I have a customer who wants to salvage as much redwood as possible from a 30-year-old outdoor deck in suburban Detroit. It’s a choice they’re making for ethical reasons — they want to re-use the existing resource and consume fewer new resources during a deck redesign and expansion.
During a quick inspection last summer, I noticed the surface is cracked in places and has some splintering, but the wood otherwise seems sound. No splits, twists or major soft spots. Post and rails are in similar condition. The foundation under the deck seems sounds as well, although some will be replaced as part of the overall project.
Is there a proven way to rehab the old redwood? Should I look into taking the surface down in place, or am I looking at tearing it apart for planing or resawing? Times are slow, so I could use the work, and the couple seems OK with paying for the added labor needed to satisfy they’re ethics.
I’m headed out to talk with the homeowners in a few weeks, so advice on how to proceed with the conversation is very welcome.
Replies
Are you taking up the entire deck surface? If so, If you are caeful and can pull the boards up without scuffing and gouging the bottom surface you could probably just flip the boards over and use the side that has been facing down. I would also run the boards through the planer and clean them up.
Depending on the method of attachment, sanding them down in place may be impossible anyway.
I'd just disassemble it, clean the boards(of dirt and hardware), and run them through a planer.
Hire two laborers and give them a couple of hand planes. Keep a stone handy. Have them belt sand the bottom first, then hand plane them.
They'll look like new in five minutes each...guaranteed.
Or do it yourself.
Back in my hardworking days, I made 100 balusters by hand from 2x4 stock. That included hand ripping everything with my tableless, gaurdless saw and hand planed every side to 1 3/8" square. Then I eased every edge in the router and routed a design on the four corners followed by the handsanding to ease everything again. That was very productive work and when you end up with a pile of shavings at the end of the day, you know you earned your keep.
I just pitched out a truckload of redwood that I could have refinished. I guess I don't have the same drive that I did in my 20's.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
If you can salvage that redwood you will be better off. Most of the redwood today is plantation grown and does not have the heartwood that gives it its durability as the older growth stuff does. If that deck has lasted 30 years in that climate with a little work and proper care it could last another thirty.
Are the boards nailed or screwed in place?
I find a great deal of damage can occur on removal. If nailed I would use a cats paw and flip the boards to re-install.
To pry the boards may split or dent the #### out of them.
"Perfect is the enemy of Good." Morrison
The boards are screwed in place with some standard phillips heads. the screws look to be in poor condition.Seems my best bet is to carefully pull the boards, clean and plane, then reinstall upside down.Thanks to everyone for the advice. I owe you all a beer.
In 1980, I built a humongeous deck with 2 x 6 Conheart to partially surround an above ground pool. By 2001, the kids were gone, the pool was rarely used, and the decking near the pool was in pretty poor shape. We decided to lose the pool, demo the old deck, re-landscape. and build a new (smaller) deck.
I almost choked when I priced new 2 x 6 Conheart, so I decided to see how much of the old decking I could salvage. About 75% of the old decking was in pretty good shape so I justified buying a planer to resurface the old boards.
It worked like a charm. I only had to buy about 10 new deck boards and have a deck that should easily last another 20+ years. I also got a couple of yards of redwood shavings to till into this @#*^$ clay I have for a yard. - lol
The biggest surprise was when I ran the new boards thru the planer so the thickness would match up. I took at least 1/8" off of the old boards, but the new ones ran thru just kissing the blades. - lol