Now booking new deck buildsFree, no obligation on site estimateClear framing and finish timeline, agreed before we startPermits and inspections handled start to finishServing Dayton, Oakwood, Kettering, Centerville, Beavercreek and Springboro
(326) 239-5578
(326) 239-5578

Video guides

Deck Resurfacing vs. Full Replacement: Can You Keep the Frame?

New boards can go on an old frame only if the frame is sound. What gets checked: footings, posts and beams, the ledger and flashing, joists and joist spacing, and railing posts.

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Chapters

  1. 0:00 Deck resurfacing or full replacement in Dayton, Ohio
  2. 0:09 A 15 year old wood deck: can you keep the frame?
  3. 0:20 What we check: footings, posts, ledger, joists, railing posts
  4. 0:42 Joist spacing: 16 in vs 12 in for diagonal boards (Trex guide)
  5. 0:56 When to resurface and when to replace
  6. 1:07 An honest assessment, not a tear-out sale
  7. 1:10 Book a free on-site estimate

Transcript

0:00 Deck resurfacing or full replacement in Dayton, Ohio

Deck resurfacing or full replacement? At Dayton Custom Decks, deck builders in Dayton, Ohio, every custom deck starts with the frame.

0:09 A 15 year old wood deck: can you keep the frame?

Picture a 15-year-old wood deck, gray and cracked. Can new composite boards go on the old frame? Only if the frame is sound, and that takes an inspection, not a guess.

0:20 What we check: footings, posts, ledger, joists, railing posts

We check the footings: below the frost depth your building department sets, and not heaved. The posts and beams, for rot. The ledger where the deck meets your house, which needs flashing. And every joist, for soft spots and cracks, all level across the top, because composite follows whatever is under it. Wobbly railing posts count too.

0:42 Joist spacing: 16 in vs 12 in for diagonal boards (Trex guide)

Then spacing. Trex's guide allows joists 16 inches apart for its 1-inch boards. Laid at 45 degrees, that drops by 4 inches, to 12. So a diagonal layout can mean adding joists.

0:56 When to resurface and when to replace

Resurface when it all passes. Replace when the footings have heaved, the ledger is failing, or the framing is rotten, because composite boards aren't structural.

1:07 An honest assessment, not a tear-out sale

We'd rather tell you to keep a good frame than sell you a tear-out.

1:10 Book a free on-site estimate

Not sure what's under your deck? Book your free on-site estimate at daytoncustomdecks.com. Dayton Custom Decks. Built right, from the ground up.

Dayton Custom Decks, 130 W 2nd St, Dayton, OH 45402, (326) 239-5578.

More short answers from Dayton deck builders

Composite vs Wood Decks in Ohio

Why Ohio freeze and thaw is hard on a deck, why footings go below the frost line, and how composite and wood compare on upkeep and upfront cost.

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How Much Does a Custom Deck Cost in Dayton, OH? (2026 Price Breakdown)

A typical 16 x 20 deck plans out around $11,500 to $18,000 in pressure treated wood and $19,000 to $29,000 in composite. What moves the number: size, height, railing and stairs.

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Do You Need a Permit to Build a Deck in Dayton, Ohio?

Under the Residential Code of Ohio a deck is exempt from a building permit only if it meets all four conditions: 200 sq ft or less, 30 inches or less above grade, not attached to the house, and not serving a required exit door.

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Trex vs TimberTech: Which Composite Decking is Best for Ohio Weather?

Board construction, published warranty terms, surface heat, joist spacing and hidden fasteners, compared on what each manufacturer publishes.

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Custom Deck vs Screened Porch: Which Adds More Home Value?

Cost vs Value 2025 (East North Central) puts a wood deck addition at 92.5% of cost recouped and a composite deck at 88.4%. It publishes no screened porch figure. Cost, bugs, roof loads and permits compared.

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More short answers in our video guides and the YouTube playlist.