Replacing a Trex composite deck board that’s been fastened with screws is a straightforward task. In most cases, it’s as easy as removing the screws from the damaged board and securing a new one in its place. But even with a simple job, there are a few things to keep in mind that can help the process go more smoothly. Here are some tips to make a simple job even easier.
If the board is held down with Trex Hideaway® Plugs & Screws, you’ll need to remove the plugs first. One simple way of removing the plugs is to use a sharp screw and drive it into the plug. When the screw comes in contact with the head of the deck screw below, the plug will be lifted right out. Drive the plug-removal-screw in gently to avoid damaging the deck screw. If you accidentally strip out the heads of a couple deck screws while trying to remove them, you can simply pry up the board.
Use a scrap piece of wood under hammer claws and pry bars when using adjacent boards as leverage. Sometimes the screw will come out with the joist, but more often it stays in the joist while the board pulls free around it. To remove screws still lodged in the joist, you can turn them out with a locking pliers, cut them off with a saw, or bust them off with a hammer.
Cover the existing screw holes with a dab of waterproof sealant or Trex® Protect Joist Tape and position the new board in place. Use shims, scraps of wood, or some other type of spacers to make sure the gaps on either side of the new board are consistent and the same as the others.
Install the new screws (and plugs if required) the same way you installed them originally. Check out this manual for more information on proper screw placement and required expansion gaps. You may want to use longer screws than the ones you pulled out in case you hit the same hole, and the screw strips out the wood. If a longer screw isn’t an option and you do strip out a hole, you can insert a sliver of pressure treated wood into the hole before trying again. A small section of solid copper wire (12-14-gauge) also works well and won’t deteriorate over the years.
If you don’t have the time or inclination to tackle a repair like this yourself, contacting a TrexPro® builder will ensure that you hire someone who’s familiar with the full range of Trex products and can easily handle a project like this.
Want to take your deck-building skills even further? From lighting upgrades to full resurfacing guides, these how-to articles and videos will walk you through additional projects step by step. Dive in and learn how to build a better deck with confidence.
Save yourself a lot of time by making sure you’ve got the right tools and materials on hand before you get started. This checklist will help you stay safe, organized and prepared from start to finish.
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