Most decks we replace on the Gold Coast are 15 to 30 years old. The boards are usually the obvious problem, but the frame underneath decides what the job really is.
If the joists, bearers, posts and footings are sound and the right size, a reboard can work. If any of them are soft, undersized or rusted at the fixings, a full rebuild is usually the safer and longer lasting option. We never assume an old frame can be reused without checking it.
Signs the frame needs replacing
- Soft timber when probed with a screwdriver, especially at joist ends.
- Rusted bolts, brackets or stirrups.
- Posts sitting in soil or on cracked footings.
- Bounce or sag when you walk across the deck.
- Joist spacing too wide for new composite boards.
More detail in signs your timber deck needs replacing.
What a full replacement includes
Removal and disposal of the old deck, new footings where needed, new posts, bearers and joists, boards, fascia, stairs and balustrades. Raised decks may need engineering or approval, which we flag before quoting.
Guide costs
A replacement deck is priced like a new one: about $350 to $550 per m² for timber and $450 to $700 per m² for composite as a general guide, plus demolition and disposal. Height, access, stairs and footings move the price most. See the deck replacement page and composite decking cost.
Want your old deck checked and a fixed written quote?
Book a measure
