Signs Your Decking Needs Replacing

How do you know if it’s time to upgrade your decking? Sometimes it might just need a bit of a spruce up. However, if your old decking is really past its best, or has started to rot and splinter, it might be time to look into replacing old boards and possibly also the substructure. Even well-maintained wooden decking will deteriorate over time and you might be considering an upgrade to composite decking.

Our eco-friendly composite decking is made from a blend of recycled plastic and wood, which makes it far more long-lasting and durable compared to traditional timber decking. It’s resistant to weather, rot and warping, which also makes it comparatively low maintenance. Where timber decking requires regular painting, staining and treating to stay at its best, composite decking simply needs cleaning and basic maintenance.

If you’re wondering whether it’s time to upgrade damaged, worn or rotten decking, or are unsure what to replace decking with, we’ll guide you through the signs of what to look for and go through the options for repairing or replacing your existing decking boards and structure.

Article contents

• Does Your Deck Need Replacing?
• Signs Your Wooden Decking Needs Replacing
• Other Reasons to Upgrade Your Decking
• Upgrade Your Deck With Composite Decking

Does Your Decking Need Replacing?

If your decking is looking a little tired, stained or faded, it might just need freshening up with a new coat of paint or decking stain. If you find parts of your decking rotting, warped or splitting, however, they could be dangerous and should be replaced. In some cases, certain decking boards might be more badly affected than others, and you may be able to replace it individually rather than the whole deck. If more boards are in a poor condition or the substructure is affected, you will usually be better off upgrading the whole deck.

Proper cleaning and maintenance will help to extend your composite decking’s lifespan, and this is particularly important with wooden decking, which generally needs regular applications of wood preservative or stain to help protect it from the elements and prevent rot. If you currently have timber decking that needs replacing, you might want to consider more durable composite decking.

Signs Your Wooden Decking Needs Replacing

Rotten Decking

Rotting decking is a serious problem and should always be addressed as soon as possible. You may be lucky enough to contain it in a limited area, but rot can soon spread. Patches of rotten wood can sometimes be removed and wood hardener, filler or epoxy used to salvage the boards, but in many cases, it is easier and safer to replace the decking.

Some signs of rot in your decking boards include discoloured patches, soft or spongy wood, cracks and splits. A simple ‘screwdriver test’ involves poking the wood with a screwdriver. If it easily goes into the wood, it is probably rotten. There may also be a damp or foul odour and paint may start to flake if there is rot underneath.

Splitting and Cracking

A big sign that your decking needs upgrading is splitting or cracking. Either of these may be a sign of underlying rot, but it can also be caused by the wood repeatedly getting wet and drying in the sun. This causes it to expand and contract, and can cause cracks to appear over time.

This is a result of the natural reaction of wood to the elements and slight cracking is a normal part of the aging process of timber decking. Bigger splits may be more of a cause for concern. They could be due to poor-quality decking or incorrect installation, but may also simply occur over time. Damage from accidents such as dropping heavy weights on the decking can also cause splitting or cracks.

Pest Damage

Decking can occasionally attract pests such as rats. Having rats under your decking can cause structural damage as they can gnaw on parts of the decking. Woodworm can also cause significant damage to wooden decking boards and substructures. These are the larval stages of a number of different beetles that feed on timber and bore holes into wooden structures. Clusters of small holes about 1mm across could be a sign of a woodworm infestation.

Substructure Issues

If there are issues with the substructure such as loose fittings, rot or splintering in the supports, you might have to change the whole deck. Continuing to use it could be dangerous as it could potentially collapse. This could be particularly dangerous for raised decks. If deck joists or other substructure elements are rotten, the decking boards will often also show signs of rot. If you do need to replace decking boards, it is always worth checking underneath while they are up.

Dino Decking has a range of durable substructure parts to ensure that decking remains stable. Composite and aluminium decking frames tend to be more durable and longer lasting as they are not as prone to rot.

Other Reasons to Upgrade Your Decking

Sometimes it’s not just signs of deck damage or wear that warrants a full deck upgrade. You might be looking to extend your decking or simply want to change the decking’s look, style or design.

Extending the Decking

If you want to extend an existing deck, you might be happy to keep the old decking and add to it with new sections. In order to keep it all looking uniform, you might instead choose to take up the old decking boards and replace them along with the new decking parts. If the frame is still sound, you may be able to keep this and add more frame alongside it.

You Want to Explore a Different Design

You can extend decking to make a larger area, but you can also change the overall shape and design. One way of completely refreshing your outdoor space is to incorporate vertical elements such as multi-level decking and stairs, or a sunken section with a seating area or firepit.

Upgrade Your Wooden Deck With Composite Decking

If your old wooden decking needs taking up, you might be wondering what to replace it with. You might want to re-establish a garden area, though this could be challenging depending on the state of the ground under the decking and its substructure. You could go for a paved patio or explore uPVC decking, but a great choice is to upgrade old timber decking to durable composite decking.

There are a number of benefits of composite decking, including its long-lasting durability. Composite decking boards are resistant to weather, rot and warping. They have anti-slip qualities and are eco-friendly as they are partly made from recycled materials. Composite decking is very low maintenance and compares well in areas including longevity, durability and lifetime value compared to a range of decking material options.

Discover Our Range of Durable Composite Decking

If you’re looking to upgrade your existing decking, you might want to consider upgrading to composite materials. Our composite decking boards and substructure components are far more durable and long-lasting than their timber counterparts, but you might be surprised at just how sleek and stylish they look.

Order a free sample pack today or get in touch with our friendly team to explore Dino Decking’s extensive range of composite decking products and the colours and configurations available.