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One of the realities of any deck project is that it will settle over time. This is because soil eventually shifts, compresses and otherwise moves with Mother Nature. While you can use recommended installation methods to build the deck as securely as humanly possible, settling issues are sure to arise. To fix a deck that has begun to sag or sink, you will need to jack up the deck to rebrace it and relevel it.
Cross-Joist Bracing
One of the most important aspects of jacking up a deck is that you cannot simply place jacks under two or three of the joists and expect to be able to lift the entire section. If you do this, you will simply lift sections of the deck, not the whole area. The best way is to place cross-braces, such as two-by-fours, across the length of the deck on the underside of the joists. Place them perpendicular to the joists so that you can then raise the whole deck at once as necessary. Place the jacks using the same spacing as any posts or supports. You can use any hand-crank jack for decks close to the ground, such as those included in vehicles for changing tires, or joist jacks for higher decks.
Little by Little
A mistake that you should avoid is raising the deck all at once. If you try to jack the deck up in this manner, you will cause the joists to crack, split and, in the worst case, break in half. The goal, once you have your cross-joist braces in place, is to put the jacks under the braces and then raise them incrementally 1/4 inch at a time. Start at one side and work your way jack to jack across the entire length, raising each jack just a little at a time until you achieve the height you were going for.
Ways to Brace the Deck
Next, you will need to brace the deck against future sagging. You can use blocks of wood placed under your joist braces, or you can use cinder blocks, bricks, river rocks or any sort of solid, dense material that will hold up to the weight of the deck. Place these at the same intervals as any existing posts to properly brace the deck and hold it place after you have raised it, then remove the jacks one by one. These blocks remain in place after you remove the jacks and are meant to brace the deck against future sagging.
Replacing a Post
Replacing a post is one of the most drastic measures you will need to take in the case of a severely sagging deck. You will need to do so to either fix a bowed post or to refill the hole beneath the post with new concrete and packing to help brace the deck against future sagging. The same rules apply in that you will need to cross-brace the surrounding joists and raise it slowly and carefully to relieve the pressure under the existing post before you replace it. This will pull the existing post out of the ground, which is why you need to add a new post and include new concrete.
Understanding Mother Nature
Jacking up a deck is only a temporary solution at best. Once a deck begins to settle into the ground, it may continue to settle a little every year. Or it may only settle once in 15 years. It all depends on the conditions of your soil and the area where you live. If the deck continues to sink over time, you will eventually reach a point when you will need to completely replace the deck.
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About the Author
Tim Anderson has been freelance writing since 2007. His has been published online through GTV Magazine, Home Anatomy, TravBuddy, MMO Hub, Killer Guides and the Delegate2 group. He spent more than 15 years as a third-generation tile and stone contractor before transitioning into freelance writing.
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