Have you looked at your deck lately? Like most people who have a deck attached to their home, you probably take it for granted that the deck withstood the winter just fine and is ready to go for the upcoming outdoor entertaining season.

In an effort to increase public awareness that regular inspections and maintenance of existing decks and proper installation of new decks save lives and prevent injuries, the North American Deck and Railing Association has designated May as National Deck Safety Month.

“Your roof has a life expectancy. Your windows have a life expectancy. What about your deck?” says Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of NADRA. “Consider the snow fall accumulations from just this past year. These heavy loads cause additional stress on outdoor structures and create a need to evaluate.

According to North American Deck and Railing Association it is estimated that 30 million decks are past their useful life and need to be replaced or repaired. It is crucial for homeowners to have their decks inspected to verify the integrity of their deck to ensure user safety as well as help extend the deck’s life-span, improve appearance, and increase livability.

A wooden deck is a great addition to any home, but it will not last forever. Most decks eventually break down, even if it has been maintained properly for over four decades, and there will always be situations where it is much easier to simply take it down yourself.

 If the time has come to build a new (and maybe bigger) deck! Keep in mind, deck removal is a time-consuming and sometimes dangerous project that needs to be taken seriously. If you’re not careful, you could seriously hurt yourself, your home, or someone else. Here are some things to consider about deck removal and how to handle it safely and effectively.

1. Decide Where The Deck Removal Debris Goes

The first step before you get carried away is to know where all that old lumber is going to go. You can’t just toss your old decking in the garbage can and call it a day, or put it on the curb for the garbage man, most trash collection services aren’t going to pick up the wood from your deck. You’re going to need to either haul it to the local landfill yourself (more than likely this will require multiple trips) or rent a dumpster.

2. Get Your Tools Together

Now that you know what you’re going do with your old deck debris, it’s time to gather your tools together. You’ll a few of the standards like a hammer, screwdriver, shovel, crowbar and a sledgehammer. You're also going to want a few power tools, such as a power drill and circular saw.

Because you’re going to be working with rusty nails and sending sawdust flying, it’s not a bad idea to wear sturdy gloves and safety glasses. And whatever you do, don’t try to perform deck removal in sandals. Wear closed-toe shoes or prepare to kiss your feet goodbye. You should also consider keeping a bucket around. We’ll explain why later.

3. Clear Off Your Deck

Obviously, it’s going to be difficult to remove your deck if you still have stuff all over it. Old grills, furniture, and any junk that may have accumulated on your deck needs to be moved somewhere out of sight and out of mind.

You may be tired of that old grill or need to get rid of that extra stuff anyway. If that’s the case, you can kill two birds with one stone by simply tossing it in the pile to be hauled off along with the old deck boards!

4. Remove Your Deck – Starting at the Top

You want to start at the top of your deck and begin working your way down. That means beginning with your railing. Remove  all the screws and nails that may be securing the guard rails to the posts. Be careful not to just toss them anywhere. Remember the bucket we recommended? Toss your used nails and screws in that. This helps you avoid cluttering your yard with sharp objects and protects the safety of the feet of family and pets.

Then, pull out the guard rails and put them in a nearby pile or toss them in your rented dumpster.

5. Pull Out the Deck Boards

Once you’re done with the railing, it’s time to move onto the deck boards themselves. Depending on when and how your deck was constructed, your boards are secured with either nails or screws. Use your hammer or power drill to remove them.

After you’ve taken out the nails and/or screws, grab your crowbar and start prying up those boards.

6. Remove the Deck Joists and the Rim Joists

When all the deck boards are removed, you can move down to the deck joists. The joists are the pieces running perpendicular to the deck boards, on which the boards sit atop. Depending on the size of your joists and how they are attached, you may need a little more elbow grease to get them out.

7. Pull Out the Posts

We’re in the home stretch. By now, you should have a neatly organized pile of lumber and a few posts should be all that remains of your deck.

8. Call Xpress Dumpster Rentals to Haul Your Deck Debris Away

Congratulations! You have just completed your very own deck removal project. Take a minute to step back, enjoy some refreshment, and bask in your hard work. Now, look at the huge pile of wood and construction debris that’s left over. But Wait! Don’t panic, Xpress Dumpster Rentals has you covered.

After all that effort, the last thing you want to deal with is disposing of all that deck lumber. Did you rent a dumpster at the start of the process like we suggested, or do you have everything in a giant pile? Regardless, all you need to do is call Xpress Dumpster Rentals and BOOM! Problem Solved!

Xpress Dumpster Rentals  is happy to help with all your deck removal needs. Just give us call at (703) 594-7656 or book your dumpster rental online and leave the haulin' to us!

References

https://www.nadra.org/blog/national-deck-safety-month

NADRA_DSM_Checklist.pdf

https://www.kaylafletcherphotography.com/