We start underneath, at the ledger board and the footings, because that is where a deck actually fails even if the surface still looks fine.
Joist hangers get screws, not just nails, and the ledger gets proper flashing so water stops running behind it and rotting the rim joist. For decking we lay out composite or cedar with the gaps sized for expansion in our heat, not tight boards that cup and split by August.
Most people call because a deck is starting to feel soft underfoot, the railing wiggles when a kid leans on it, or the old wood has gone gray and splintery under the sun. Some just want a deck that does not exist yet, in a spot where they are currently staring at dirt or a slab of old concrete.


