New deck after a collapse, plus a new roof, on a Westfield, NJ home

The problem

The back deck had collapsed. Boards, railings, lattice and decking were lying in a broken pile against the house, and nobody could use it safely. Along the back wall, the trim at the bottom of the siding was worn and peeling just above the foundation. The roof was due to be replaced as well.

What we did

First we hauled out the collapsed deck and cleared the yard down to the soil. That left the foundation and the back steps open. We framed the new deck with pressure-treated lumber and ran black protective tape along the tops of the beams. Then the deck boards went down. We put white railings with post caps around the edge and kept access from the back door. On the roof, we stripped the old roofing down to the decking and laid new plywood sheathing. The new shingles are dark gray architectural shingles, run over the ridge and hips.

Materials

Pressure-treated lumber deck framing, joist/beam protection tape, white railings with post caps, plywood roof sheathing, dark gray architectural asphalt shingles.

Common questions in Westfield

Can a collapsed deck be repaired, or does it need to be rebuilt?

Usually it needs to be rebuilt. If the framing has failed and the deck has come down, like this one in Westfield, tearing it out is the safe call. We take out the old deck, clear the area and build new framing from the ground up.

Why put tape on top of deck joists and beams?

It keeps water off the top of the framing. Water sits there under the deck boards, and the tape helps stop it from soaking into the wood around the fasteners, so the framing can last longer.

Do you replace the roof decking during a roof replacement?

Sometimes. We check the decking once the old roofing is off. On this Westfield home, we put down new plywood sheathing before the shingles went on.

Do you work on more than one project at the same home?

Yes. On this job we did the deck and the roof. Call (610) 772-8384 for a free estimate on decks, roofing or siding in Westfield and nearby towns.