Inspect the joists underneath for signs of podri wood. Use a hammer and chisel to remove any rotting parts of the joists. Repair and reinforce joists that have soft and discolored areas with rotting wood putty. If a large part of the joist is rotten, you need to replace the entire board.
If you can't get under the deck, your only option is to pull all the boards nailed into the joist and tear it off. If you can get under the deck, you should be able to cut your nails with a sawmill and drop the wandering joist to the ground. Unfortunately, removing the Decks Joist post to replace it is a bit of a bigger job, unlike standard decking panels. While adding a terrace to your property is a great home improvement plan, maintaining all aspects of the terrace can be a laborious process.
Your deck joist is in the perfect environment for rot; rot is caused by a fungus that thrives from dark, damp, and warm temperatures, all of which happen very easily under your Decking. If your deck is no longer structurally sound or if rot repair costs start to approach the price of a new deck, you'll want to replace it. Learning to repair your existing Decking is a great skill as it saves you time, money, and gives you life experiences all rolled into one. You don't need to hold the severed joist while repairing it, unless there is additional weight on the platform.
Pay special attention to the ledger board, where the cover is attached to the house, since this is a common source of roof failure. If the existing cover is gray, coat the new cover with a solution made of 1 cup baking soda and 1 gallon of warm water. For older roofs, NADRA recommends hiring an ASHI certified home inspector or knowledgeable deck builder to inspect your deck for safety.
