HOW-TO GUIDES

How to Replace a Composite Deck Board

SHARE

The great thing about Trex® composite deck boards is that, compared to wood, they’re not prone to rotting, warping, staining, and don’t require regular sanding and coats of finish to keep them looking good. That means you typically won’t have to replace just one or two deck boards because of age, weather exposure, or regular wear and tear. Instead, replacing a Trex composite deck board is usually only necessary after one has been damaged by a fallen tree or impact from some other excessively heavy, sharp-edged object. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to replace a composite deck board, whether it's secured with screws or hidden fasteners

Disclaimer: Instructions provided by Trex® are based on the build specifications that Trex® demonstrated in the Trex® Academy video series, and are not universal to all homeowners’ projects. A homeowner’s build may vary from Trex’s instructions based on the homeowner’s local municipality requirements, individual design preference and project specifications. For questions or assistance needed during your project, please reach out to howto@trex.com

Replacing Trex Composite Deck Board Fastened with Screws
Step-by-Step Instructions
Chapter 01: Replacing Trex Composite Deck Board Fastened with Screws
Print Instructions

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. 

Removing Old Screws

Step: 1 Remove the Old Screws

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.

Step 2: Install the New Board

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.

Step 3: Install the New Screws

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. 


Consider Hiring a Trex Pro® Builder

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.

Learn more about building Composite Decks

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.

Gather the Right Tools and Materials

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.

Tools

  • Pliers
  • Thin Pry Bar or Putty Knife
  • Pencil or Marker
  • Plug Hole Cutter
  • Safety Glasses
  • Work Gloves
  • Hearing Protection
  • Dust Mask
  • Knee Pads

Materials



(NOT ALL PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE IN EVERY COUNTRY.)

Unable to Add to Cart

You may order up to 4 free samples. To adjust your selections, remove what you do not need and then add your new choices.