Deck boards feel soft or spongy
Urgency
4/5
Honest verdict: this one's worth a pro$400–$4,000Typical repair cost
Likely causes, most common first
- Rot in the boards — or worse, in the joists beneath them
- Ledger or post rot where water sat for years (the structural one)
- Fastener failure letting boards flex and trap water
Do this right now
- Probe soft spots with a screwdriver — easy penetration = rot confirmed
- Check the ledger (where deck meets house) and post bases first: that's where decks fail dangerously
- Keep gatherings off a spongy deck until checked
DIY or call a pro?
Soft boards over sound framing = an affordable re-deck. Soft FRAMING = a safety issue worth a same-week look; deck collapses are the injury story every summer. We'll tell you honestly which one you have.
Planning this project?
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