In New England, decks and porches face more than everyday use and foot traffic. Sun exposure, storms, persistent humidity, and repeated temperature fluctuations can all wear down boards, railings, stairs, and exterior finishes over time.
We've come to realize that the cyclical nature of New England's seasons leads to cyclical demand schedules, with most homeowners scheduling their exterior repairs and maintenance in the fall. Some people are addressing issues they discovered in the summer, and others are preparing their properties for the winter. As a result, home services schedules can fill quickly as the season approaches.
If your deck, porch, exterior stairs, or railings are beginning to show these 7 signs of wear, addressing them now can help you protect your home and put you ahead of the fall home-maintenance rush.
Some exterior damage is easy to notice. You may feel a loose railing or see a cracked deck board, but moisture-related damage can be harder to catch as it often develops more gradually. Moisture can collect around fasteners, stairs, trims, support posts, and places where a deck or porch connects to the house. Over time, continued moisture can lead to soft wood, rot, unstable boards, or deterioration beneath the surface.
In general, the following signs indicate that it may be time to schedule an exterior carpentry assessment:
Note: Localized damage can sometimes be repaired without rebuilding the entire structure. More extensive wood rot or deterioration around load-bearing components may require a larger repair, which is why identifying the source and extent of the damage is so critical.
The blunt answer here is that you should at least plan your assessment ASAP. Getting a home services professional to assess and estimate the scope of your project does not mean that they will need to start work the same day, but they can help you figure out whether or not there are urgent structural issues, and plan work the future.
From a weather standpoint, taking care of exterior repairs earlier gives homeowners more time to assess the project and complete the necessary work before freezing temperatures arrive, and the freeze-thaw cycle begins.
A long-lasting exterior repair begins with understanding and addressing what caused the damage, not giving it the “landlord special” by simply covering the issue areas with new finishes. With decades of industry experience, Blackdog’s Home Services team develops solutions based on the specific needs of your home, with focus on durability, function, and finish.
Our process begins with an initial assessment of the areas you are concerned about. Once we’ve seen your space, we will provide a project proposal that provides a clear description of the scope of work and the associated price for your consideration. We want to make sure homeowners can review the scope, ask questions, and decide how they would like to proceed before any work begins.
All Blackdog Home Services’ work is backed by our industry-leading 3-year warranty. Browse our interior and exterior services to see how we can help you cross off your homeowner's to-do list.
Schedule your initial assessment and estimate today by submitting a request online, or by calling our team at 603-458-7962!