Deck maintenance checklist
Updated August 2026
Deck upkeep is a wash and full inspection every year and a reseal or restain every 2 to 3 years, with the ledger board and its flashing at the top of the annual list. A wood deck kept sealed reaches 15 to 25 years; a neglected one greys, cups, and rots in half that. The inspection matters more than the finish, because a failed ledger is how a deck collapses under a full party.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Wash off dirt, mildew, and algae | Yearly | 2 hrs · DIY |
| Inspect the ledger board, flashing, and lag bolts | Yearly | 20 min · DIY |
| Wobble-test railings, posts, and stairs | Yearly | 10 min · DIY |
| Probe suspect boards for soft rot with a screwdriver | Yearly | 15 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Reseal or restain the boards | 2–3 years | $40–80 DIY / $500–1,200 pro |
| Re-drive or swap popped and rusted fasteners | 2–3 years | 30 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Replace cracked or badly cupped boards | 5–10 years | $5–15 per board |
| Add joist hangers and post-to-beam connectors | As needed | $100–300 pro |
What neglect costs
Skip the finish and water soaks straight into the grain: boards cup, split, and grow the slick mildew that makes a greyed-out deck a demolition job instead of a refinish, and reboarding a mid-size deck runs $4,000–10,000. The scarier failure is structural. When a ledger board is bolted through rotten rim joist or lacks flashing, it pulls loose, and a collapsed deck full of people is the single most dangerous failure a house has. A $60 gallon of sealer and a 20-minute ledger check prevent both.
Leave these to a pro
Anything structural on a deck is worth a pro's eyes: reattaching or reflashing a ledger, sistering a rotten joist, or resetting a heaved footing. A contractor charges $500–1,200 to strip and refinish a typical deck if you would rather not spend the weekend sanding, and $100–300 to add the hangers and connectors older decks were built without. If your deck is more than 15 years old and has never had a hardware inspection, pay for one before you host a crowd on it.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
How often should a deck be resealed?
Most wood decks want fresh sealer or stain every 2 to 3 years, and pressure-treated lumber every 3 to 4 once it has fully dried out. The real test is water: splash some on the boards, and if it soaks in and darkens the wood instead of beading up, the finish is spent. South- and west-facing decks that bake in the sun burn through a coat faster. The reseal interval page covers how climate and stain type shift the timing.
How do I know if my deck is safe to stand on?
Start at the ledger, the board that fastens the deck to the house, and confirm it is lag-bolted through metal flashing with no soft or blackened wood. Then push on the railings and posts, bounce on the stairs, and probe suspect spots with a screwdriver, which sinks easily into rot. Wobbling rails, rusty hardware, and a spongy surface all mean stop and look closer. The deck inspection checklist lists every connection to test.
How long does a wood deck last?
Pressure-treated wood decks generally last 15 to 25 years, cedar and redwood a bit less unless kept sealed, and composite boards 25 to 30 with almost no finishing. The structure usually outlives the surface: joists and posts can be sound while the boards are shot, which lets you reboard rather than rebuild. Sealing on schedule is the single biggest lever on that number. See how long a deck lasts by material.