# Deck repair and fence repair in Markham

URL: https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/deck-fence-repair/  
Updated: 2026-10-13  
By: Hotiv Landscaping, Markham, Ontario. Call or text (437) 684-2535.

**Short answer:** Deck repair and fence repair fixes soft boards, wobbly railings, leaning fence sections and sagging gates, so you keep the wood that is still sound. We replace rotten or cracked deck boards, tighten railings and stairs, rehang gates and swap out broken fence boards and rails. It suits a deck or fence in Markham, Ontario and nearby that is mostly solid but has a few bad spots.

Most decks and fences don't fail all at once. A few boards go soft, a railing starts to wobble, or one fence section leans after a windy winter while the rest of the wood is fine.

Deck repair and fence repair means fixing those bad spots properly, so you get more years out of what you already have.

## What the job includes

- Walking the deck or fence with you and probing the wood
- Replacing rotten or split boards, refastening popped nails
- Tightening or rebuilding loose railings and stair treads
- Replacing broken fence boards, pickets and rails
- Rehanging sagging gates, with new hinges or latches if needed
- Fasteners rated for treated wood, and the old wood hauled away

## Price depends on

- How much wood needs replacing
- Damage that reaches the frame or posts
- Pressure-treated, cedar or composite
- Matching older board sizes
- Access behind a garage or on a slope
- Washing and coating afterwards

## What are the most common deck and fence problems?

Rot, loose fasteners and posts that have shifted cause most of them:

| What you see | Usual cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Soft boards by the back door | Rot where water sits: next to the house, board ends, stairs | New boards, joists checked underneath |
| Railing moves when you lean on it | Wood dries and shrinks, and bolts or screws work loose | Retighten or rebuild the railing posts |
| Nail heads popping up | Wood swells and shrinks, pushing nails back out | Drive them down or swap for screws |
| Fence leaning toward the neighbour | A post rotted at ground level or shifted in wet or frozen soil | Fix or reset that post, refasten the rails |
| Gate drags or won't latch | Loose hinges and a frame pulled out of square | Square and rehang it, new hinges or latch |
| Boards gone after a storm | Loose or brittle boards | New boards or pickets |

A loose railing or a rotten stair is a safety problem. Tell us about that part first, and we'll deal with it before the rest of the job.

## How do we repair a deck or fence?

We replace what's damaged with matching wood and the right fasteners, then tighten whatever has worked loose:

1. We look at the whole deck or fence with you, not only the problem spot. We probe the wood around the damage with a screwdriver (the test in the [North American Deck and Railing Association's deck checklist](https://www.nadra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/NADRA_DSM_Checklist.pdf)) and check the posts and joists.
2. We remove the damaged boards, pickets or rails and check the joists underneath while they're exposed.
3. New boards and rails are cut to match the old ones and fastened with screws or fasteners made for pressure-treated wood.
4. We tighten or rebuild loose railings and stair treads, rehang gates and fix popped fasteners.
5. We haul away the old wood and point out anything else worth keeping an eye on.

The fasteners matter. Today's wood treatments are harder on steel than the old CCA treatment was, so [Simpson Strong-Tie](https://www.strongtie.com/products/product-use-information/corrosion-information/pressure-treated-wood-faq) and [Wood Preservation Canada](https://woodpreservation.ca/en/faq) point to hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel hardware for treated wood.

## How much does deck or fence repair cost?

We give you a free quote after seeing the job. The biggest swing is whether the damage stops at the boards and pickets or reaches the frame or posts, which takes far longer to fix.

Pressure-treated lumber, cedar and composite all cost different amounts. Older board sizes aren't always still sold, so a close match can take more work.

A fence behind a garage or a deck over a steep slope takes longer to reach. Washing and coating afterwards, so new and old wood match, adds to the job too.

## Should you coat the deck after a repair?

If the look matters to you, yes. New wood never matches weathered boards on day one, so the usual plan is to repair first, then [pressure wash](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/pressure-washing/) and coat the whole surface.

> **Good to know:** New pressure-treated boards can still be damp from the treatment. [Wood Preservation Canada](https://woodpreservation.ca/en/faq) suggests sprinkling a few drops of water on them: once the water soaks in, they're ready for a water repellent or semi-transparent stain.

We also do [deck painting and waterproof coating](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/deck-staining/) and [fence painting](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/fence-painting-staining/), so it can all be one job. Our [deck restoration](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/projects/deck-restoration/) and [fence restoration](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/projects/fence-restoration/) projects show that washing and coating work.

For more detail, our guides cover [deck staining in Ontario](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/deck-staining-guide/), [painting versus staining a fence](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-painting-vs-staining/) and [pressure washing wood without damaging it](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/pressure-washing-wood-pavers/).

