How to Remove Decking

Depending on the size, most homeowners pay between $5 and $15 per square foot for professional deck removal costs, according to HomeAdvisor.com. If your deck has heavier components like metal railings or is multi-story, the cost may be toward the higher end of that range. Undertaking a DIY deck demolition will help you save on labor costs.

Removing your deck should not require a permit, but it’s never a bad idea to double-check with your local building code office. If you plan on rebuilding a new deck in the future, obtaining a permit from your local office allows both your building plans and list of materials to be reviewed against the specific conditions of the location the deck will be built, ensuring it will perform as needed for a long time.

Once your deck is clear, you can begin removing the rails. Work from one end of your deck to the other starting with the top railings, the balusters and the bottom rails. Use a crowbar if they are nailed together, or reverse the screws with a drill if they’re screwed together. Keep an empty jar handy to drop loose screws and nails in as you work.

Grab your trusty pry bar or claw hammer and slide it under the deck board. Give it a little wiggle, and the board will pop up.

If your deck has screws, unscrew them before using a pry bar. They are typically along the edges and in the center of each board. Then, pry the boards up gently. Make sure you continue to collect your nails and screws.

Some screws may resist removal due to rust. If a screw won't budge, you may need to use more muscle or resort to cutting the deck board around the stubborn screw.

Using a reciprocating saw, cut the frame apart from the board that's attached to your home. Do this carefully and not too fast, so the weight of the deck pulls it away from the house. Once you've removed all the deck boards, the big board connected to your home will be left. Stack like-sized deck boards together to keep things organized.

Using your sledgehammer, strike the ends of the floor joists where they are fastened to the hangers. If that doesn’t work, you can use your reciprocating saw at both ends.

The ledger board is typically mounted horizontally against the exterior wall of the house. To remove it, gently pry away from the house. Work gradually along the length of the ledger to avoid putting excessive stress on a single area.

Dig around the concrete footings with a shovel and pull back and forth on the deck support posts until they can be pulled from the ground. You may need to use a wheelbarrow or grab a friend to help haul them away.

If the steps are still intact, pry the treads up with your pry bar and remove the risers and support posts.

Cut the trim so the weathered side is exposed for the rustic look. Build a mantel with a single piece of deck board and trim it out using the same material. If you want more smooth, decorative edges, you can sand it to duplicate any type of trim molding you would find at the store.

If some of your deck boards are 3/4 to 1 inch thick, they are the perfect size for a photo frame. Leave them worn or sand them depending on what style you’re going for.

Looking for an easy DIY garden project? Screw together deck boards to build raised planter beds you can fill with dirt. Such boxes are usually 18 to 48 inches deep.

If you are planning to build a new deck to replace your old one, you can use any of the old deck boards that are still in good condition to make a handrail for your new deck.

If you aren’t feeling creative, your wood isn’t in good condition or there’s just too much of it to use up, you can rent a dumpster to dispose of debris from your deck demolition project.