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- You Send
- Photos plus deck size and height
- Cost
- Always free
- You Get
- What we see + a free written quote
- Site visit
- Not needed to start
What We Look For in Your Photos
Decking Boards
Soft spots, cupping, end-grain rot, splitting, and board-to-joist connection integrity across the full surface.
Joists
Hidden rot, splitting, insect damage, and hanger connections. Send shots from underneath at mid-span and where joists meet the ledger and beam.
Ledger Board
Bolt pattern, flashing condition, and the house rim joist behind the ledger. This is where most catastrophic failures start.
Railings
Rail height, baluster spacing (4-inch sphere rule), and post-to-deck connection hardware. A photo with a tape measure against the rail helps.
Stairs
Stringer condition, tread attachment, riser uniformity, handrail height (34 to 38 inches), and connection at the deck rim.
Posts & Footings
Base rot, footing type (concrete vs dirt), post-to-beam hardware, and whether the posts lean.
Fasteners & Hardware
Popped nails, corroded screws, rusted joist hangers, missing hurricane ties, and undersized hardware on structural connections.
Code Compliance
What we can see against current NC/SC residential deck code - rail heights, guard requirements, ledger fastening, stair geometry, and lateral bracing.
The Awl Test - Check for Hidden Rot Yourself
A photo cannot show soft wood, so we ask you to do one quick test. Push an awl or a Phillips screwdriver into the framing at its weakest points and tell us what happens.
What the awl test reveals
A joist can look perfectly fine on the outside - dry surface, no visible cracks, no discoloration - and be rotten at the core. Charlotte humidity drives moisture into the end grain and around fastener holes where you cannot see it. The wood weakens from the inside out.
When you push the awl into sound wood, it stops. When you push it into rotten wood, it sinks. There is no ambiguity. If the awl goes in more than a quarter inch without real resistance, take a photo of that spot and tell us. That member likely needs repair or replacement.
Where to probe
- Joist ends where they bear on the ledger and beam - the #1 rot spot
- Ledger board along the house connection - water collects behind improper flashing
- Post bases especially posts set directly in soil
- Stair stringers at the ground contact and top connection
- Board ends around fastener holes where water wicks in
Surface photos alone miss the damage that actually matters. Your awl results plus clear photos tell us what is going on underneath.
When to Send Us Photos
Buying a Home
General home inspectors spend about 5 minutes on the deck. Send us photos and know what you are inheriting before you close.
Selling a Home
Fix problems before buyers negotiate. A sound deck removes deck condition as a negotiation lever at closing.
Deck Over 10 Years Old
Pressure-treated lumber in Charlotte humidity starts showing structural wear around the 10-year mark. Catching it early costs a fraction of waiting.
After a Storm
High winds, fallen limbs, and standing water can damage framing that looks fine from the surface. Send photos from underneath so we can look for hidden stress damage.
Noticed Soft Spots
If a board flexes underfoot or feels spongy, the problem is usually deeper than the board. Get it checked before the damage spreads to adjacent joists.
Planning a Party or Event
Having 30 people on a deck that was not designed for the load is a liability risk. Send photos before the event and we will tell you what we see.
What Happens After the Review
What We See
You get a plain-language reply listing every issue we can see in your photos, rated by severity (safety concern, needs attention soon, or cosmetic). No jargon, no scare tactics.
Honest Recommendation
Repair, partial rebuild, or full rebuild. If something is not clear in a photo, we ask for another shot instead of guessing.
Free Written Quote (If Needed)
If repairs are needed, we include a free written quote at $20/sqft for the repair area. No pressure, no expiration date. Decide on your timeline. Once you say yes, the crew confirms measurements as part of the job.
Not Sure If You Need a Review?
Take our free online Deck Health Check quiz. Answer 8 quick questions about your deck and we will tell you whether a free photo review makes sense or if your deck is likely fine for now.
Take the Deck Health CheckOnline Quiz
2 minutes
8 questions, instant result
Frequently Asked
How much does the photo review cost?
It is free. You send the photos, we review them and reply with what we see and a free written quote if repair work is needed. There is zero obligation to hire us.
What photos should I send?
Send photos of each side of the deck, the framing underneath, close-ups of any soft or damaged spots, and the stairs and railing. Add the deck size (length and width) and how high it sits off the ground. If you are not sure what to shoot, we walk you through it.
What do you look for in the photos?
We look at eight areas: decking boards, joists, the ledger board and its flashing, railings and guards, stairs and stringers, posts and footings, fasteners and hardware, and code issues against current NC/SC residential building code.
Do you come out to inspect the deck?
We do not drive out just to look or measure. We guide you through the photos and measurements, so you get your answer sooner and our crew stays on jobs. If your project needs a visit before we can price it, we'll tell you up front, before anyone drives out.
How do I send the photos?
Text them to us at (704) 750-9173, or fill out the form on this page and we will reply so you can send them.
What happens after you review the photos?
We reply with what we see, our honest recommendation (repair, partial rebuild, or full rebuild), and a free written quote if repair work is needed. There is no obligation to move forward. Once you say yes, the crew confirms measurements as part of the job.
Our Deck Services
Deck repair, new builds in pressure-treated or Trex composite, staining, and frameless glass railings across south Charlotte and northern York County, SC.
Cities We Serve
Towns in Union and Mecklenburg County, NC and York and Lancaster County, SC, served from our base in Waxhaw, NC (28173). If you do not see yours, call us - we may still be able to help.
- Marvin, NC Union County
- Waxhaw, NC Union County
- Weddington, NC Union County
- Stallings, NC Union County
- Matthews, NC Mecklenburg County
- Ballantyne, NC Mecklenburg County
- Fort Mill, SC York County
- Indian Trail, NC Union County
- Indian Land, SC Lancaster County
- South Charlotte, NC Mecklenburg County
- Tega Cay, SC York County
- Providence, NC Mecklenburg County
- Pineville, NC Mecklenburg County
- Monroe, NC Union County
- Lake Wylie, SC York County
- SouthPark, NC Mecklenburg County
- Steele Creek, NC Mecklenburg County
- Mint Hill, NC Mecklenburg County
- Myers Park, NC Mecklenburg County
- York, SC York County
- Wingate, NC Union County
- Rock Hill, SC York County
Send us a few photos of your deck
Add the deck size and height and we reply with what we see and a free written quote, usually within 2 hours during business hours.