Rebuilding Daughter's Double Deck

jciotti7

My daughter and son-in-law have a 14X40 double deck that needs the top floor decking replaced. The upper deck is 2X12 joists witht 3/4 plywood with ice-shield and granulated rolled roofing,( to keep the lower deck dry.) On top of the rolled roofing are 2X4X14 joists (centered on lower 2X12's) with the upper decking attached to them. When I began to take the deck boards off I saw that the rolled roofing was shot even though the lower ceiling hasn't leaked yet. Anyone think of an easy fix without taking it down to the plywood? This house was built 12 years ago. Also, anyone know an easy way to get all the rusted striped screws out of the deck boards with out srewing up the boards because I might re-use some. Thanks in advance.

greg24k

You are doing this for your daughter, who will stay in the house probably for another decade. From my personal experience, if the deck has seen better days, it will cost you double trying to save something that is hanging by a hair, and you will end up ripping it out later. Gut everything and rebuild it from the frame up, if the frame is still good. Do it one time and do it right, so your daughter will have something nice to look at and enjoy the deck for many years to come.

Good luck

__________________