Resurface or rebuild — how do I quote a failing deck?

Inspect the frame: sound joists and a properly flashed ledger can take new decking (resurface); rot, undersized framing, or a compromised ledger means rebuild. When it's close, quote both as options with the inspection findings attached.

What do you inspect before resurfacing a deck?

Ledger flashing and fasteners, joist tops and ends for rot, beam-post connections, footing heave, and joist spacing against the new surface's span requirements — composites often need tighter spacing than the old 2x6 PT allowed.

Why photograph the ledger on every deck quote?

The ledger is where decks kill people. The photo justifies your rebuild line if it's bad and protects you if the customer chooses resurface-over-marginal against your recommendation — in writing.

Field guide

A Deck Replacement Quote App for the Resurface-or-Rebuild Fork

Every aging deck presents the same fork: new boards on the old bones, or bones and all? The customer wants the cheap answer; the frame decides the honest one. A deck replacement quote app lets you inspect, document, and price both paths in a single visit — with the evidence attached where the decision lives.

Inspect like it's a report, because it is

Narrate the crawl: "Ledger — flashed, lags at proper spacing, no staining. Joists — tops punky on the two outboard bays, photo. Beam checked but sound. Footings level. Spacing sixteen on center — fine for PT, tight-marginal for composite diagonal." Each finding becomes either a confidence line or a cost line, and the photos ride with them.

Quote the fork explicitly

Option A — Resurface: demo boards and rails, sister the two punky joists (unit price), tighten to 12" o.c. if composite chosen, new surface and rails. Total: $X.
Option B — Rebuild: full demo and haul-off, new frame at current code, surface and rails. Total: $Y.

With findings and photos attached, the $Y-minus-$X gap explains itself. Customers who see the punky joist photo choose better — and either choice is now informed, documented, and signed.

The liability sentence

When a customer picks resurface over your rebuild recommendation, the quote should say so: "Resurface selected against contractor's recommendation; frame items noted in attached photos excluded from warranty." One sentence, e-signed, filed with the photos — that's the difference between a documented judgment call and your problem in three years.

One visit, decided

FieldSquire drafts both options from your narrated inspection at your saved rates, attaches the photos, and collects the signature the same visit. The carpentry estimating app is free for 14 days, no credit card.

Try it on a real job: FieldSquire's Solo plan is free for 14 days with no credit card — unlimited manual estimates and AI-assisted drafts you review line by line. Start the free trial or see the carpentry estimating app guide.