Deck repair costs $570 to $2,600 nationally in 2026, with the average repair landing near $1,465. Priced by area, most repairs run $10 to $50 per square foot. Swapping a few boards sits at the bottom of that range and structural work on joists, posts or the ledger sits at the top. The material, the number of parts that have rotted, and how much of the deck has to come apart to reach them decide where your deck lands. Here is the breakdown.
What you'll learn in this guide
- Replacing a handful of damaged boards costs $150 to $600; a full resurface with new decking runs $15 to $50 per square foot.
- Railing repairs range from $250 for a loose section to $1,000 or more for a full run.
- Sistering or replacing joists costs $150 to $350 each, and a rotted ledger board is the repair that turns into a rebuild.
- Composite boards cost $8 to $13 per square foot in materials versus $2 to $4 for pressure-treated pine.
- When repairs pass about half the cost of a new deck, or the framing is rotted, rebuilding wins.
What sets the price of a deck repair
- Where the rot is. A soft board is a one-hour swap. A soft joist under that board means lifting several boards and sistering a new joist alongside, two to four hours. A rotted ledger board, the beam that ties the deck to the house, is a structural job.
- Material. Pressure-treated pine boards cost $2 to $3.75 per square foot, cedar $3.40 to $6, composite $8 to $13, and tropical hardwoods $9 to $16. Labor is similar; the material changes the total.
- Fasteners and hardware. Old nails that back out are replaced with deck screws or hidden clips; a full re-fastening runs $150 to $200.
- Height and access. Second-story decks and decks over slopes need more staging and add 15 to 30 percent to labor.
- Code items. Railings must be 36 inches high with balusters no more than 4 inches apart in most jurisdictions; bringing an old railing to code adds parts.
Deck repair cost by type of repair in 2026
| Repair | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace a few cracked or rotted boards | $150 | $350 | $600 |
| Loose or rotted railing section | $250 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Stair stringer or treads | $115 | $300 | $600 |
| Sister or replace a joist, each | $150 | $250 | $350 |
| Post or footing repair, each | $200 | $400 | $800 |
| Clean, sand and reseal, per square foot | $1.15 | $2.50 | $4.70 |
| Whole-deck repair, national average | $570 | $1,465 | $2,600 |
A refinish is often the best-value line on that table. A deck that is structurally sound but gray, splintery and faded comes back with a wash, a sanding and a penetrating stain for $2 to $4.70 per square foot, and the sealer is what keeps the next round of board rot from starting.
Repair or rebuild: the two tests that decide it
Test one is the framing. Push a screwdriver into the joists, the beam, the posts at ground level and the ledger. If the tip sinks in easily in several places, the frame is done and replacing boards on top of it wastes money. Test two is the math. A new pressure-treated deck runs $25 to $45 per square foot installed in 2026, and composite $40 to $70. When the repair list passes about half the cost of a new deck, rebuild. Decks under ten years old with isolated damage almost always favor deck repair; decks past twenty with a soft ledger almost always favor a rebuild.
What this means for you
Expect $570 to $2,600 for a typical deck repair in 2026, with $1,465 as the national average and $150 to $600 for a simple board swap. Check the framing with a screwdriver before you price anything, fix loose railings and stairs first because they are the safety items, and seal the deck once it is sound so you are not back in two years.
Good questions, straight answers
$150 to $600 for a handful of boards in 2026, or $10 to $35 per square foot for a full resurface, depending on material. Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest at $2 to $3.75 per square foot in boards; composite runs $8 to $13 but never needs staining.
Repair, as long as the framing is sound. Board, railing and stair repairs cost hundreds; a new deck costs $25 to $70 per square foot, or $8,000 to $25,000 for an average size. Once repairs reach about half the price of a rebuild, or the joists and ledger are rotted, replacement is the better spend.
Look for a ledger board pulling away from the house, posts that are soft at ground level, railings that move under a firm push, and boards that sag between joists. Any one of these is a stop-using-it sign until it is repaired; ledger failures cause most deck collapses.
Every two to three years for stain and sealer on wood, or whenever water stops beading on the surface. Sealing costs $1.15 to $4.70 per square foot and is the cheapest way to prevent the board and joist rot that drives the bigger repairs.
Rather have it handled? Call 855-695-1195 and we price the job over the phone. We answer in under three rings.