When repair stops being the answer
As a deck replacement contractor working across the Denver metro, we see it constantly: every deck reaches a point where patching it is throwing good money after bad — rotted ledgers, frost-heaved footings, framing that was never built to code in the first place. Most of the decks we replace went up in the '80s and '90s and simply weren't engineered for forty years of high-altitude sun and freeze-thaw. If that sounds like yours, replacement isn't an upgrade; it's overdue maintenance on the most-used room of the house.
Not sure which side of the line your deck is on? Start with our repair and restoration service — every replacement quote begins with the same honest structural inspection, and if the bones are good we'll tell you and quote the cheaper job.
Replacement vs. re-deck: the money question
There are really two projects that get called "deck replacement," and the price difference is large:
- Re-deck (resurfacing). The framing is sound, so we strip the boards and railings and install a new capped composite surface over the structure you already own. It delivers the new-deck look and most of the longevity for meaningfully less money.
- Full replacement. Teardown to grade, new engineered footings and framing, new surface and code-current railings. It costs more because it is more — and when the structure is compromised, it's the only version we'll put our name on.
The inspection tells us which one you actually need. We quote both honestly; our reputation is worth more than the delta between them.
Built to current code — because the old one wasn't
Deck code has moved a long way since most of the metro's decks were built. Ledger attachment and flashing, footing depth, post hardware, stair geometry, railing height and baluster spacing — a replacement brings all of it current, permitted and inspected. That matters for safety first, but also for resale: an unpermitted deck is a classic inspection-report red flag. We handle permits and HOA approvals end to end on every replacement.
What it costs
Replacement pricing follows new-build pricing plus demolition: for a capped-composite rebuild in the Denver metro, most projects land in the same $40–$70 per square foot installed range covered in our composite deck cost guide, with teardown and haul-off typically adding a modest, size-dependent line item. A re-deck runs meaningfully less. Either way you'll get a real number from a real site visit, not a guess — request a free replacement assessment and we'll come look at what you've got.