Asked before every deck job
These come from real calls across the south side. Pricing lives on the cost guide and unsafe-today decks have their own page; this page covers the rest.
How long does a wood deck last in Indiana?
Fifteen to twenty years for the typical pressure-treated deck here, with maintenance deciding which end you get. Freeze-thaw cycles and humid summers work the wood hard, and a deck that gets cleaned and sealed on a cycle outlives a neglected twin by five years or more. Frames often outlast surfaces, which is exactly why re-decking exists.
Should I choose pressure-treated wood or composite?
Wood costs roughly half up front and asks for maintenance forever; composite costs more once and asks for a rinse. If you plan to stay, entertain often or the deck bakes in full sun, composite tends to win the ten-year math. If you are selling soon or love the look and ritual of real wood, pressure-treated is the honest pick.
What is a ledger board and why does everyone keep mentioning it?
The ledger is the board that attaches the deck to your house, and it carries half the deck's weight. When decks fail catastrophically, the ledger connection is usually what let go, either from rot behind missing flashing or from being nailed instead of bolted. It is the first thing checked on every inspection we run.
Why do deck posts rot at the bottom?
Because the bottom is where wood meets water and stays wet. Posts set directly in soil or sitting in cupped concrete wick moisture upward constantly, and rot works from the inside where you cannot see it. Modern practice sets posts on standoff bases above the concrete, which is a standard part of every rebuild we do.
How deep do deck footings need to be here?
Below the frost line, which runs roughly 30 inches in central Indiana. Shallower footings lift a little with every freeze and settle out of place over years, which is why older decks lean and heave. Proper depth is not an upgrade, it is the difference between a deck and a future problem.
Can I just power wash and stain my old deck instead of repairing it?
If the structure is sound, absolutely. Washing plus sealing is the best cheap year of life a wood deck can buy. The caution is cosmetic-over-structural: stain hides the gray but not the rot, and a freshly stained deck with a bad ledger is a pretty hazard. Check the frame first, then make it beautiful.
Do small deck repairs need permits too?
Like-for-like board and rail replacement generally does not; structural work, ledger repairs, footing work and rebuilds generally do. We make the call per job, file what the work requires and would rather over-document than leave you explaining an unpermitted rebuild to a buyer's inspector someday.
When is the best time of year for deck work around here?
Crews build spring through late fall, and the sweet spots are early spring and September onward, when schedules are looser and the weather cooperates. Materials do not care about the month; scheduling does. Winter is the perfect time to get inspected and quoted so you own a spring start date before the rush.
A question we did not cover?
Call (463) 283-6968 or send the form and Southside Deck Rebuilders will answer it straight, including when the honest answer is that your deck is fine and just wants a wash.