage gaps, clear debris from between boards and keep planters and soil off the surface.

Wooden backyard deck with plank decking and railing — Photo: JDoorjam, CC BY 2.5

What 24/7 Express Handyman Service does on site

Probing boards and the joists beneath them with an awl to find every soft spot.
Cutting out rotted boards over joist centers and fastening new ones with corrosion-resistant screws.
Spacing the new boards for drainage and sealing cut ends so the wood dries quickly after rain.

How it works

Probe every board and the tops of the joists; soft framing changes the job.
Remove the damaged boards and check the exposed joist tops and ledger area for rot.
Install matched replacement boards with drainage gaps and treated cut ends.
Referred out: rotted joists, beams, ledger boards or footings go to a licensed deck contractor as structural repair.

When to stop and call

If a board has cracked through, a foot has broken through the surface, or the deck bounces or sways, keep everyone off it. 24/7 Express Handyman Service can block it off and inspect it before anyone uses it again.

What happens next

The written scope and price come first; if probing finds rot in the framing, that is put in writing before any boards go down.
Photograph the damage before anything is moved and keep every receipt; 24/7 Express Handyman Service provides an itemised invoice your insurer may ask for. The dispatch fee and job cost are paid by you on the day.

Every job 24/7 Express Handyman Service takes on is under $3,000 including labor, materials and any change orders (Utah Code §58-55-305); a change that would push a job over that line is referred to a licensed contractor, not written up as a second job. plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas appliance / combustion system work is referred to a licensed trade.

Sources

Wood Handbook, Chapter 14: Biodeterioration of Wood - USDA Forest Products Laboratory — retrieved 2026-09-23

All sources