Taking down your decking can seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools and a solid set of instructions, it’s as easy as ever.
How do I know when my decking needs replacing?
There’s a few signs to tell when your decking might be starting to become unsafe, and you’ll need to take action on these sooner rather than later.
Rot
There’s many ways to tell if your decking is rotting. You can either check for spots of discolouration or mould, or you can check to see if the wood is coming away easily. You can do the latter by either checking with your hands or you can use a screwdriver to see if the wood pulls away.
Bouncy Boards
By standing in the middle of the decking, you can do a slight jumping motion to see if the boards are bouncy. If they are, or if they are creaking, this could be a sign of cracking decking boards.
Screws and Nails Popping
From day-to-day wear and tear, and overall ageing, you’ll start to notice some of the screws and nail heads popping out of the decking. This is a good time to think about taking down your decking.
Tools You’ll Need:
- Safety Gloves
- Safety Goggles
- Safety Boots
- Gutster Demolition Bar
- Screwdriver
- Sledgehammer
- Reciprocating Saw Blade
How To Remove Decking:
- Take down the handrails.
Start with a clear space, so take down the bits that are able to stay in one piece first. If they are in good enough condition and not rotting or cracking, they could be used again with your new replacement decking. Start with the top bar and work your way down and across, using your screwdriver to remove the nails if you’re looking to salvage the handrail. If not, use your demolition bar or pry bar to start removing them, working from the base of the handrail.
- Remove the decking boards
The simplest way to do this is to start at one end and work your way across. Using your demolition bar, pry the boards away. Make sure that you pick up the screws and nails as you go.
- Cut the frame and joists away.
If your decking is next to your property, it’s vital that you do this, even if you are going to replace it. For this, you’ll need to use your reciprocating saw blade to cut the frame away from the board that is attaching it to the property. Once the frame is removed, you can cut the floor joists down with the same reciprocating saw blade.
- Remove the hanger boards.
Pry the boards away from the foundation using your demolition bar, and then break the boards that are attached to the frame using your sledgehammer.
- Remove the steps.
If they are still in tack, pry each step away from the others, using the same method as you did with the decking boards.
Gutster Demolition Bars:
At Gutster Tools, our main focus is creating quality tools that make working life easier, faster, and more effective. Our demolition bars are designed to suit a range of projects and requirements, being suitable for professionals and novices alike.