Most of the decks we replace around Saginaw were built when the house was, and they've had thirty-some winters of freeze, thaw, snow, and soak. The boards are the part you notice. The frame is the part that's actually done.
Replacement calls come from every corner of the county: the split-levels in Saginaw Township and Thomas Township with a sagging second-story deck, the older two-stories in Old Town where the ledger was nailed instead of bolted, Bay City and Zilwaukee lots near the river where the posts have been sitting in wet ground for decades. The story is usually the same. A homeowner re-stained it twice, replaced a few boards, and then put a foot through one.
Our first visit is a straight assessment, not a sales call. We check the ledger, the posts and footings, the joists, and the railing connections, and we tell you what's salvageable. Sometimes it's a repair. When it isn't, we'll say so and give you a written price to replace it, in wood or composite.
What a full replacement includes
- Tear-out and haul-away — the old deck comes down, gets loaded, and leaves. No pile in the driveway for a month.
- New footings — dug below the frost line and set in fresh concrete, not reused from a deck that already moved.
- New pressure-treated frame — posts, beams, joists, and hangers sized for the snow that sits on a Saginaw deck from December to March.
- A properly attached ledger — flashed and bolted to the house, the single biggest difference between a deck that lasts and one that pulls away.
- Your choice of surface — pressure-treated, cedar, or composite decking, priced side by side on the same estimate.
- Railing and stairs that match — code-minded railing heights and stair rise, in wood, composite, aluminum, or cable.
- Upgrades while it's open — a bigger footprint, a second level, lighting, or a screened corner cost far less during a rebuild than after.
Why old Saginaw decks fail where they do
Shallow footings heave when the ground freezes and thaws. Posts set on or in soil rot from the bottom up. Ledgers nailed to the house without flashing let water into the rim joist, which is the expensive part. A new deck on the old frame inherits all three problems. That's why we start from the ground.
Same deck, better surface
A replacement is the one time you get to choose again. Plenty of Saginaw homeowners who had a wood deck go composite on the rebuild, and plenty who priced composite go back to cedar. Both work here.
Rebuild in wood
Lowest upfront cost, cooler underfoot in July, and stainable in any color. Expect to wash and re-seal on a schedule. A good fit when the budget is going into a bigger footprint instead of the boards.
Rebuild in composite
Higher upfront cost, no staining, colors that hold through the sun and the snow. Darker boards get warm in full afternoon sun. A good fit if the reason you're replacing the deck is that you're tired of maintaining it.
Either way the frame is pressure-treated lumber on new footings. The surface is a choice; the structure isn't.
How a deck replacement goes
- Inspection and honest verdictWe check the ledger, posts, footings, joists, and rails, and tell you whether it's a repair or a replacement. Then a written estimate.
- Design the new oneSame footprint or bigger, same height or a new layout, wood or composite. This is the moment to fix whatever bugged you about the old deck.
- Permits and prepA rebuild is a new deck as far as the code is concerned. Most decks that attach to the house or stand 30 inches or more above grade need a permit under the Michigan Residential Code. The City of Saginaw Inspections Division and the Saginaw Township Building Department each handle their own, and every other town runs its own building department. We handle the application and the inspections.
- Tear-out and rebuildOld deck out and hauled away, new footings, new frame, new surface and rails. Start date and finish window in writing.
- WalkthroughWe walk it with you, go over care for the material you picked, and leave the yard clean.
Questions about replacing a deck in Saginaw
How do I know if my deck needs replacing or just repairing?
Press a screwdriver into the posts near the ground and into the ledger where it meets the house. If it sinks in, the structure is going. Soft boards or a loose rail alone are usually a repair. A soft frame, heaving footings, or a ledger that's pulling away is a replacement. We'll tell you which during the inspection, and we don't charge for the look.
Can you reuse my existing footings?
We'd rather not, and we'll explain why on site. Footings that were poured shallow or have already shifted will move the new deck the same way they moved the old one. New footings below the frost line are a small part of the job and the biggest part of the deck lasting.
Can I change the size or layout when I replace it?
Yes, and it's the cheapest time to do it. Adding a few feet, a second level, or a set of stairs to the yard costs far less during a rebuild than as a separate project later. Bring the wish list to the first visit.
What happens to the old deck?
It goes with us. Tear-out, loading, and disposal are part of the written estimate. You won't be renting a dumpster or making trips to the county landfill.
If the frame checks out and it's only boards and rails that are tired, deck repair is the cheaper road. Starting from bare ground instead? See new deck construction.