Between weather changes, foot traffic, and regular wear and tear, the average residential deck lasts about 20 years. If you’ve had your deck for 15 to 20 years and it’s looking worse for wear, you may be considering restoring or replacing it. But how do you choose between a less-expensive re-decking and total deck replacement? Here are a few things you should consider when deciding whether to restore or replace your home’s outdoor deck.

1. Longer Lifespan

Restoring your aging deck can certainly bring back its original visual appeal, erasing visible signs of wear. However, it won’t reverse any structural damage that may have occurred over the decades since its initial installation. Old deck foundations may be damaged or simply not up to modern building codes, making it a danger to your household, especially as the years progress. By building an entirely new deck, you can ensure that your deck will safely last for another 20 years and stay up to today’s building code requirements. It will also allow you to take advantage of a full warranty that covers the entire deck—including the foundation—rather than a limited warranty covering only the new decking tiles, as you would receive with re-decking. 

2. More Functionality Options

The modern homeowner demands more from their outdoor space than they did 10 to 20 years ago. Today, entire outdoor kitchens and living areas are being constructed for year-round relaxing and entertaining. When you restore a deck with a foundation that’s 15 to 20 years old, it likely won’t have the strength to accommodate a true outdoor kitchen. When you build a new deck, however, you’ll have a brand new foundation ready to support whatever your household’s outdoor entertaining needs are.

3. More Design Options

Re-decking will allow you to restore your deck’s original appearance, but likely nothing more. This means that the deck will show its age in its dated style. When you build an entirely new deck, the sky’s the limit with creative possibilities. Whether you want a two-story deck, a freestanding deck, a covered porch, or any other exciting style, you can achieve whatever you envision when building from the ground up. When you opt for re-decking, you’re committing to the same dated deck style for another 10 to 20 years. 

4. Greater Overall Value

Many homeowners first consider restoring their deck when it begins to wear out due to the lower initial cost versus building an entirely new deck. However, total deck replacement is proven to have greater overall value once you factor in improved lifespan and the increase to property value. Additionally, there are many options for decking that are affordable — sometimes more affordable than deck restoration. Tile Tech pavers bring down the cost of rebuilding a deck through our easy-to-install paving system, including our hybrid pedestal pavers. By choosing Tile Tech’s paving system, you’re significantly reducing the number of man hours needed to complete the project, reducing the largest portion of the overall cost. In fact, Tile Tech paver installation is so easy, many homeowners even opt to do it themselves, further cutting the cost. If you want to receive the greatest return on investment possible, installing a new deck with Tile Tech pavers is the ideal solution.

Tile Tech offers hundreds of customizable paver products that are guaranteed to suit any home’s or business’ needs. From roof decks to raised decking, we have everything you need to complete your project to the highest standard while saving time and money over alternative paving solutions. To find out more about our product selection and how our deck paver system works, give us a call at (888) 380-5575 or fill out our online contact form. We would be happy to provide you with a free catalog, product sample, or quote for your next project.