How to Replace a Worn-Out Wood Deck with Composite Decking

Michael and Jessica Zoghby share a beautiful home with their two sons, Michael and George.
They’ve lived there about four years and love the home’s location, layout and yard filled with lush landscaping, but the deck is an eyesore. It has rotting wood, peeling paint, and raises concerns about safety.

We’re going to install composite decking, composite handrails and some lights to transform this space.

The Projects

Remove Deck Boards and Handrails

First, we check out the deck’s framing to ensure it’s structurally sound and can support new Trex composite decking.

The deck’s framing is strong, so we can proceed with the project, and Jessica uses a deck wrecker to lift the old boards.
We need to reduce the space between joists, so we add some new ones.

Install Trex RainEscape

Michael says he would love to use space under the deck for storing lawn equipment, so we’re using the Trex RainEscape system. It will divert any water that comes between the deck boards, pushing it into a gutter and keeping it away from under the deck.

First, we install downspouts at one end. Then, we take the flexible trough material, bend it into place, where it drains into the downspout, and then add a gutter underneath the downspouts that will pull all the water away from the deck.