Klaatu162 t1_ja7lkn6 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 1:11 PM

**Most deck failures are due to rotting of the rim joist attached to the house or improper nailing or rusting of the joist hangers and nails. While the deck's structure is open after removal of the decking, please inspect all structual elements for good condition. All decks should be inspected every 10 years at a mlnimun. If the deck is attached to the house, make sure the attached rim joist is not just nailed to the house, but thru bolted to the house's rim joist and flashed properly. If you have the deck rim joist attached to a brick wall, again, make sure the rim joist is thru bolted to the house rim joist.

The joists themselves look fine. And yes, I would clean them off and use deck tape or a butyl rubber sealant tape on top of them.

Reggie5633 t1_ja9prvr wrote on February 27, 2023 at 9:41 PM

100% this answer. I was hoping to do what OP is describing last summer, but ended up replacing nearly all the framing too. While the joists seemed OK, behind the ledger board attached to the house was NOT. Carpenter ants had eaten into part of the plywood sheathing and I’m so glad I caught it.

OP - do yourself a favor and check behind the ledger board before you start planking over the joists. You’ll at least have a chance to add flashing tape if there isn’t any already.

insightsometime t1_jaaa7d8 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 12:00 AM

The ledger board and its attachment to the house structure is where you will find the rot. You may be able to save the joists even if you have to replace and flash the ledger board.

Do not take the advice of strangers on Reddit who don’t have a sense of the attachment to the house. Get an opinion from a seasoned builder who can inspect the integrity of the ledger board.

Klaatu162 t1_jabgy9u wrote on February 28, 2023 at 5:43 AM

Yes, I agree. Get a seasoned deck builder, architect, structural engineer, or a local building inspector to evaluate your entire deck while everything is exposed.