Deck Makeover for Early Fall Entertaining

Makeover An Old Deck with Trex Decking

For less than a third the cost of a new deck you may be able to “makeover” your deck just in time for Labor Day weekend and early fall entertaining with some tips from eco-friendly Trex decking. Deck renovations are often cheaper, and a lot cooler, in the early fall than they are in the heat of summer.

Rather than doing a complete rebuild, homeowners can save money by retaining the existing sub-structure and simply replacing the deteriorating planks and railings. It’s a simple three-step process:

Make sure the deck’s current sub-structure is sound and meets local codes.
Remove the old decking, but leave the framework intact. Make any necessary repairs or adjustments.
Install replacement deck boards to the existing framing. Add complimentary railing for a completely updated and customized appearance – and then accessorize with lighting, plants and outdoor furniture.

Click here to watch a step-by-step video of the makeover process – and visit trex.com for more outdoor living ideas and inspiration.

Todd Fratzel

I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.

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View Comments

Fred @ One Project Closer says:
August 30, 2010 at 10:25 pm
I was drawn in by the title of the post because we are considering Trex or another manufactured product to resurface our deck. How much are we talking per square foot for the materials? It's a bold claim to say "1/3" the cost so now I want to know the juicy details!
- Todd says:
  September 1, 2010 at 6:22 am
  Fred - Good question. Here are my thoughts.
  First off, Trex sent these prices on the materials.
  - Transcend decking apx. $6.23/SF
  - Other Trex decking collections range from apx. $5.83/SF to $6.24/SF
  Typically decks can cost anywhere from $25 to $40 per square foot to have built. This is a pretty general range but consistent with what folks charge for fairly straight forward decks including the foundation.
  So, if you DIY the project and remove the old decking yourself, then install new Trex at $6/sf and add some railings I can see how it's definitely in the 1/3 cost range if not lower depending on how crazy the railing system is.