## How do you keep a repaired deck or fence in good shape?

Keep water off the wood and catch loose parts early:

- Sweep leaves out of the gaps between deck boards so water can drain.
- Keep soil, mulch and firewood away from the bottom of fence boards and deck posts.
- Point downspouts away from the deck and fence line.
- Check railings and gate hinges each spring and tighten anything that's moved.
- Recoat the wood before it turns grey and cracks.

## Can you repair a deck yourself?

You can swap a single deck board over a weekend if you own a saw and a drill. It gets harder when the problem is a rotten post, a railing that has to hold someone's weight, or a fence post that has to be dug out.

For posts, see [how to fix a leaning fence post](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-leaning-fence-post/). Digging means getting underground lines marked first: [Ontario Dig Authority](https://ontariodigauthority.ca/homeowners/) (formerly Ontario One Call) says you must request a free locate before you dig for a fence or deck.

If the repair turns into rebuilding the frame or changing the deck's size or height, ask your city about a permit. In Toronto, for example, a deck more than 60 cm (24 inches) above the ground [needs a building permit](https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/building-construction/apply-for-a-building-permit/when-do-i-need-a-building-permit/).

For fences, our guide to [fence rules in Markham and Toronto](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-rules-markham-toronto/) covers the height limits.

## Where do we do deck repair and fence repair?

We work across [Markham](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/markham/) and nearby, including [Richmond Hill](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/richmond-hill/), [Thornhill](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/thornhill/) and [Scarborough](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/scarborough/).

The quickest start is to [text a few photos](sms:+14376842535?&body=Hi%20Hotiv%2C%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote.%20Here%20are%20some%20photos%20of%20the%20area%3A) of the damaged boards or fence section to [(437) 684-2535](tel:+14376842535) with your street or postal code. We'll come by, take a look and give you a free quote.

## Signs it's time

- Boards that feel soft or spongy underfoot
- A railing that moves when you lean on it
- Nail heads sticking up out of the deck boards
- Stair treads that rock, crack or sag in the middle
- A fence section leaning after a windstorm
- A gate that drags on the ground or won't latch
- Missing, split or broken fence boards

## Questions about deck & fence repair

### Can you replace just a few deck boards?

Yes. Swapping a handful of boards is a normal repair. We pull the damaged boards, check the joists underneath while they're exposed, and fit new boards of the same width and thickness. The new wood will look lighter than the old boards at first. Once the new boards are dry enough to take a finish, a wash and a coat over the whole deck evens out the colour, and we can do that too if you'd like.

### How do I know if my deck is rotten?

Push a screwdriver or ice pick into the wood at the spots that stay wet longest: board ends, around the stairs, the ledger board where the deck meets the house, and the bottom of posts. The North American Deck and Railing Association's checklist says decay may be present if the tip goes in 6–12 mm (¼–½ inch) easily, a sliver snaps off without splintering, or the wood feels soft and spongy.

### Is it worth repairing an old deck, or should I replace it?

If the frame underneath (the posts, beams and joists) is solid, repair is usually worth it, because the boards and railings are the parts that wear out first. Replacement starts to make sense when the frame itself is rotting in several places, or the deck sways or shifts when you push on it. We'll tell you which side of that line your deck is on when we look at it.

### Can a leaning fence be fixed without replacing the whole fence?

Often, yes. In many cases the lean comes from one or two posts that have rotted at ground level or worked loose in the soil. Fixing those posts and re-securing the rails can bring the section back upright. If most of the posts along the run have gone, a full replacement is the better spend, and we'll say so.

### What's the best time of year to repair a deck or fence in Ontario?

Board, railing and gate repairs can be done most of the year. Anything that means digging, like resetting or replacing fence posts, has to wait until the ground isn't frozen, so roughly spring to late fall. Many people first notice damage in spring, after winter wind, snow and frost. If you also want the wood coated afterwards, plan for a dry, mild stretch so the finish can go on properly.

### How do I get a quote for deck or fence repair?

Call or text (437) 684-2535, or fill in the quote form. A few photos of the damaged boards, railing or fence section help us understand the job before we come out. We then visit, look at it with you and give you a free quote.

## Related guides

- [How to fix a leaning or rotten fence post (and when the whole section needs replacing)](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-leaning-fence-post/)
- [Fence permits and height rules in Markham and Toronto](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-rules-markham-toronto/)
- [Deck staining in Ontario: when to stain, when not to, and which stain](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/deck-staining-guide/)
- [Pressure washing decks, fences and interlock without damage](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/pressure-washing-wood-pavers/)
- [Fence painting vs staining: cost, looks and how long each lasts](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-painting-vs-staining/)

## Related services

- [Deck staining, sealing & waterproofing](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/deck-staining/)
- [Fence painting & staining](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/fence-painting-staining/)
- [Pressure washing](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/pressure-washing/)