What resurfacing a deck costs
Resurfacing means new deck boards on the frame that's already there. You skip the footings, posts, beams and joists, which is why it costs so much less than building new. Our October 2026 prices:
| New boards | Boards / sq ft | Labor / sq ft | Total / sq ft, old boards removed | 12 × 16 deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | $3.50 | $7 | $11–$16 | $2,200–$2,980 |
| Cedar | $5.50 | $7 | $13–$18 | $2,530–$3,420 |
| Composite | $11.50 | $12 | $23–$30 | $4,320–$5,850 |
| PVC | $12.50 | $12 | $23–$32 | $4,490–$6,070 |
Railing and stairs aren't in those figures. If they're being replaced too, add them with the railing and stair calculators.
First, is the frame worth keeping?
This is the whole question. New boards on a rotten frame is money thrown away, and it's dangerous. Before you price anything, get under the deck with a screwdriver.
Push it into the joists, the beams and the bottoms of the posts. Sound wood stops the blade. Soft, spongy wood that the blade sinks into is rot. Look hardest where the deck meets the house, at the tops of the joists where the old boards trapped water, and wherever wood touches the ground.
A few bad joists can be replaced. If the rot is widespread, or the ledger against the house is soft, the honest answer is a new deck. The deck cost calculator prices that.
Switching from wood to composite
It's a common upgrade, and there's a catch. Composite boards are more flexible than wood, so many of them need joists no more than 16 inches apart, and some need 12 on stairs or diagonal layouts. An older deck framed at 24 inches needs extra joists added first.
Check the installation guide for the exact board you're buying before you order. The spacing it lists is part of the warranty.
What changes the price
The boards, mostly. Composite and PVC cost three or four times what treated pine does, and they take longer to lay because of the hidden fasteners.
The layout matters too. Boards run straight across are quick. A diagonal or picture-frame pattern means more cuts and more waste.
And then there's what turns up once the old boards are off. Budget something extra for a joist or two, because nobody can see the tops of them until that day.
Fair questions
Can I lay new boards over the old ones?
No. It traps water between the layers, hides the frame from inspection and raises the deck surface against the door sill. The old boards come up.
Is it a job I can do myself?
Taking up old boards is hard, dull work, and laying wood boards is within reach of a careful beginner. Composite with hidden fasteners is fussier. Switch to "I will" above to see what the labor is worth.
How many boards do I need?
The estimate counts them for boards 5½ inches wide running the width of the deck. Add about 10% for cuts and the odd bad board.
Sources
- American Wood Council, DCA 6: Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide: ledger attachment, joist spans, guards and stairs for wood decks.
- How we calculate: every suggested price behind this calculator, with the date it was last reviewed.
