Resurface · Repair · Replace

Deck Resurfacing & Replacement in Omaha, NE

If your deck boards are splintering but the frame underneath is solid, you don't need to tear the whole thing down. Big Pine Decks resurfaces sound wood frames with new Trex, TimberTech, or cedar decking.

When a deck is truly past saving, we handle the full replacement, including permits and demolition. Whether you need a fresh surface or a safe new structure, we bring an honest assessment to every home in the Omaha metro.

How long do deck frames last?

A well-built pressure-treated wood frame often lasts 15 to 20 years in Nebraska. If the deck boards were cedar or another soft wood, they usually wear out before the frame does. That's the ideal time to resurface with composite decking, saving the structure underneath while upgrading the surface you actually walk on.

Schedule a Deck Assessment Call 402-212-6948

Deck resurfaced with new composite boards by Big Pine Decks in the Omaha metro

Resurface or Replace: How We Decide

We don't guess. We inspect the frame, ledger, and footings, show you photos of what we find, and put the options in writing. Here is what we look for:

Signs to resurface vs. replace an Omaha deck
What we find	What it usually means
Splintering boards but solid, rot-free joists	Resurface. The frame is good to go for another generation of decking.
Joists spaced 24 inches apart	Resurface. We add extra joists so the framing supports composite boards.
A few soft spots or a single rotted joist	Resurface with repairs. We can replace or sister the bad wood and save the rest.
Widespread rot in the joists, beams, and posts	Replace. If a screwdriver easily pushes into the wood across the deck, the frame is done.
Heaved footings that lifted the posts	Replace. The deck is no longer level and the foundation has failed.
Major water damage at the ledger board	Replace. A failing connection to the house is a safety risk that requires a rebuild.

What Your Deck is Telling You

Here are a few signs that a deck frame needs more than just new boards:

Rotted board ends: Often points to trapped moisture or a failing joist below.
Rusted hardware: Joist hangers and fasteners lose their strength when rusted.
Loose railings: Usually means the posts aren't blocked or fastened correctly to the frame.
Leaning posts: Often caused by frost heave pushing up shallow footings.
Ledger stains: Dark marks where the deck meets the house mean flashing is missing or failing.
Rotted stair stringers: Stairs rest on the ground and often rot faster than the rest of the frame.

What Deck Resurfacing Includes

When the frame is sound, resurfacing gives you a brand-new deck in less time. Here's what we do:

Removal. We pull off the old boards, railings, and stairs, and haul them away.
Inspection. We check every joist, hanger, and post with the boards off to confirm the frame is safe.
Framing repairs. We replace or sister weak joists and add blocking. Composite needs joists no more than 16 inches apart for standard layouts and 12 inches for diagonal patterns, so older wood decks framed at 24 inches get extra joists.
Protection. Joist tape goes on top of the framing, and we confirm the ledger is flashed and fastened correctly.
New surface. We install your new composite or cedar boards with the manufacturer's recommended fasteners, plus fascia, trim, and any border details.
Railings and stairs. Keep them, repair them, or upgrade to black aluminum, cable, glass panel, or composite.
Walkthrough. We clean up, walk the finished deck with you, and answer your questions about care.

Most resurfacing projects take 2 to 5 working days once materials arrive.

When We Need to Replace It

When a deck frame has widespread rot, failing footings, or an unsafe connection to the house, putting new boards on top is a waste of money. A full replacement starts with demolition and hauling away the old structure.

Then we build a fresh frame from the ground up, starting with new concrete footings poured 42 inches below grade to beat the frost line. We attach a new ledger with correct flashing and code-approved fasteners, build the framing with joists spaced for composite, and apply joist tape before the new boards go on.

New deck framing on fresh footings during a deck replacement in the Omaha metro

Why Decks Wear Out in Omaha

Nebraska is hard on decks. Water soaks into wood, freezes, and expands over and over through the winter, opening cracks and loosening fasteners a little more each season.

Footings are the next weak spot. Omaha requires footings for attached decks to reach 42 inches below grade. Older or do-it-yourself decks built on shallow footings or deck blocks can heave with the frost and pull the whole structure out of line.

Then there's the ledger, the board that fastens your deck to the house. The North American Deck and Railing Association estimates that about 90 percent of deck collapses start with a failed ledger connection, usually because of missing flashing, rot, or the wrong fasteners.

Age matters too. Decks built before 2004 were usually framed with an older type of treated lumber. The preservatives in today's treated lumber can corrode ordinary steel hardware, so any new framing needs connectors and fasteners rated for modern treated wood.

