In this article4 sections
A wood deck or fence that looks fine in September can show serious problems by May. The freeze-thaw cycle of a New Brunswick winter is relentless on outdoor wood. Water gets into small cracks, freezes, expands and opens them wider. Repeat that all winter and a minor repair becomes a structural replacement.
Fall, ideally before the first hard frost, is the time to assess your deck and fence, fix the small things and protect the wood for winter. Here’s what to look for.
Deck: what to check
- Decking boards. Look for cracking, splitting, cupping or soft spots. Press hard on boards near the ledger and posts. Any give means rot.
- Ledger board. This is the board that attaches the deck to the house. It’s the most important structural piece and the most common point of failure. Check for rot, separation from the house, and whether the flashing is intact.
- Posts and footings. Check the base of each post for rot, especially where it meets the ground or concrete. Footings should be solid, with no cracking or heaving.
- Joists. If you can get under the deck, check the joists for rot, insect damage and proper fastening.
- Railings. Grab each section and push sideways. It shouldn’t move. Loose railings are a safety issue.
- Fasteners. Look for raised screws and rusted or missing hardware. Deal with them before winter.
Fence: what to check
- Posts. Push each one firmly. Movement at the base means rot or a failed footing. Posts set in concrete can still rot just above the concrete line.
- Rails. Check the horizontal rails for sagging, cracking or pulling away from the posts.
- Pickets or panels. Look for rot, warping and missing fasteners. Loose pickets can become projectiles in a winter storm.
- Gates. Test the swing and the latch. A gate that drags or won’t latch will get worse as the ground shifts over winter.
Fall maintenance steps
Once you’ve done the walkthrough, a few jobs are worth finishing before winter:
- Clean the deck surface. Leaves and dirt hold moisture against the wood.
- Apply a water-repellent sealer if the wood is dry and clean. This is best done before temperatures drop below 10°C.
- Tighten or replace loose fasteners.
- Fix soft or rotted wood now. Small repairs cost far less than structural replacement in spring.
- Clear drainage paths so water runs away from the deck and fence posts.
The most expensive deck repair is the one you didn’t catch in the fall. A 30-minute walkthrough now can save a full replacement in spring.
When to call a professional
Rot in the ledger board, movement in the deck posts, or several failing fence posts are structural problems, beyond DIY maintenance. A professional assessment tells you whether you need targeted repairs or a full replacement, and gives you an accurate idea of the cost.
CORE Outdoor Works handles deck and fence assessments, repairs and replacements across Greater Moncton. If you’d like a professional set of eyes on your outdoor structures before winter, get in touch and we’ll book a walkthrough.
