Deck Repair and Staining in Toronto: Rotted Deck Section Under a Balcony Rebuilt With Properly Gapped Boards, Then Sanded and Stained

The problem: boards with no gaps

This lower deck sits under an upper balcony behind a Toronto home, with stairs up to the second level and sliding doors into the basement. The surface was grey, worn and peeling, but the real problem was hidden. When we opened up the section under the balcony, we found rot. The previous deck boards had been installed tight against each other, with no gap between them. Instead of running through to the ground, rain and snowmelt sat on top of the deck and soaked into the boards and the wood underneath, and in a shaded area under a balcony, it never dried out.

Opening up and replacing the rotted section

We removed the damaged boards to expose the frame and cleared out the rotted wood and debris underneath, as the photo of the open frame shows. The damaged part of the deck was then rebuilt with new pressure-treated boards, this time installed with a proper gap between every board so water drains straight through and air can circulate. That spacing is what keeps the new section from rotting the same way. If water pools on your deck or the boards stay dark and wet after rain, this is worth checking early.

Sanding the whole deck

With the repair done, we sanded the whole deck, both the new and the old boards, so the surface was clean and even and the new wood and old wood would take stain the same way.

Staining to match

We then stained the full deck in one colour, blending the new section in with the rest of the deck so the repair does not stand out. The stain protects all the boards from UV and moisture, and with proper gaps underneath, the deck can finally dry out between rains.

The result

A deck that looks uniform and fresh again, with the rotted section rebuilt properly so the same problem will not come back.