Permits for Resurfacing and Replacement in Omaha

The City of Omaha's residential deck guidelines require a permit for deck replacements, and for repairs that involve handrails, guardrails, floor joists, beams, posts, or footings. Swapping only the deck boards on a sound frame usually doesn't need one, but we confirm the rules for your address before we start.

Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Gretna, and Council Bluffs each have their own permit offices. We pull the permit for you and schedule the inspections, wherever you live in the metro.

Whatever we touch comes back up to current safety standards, including:

Guards at least 36 inches tall on decks more than 30 inches above the ground
Balusters spaced so a 4-inch sphere can't pass through
Handrails between 34 and 38 inches high on stairs with more than three risers
Ledger flashing and code-approved fasteners, never attached through brick veneer
Footings at least 42 inches below grade on attached decks

What Our Customers Say

★★★★★

Big Pine Decks totally replaced my 20-year-old wood with new TimberTech composite. The crew was fantastic, very professional, and cleaned up every day. Ben kept me informed throughout the whole process. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to upgrade their deck.
Quimby R.

★★★★★

Big Pine Decks started the project when promised and worked continuously to get the old, very huge deck torn down and hauled away. Framing out the deck came next. Our deck took a little longer as the crew encountered some issues left by the previous builders and made certain to repair them so we would have a safely structured deck for years to come.
Marilyn P.

See before-and-after projects in our gallery

How the Process Works

On-site assessment. Ben or a member of our team walks your deck, probes suspect wood, checks the ledger, footings, and railings, and takes photos of what we find.
Honest recommendation. You get a clear recommendation to resurface, repair, or replace, with photos and a written scope so you know exactly what's included.
Permit and scheduling. We handle the permit when one is required and put your project on the calendar.
Build, cleanup, and walkthrough. We do the work, haul away the debris, and walk the finished deck with you.

Deck Resurfacing Across the Omaha Metro

We're based in Bellevue and resurface and replace decks throughout the metro, including Omaha, Papillion, La Vista, Gretna, Elkhorn, Millard, Springfield, Bennington, Valley, Fremont, Plattsmouth, Waterloo, and Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Omaha Bellevue Papillion La Vista Gretna Elkhorn Millard Springfield Bennington Valley Fremont Plattsmouth Waterloo Council Bluffs

Resurfacing and Replacement FAQs

Should I resurface or replace my deck?

Resurface if the frame, ledger, and footings are sound. Replace if you find widespread rot, heaved or shallow footings, or a frame near the end of its life. We inspect first and show you what we find, then walk you through both options when it's a close call.

How do I know if my deck frame is still good?

Press a screwdriver into the joists, posts, and the area around the ledger. Solid wood resists. If it sinks in, that section is rotting. Also look for rusted hangers, posts that lean, footings that lifted, and any bounce when you walk across. We check all of it with the boards off.

Can you put composite decking on my old deck frame?

Often, yes. Composite needs joists no more than 16 inches apart, so older wood decks framed at 24 inches need extra joists added. We inspect and repair the framing, add joist tape, and then install the new boards.

Do I need a permit to resurface or replace a deck in Omaha?

A replacement requires a permit, and so do repairs that involve handrails, guardrails, joists, beams, posts, or footings. Replacing only the deck boards usually doesn't. We check the rules for your city and pull any permit you need.

How long does deck resurfacing take?

Most resurfacing projects take 2 to 5 working days once materials arrive. Larger decks, or ones that need structural repairs first, take longer.

How long does a full deck replacement take?

Most standard deck replacements take 3 to 7 working days once construction starts. Multi-level decks, roofs, or big hardscaping projects can take several weeks, plus permit approval time.

What happens to my old deck?

We tear it out and haul everything away, then clean up the site before we leave.

Can you resurface or replace a deck in the winter?

We work through most of the year. Frozen ground can delay new footings, which matters more for a full replacement than for resurfacing an existing frame.

Do you work on decks you didn't build?

Yes. We resurface and replace decks no matter who built them, including older wood decks and composite decks.

Get an Honest Answer on Your Old Deck

Schedule a deck assessment or call 402-212-6948. We'll tell you whether to resurface, repair, or replace, and put the plan in writing.

Schedule a Deck Assessment Call 402-212-6948

Best of Bellevue 2025 Licensed and insured Permits handled

Sources: City of Omaha Residential Deck Guidelines; North American Deck and Railing Association; Trex joist spacing guide.