What I repair
- Rotted porch and deck boards replaced
- Tongue-and-groove porch flooring patched
- Railings and balusters reattached
- Wobbly steps and treads secured
- Fasteners reset with screws
- New wood primed, painted or sealed
Old porches in San Gabriel
With 52.3 percent of homes more than 60 years old, San Gabriel has many Craftsman and Spanish-era houses with wood front porches. Painted tongue-and-groove porch floors trap water at the edges, so the outer boards rot first.
I patch in matching profiles where I can rather than replacing a whole porch floor.
Steps
Inspect
I probe for soft wood in boards and framing.
Remove
Bad boards are cut out cleanly.
Replace
New boards fitted and fastened.
Protect
Primer and paint or sealer on new wood.
Framing and footings
Rotten joists, beams or footings go to a deck or framing contractor.
On the same San Gabriel visit, people also tend to ask about wood rot repair, fence staining and sealing or fence and gate repair.
What to send
Photos of the deck or porch and the damaged spots.
Deck questions
Can you repair a wood front porch floor?
Yes, including tongue-and-groove boards.
Can rotted deck boards be replaced individually?
Yes, if the framing below is sound.
Can you fix a loose porch railing?
Yes, with new fasteners or bolts.
How much does deck repair cost?
It depends on the damage. Text photos for a free estimate.
Guides
- Getting a thick-walled house ready for winter rainA fall checklist for older San Gabriel homes with thick walls and deep windows: sills, doors, drains, caulking and outdoor outlets.
- Getting new paint to stick to old glossy trimHow to tell if trim in an older San Gabriel home has oil-based paint, and how we prep it so new paint sticks instead of peeling.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our drywall, plaster and paint touch-ups group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.