Deck and Balcony Repair in Marin and San Francisco
Rotted framing, railings, worn boards, and tiled patios that leak into the room below. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll come take a look.
See this projectDecks take a beating out here
Marin's wet winters, fog and salt air off the bay are hard on outdoor wood and flashing. A deck can look fine from above while the framing underneath has been rotting for years.
We repair dry rot in joists, posts, beams and stair stringers, replace railings and decking in redwood or composite, rebuild stairs and landings, and take apart tiled patios over living space to stop the leak at its source. We pull the permits for structural work.
Request an EstimateExamples of our deck and patio work
Patios over living spaceTile off, new waterproof membrane and flashing, rebuilt so it stops leaking into the room below. 
Deck rebuildsNew framing, decking and stairs when the old deck is too far gone. 
RailingsLoose or rotted rails replaced with wood, glass or cable. 
Composite decksLow-upkeep boards that don't need sealing. 
Stairs and landingsBack stairs, entry stairs and the landings in between. Drag to see the difference
BeforeAfter 
BeforeAfter How we fix a leaking deck or patio
- 01
Inspect
We probe the framing, posts and ledger, and look at the flashing and the room below.
- 02
Take the surface off
Tile, stone or boards come up, along with the old membrane.
- 03
Fix what's underneath
Rotted sheathing, joists or posts are replaced and the slope to the drains is checked.
- 04
Waterproof
New membrane, plus new flashing at the walls, doors and drains.
- 05
Rebuild
New tile, stone, pavers or decking, then the railing.
What your deck needs depends on what you see
There's a stain on the ceiling under the deck
Don't wait for the next storm. The membrane or flashing has failed, and every rain adds to the damage inside. Book a free patio inspection.
Boards are soft or the deck bounces
Check the framing, not just the boards. We probe the joists, posts and the ledger at the house. If they're sound, new boards and a railing may be all you need.
The railing wobbles
Fix it now. A loose railing is the part of a deck most likely to hurt someone, and it's usually a quick repair when the posts are sound.
Patios and decks over living space
A tiled or stone patio built over a bedroom or living room is really a roof with tile on it. Under the tile there's a waterproof membrane and metal flashing where the patio meets the walls and doors. When those wear out, water gets through, and the first sign is usually a stain on the ceiling below.
Patching the grout doesn't fix that. The surface has to come off. On this tiled patio over living space, the photos show each step: the old diamond-pattern tile before, the deck stripped down with a new white waterproof membrane going on, the crew sealing every edge, and the finished patio with new tile, French doors and a redwood and glass railing. If your patio is leaking into the room below, we'll come look at it for free.
Rebuilds and railings
When the framing is too far gone, rebuilding is cheaper than chasing rot. In the Inner Richmond, we replaced a worn gray deck and its stairs with a larger redwood deck and new stairs down to the yard. In Bernal Heights, the new deck went in with composite boards and wood railings.
Old railings are often loose, rotted at the posts or lower than today's code. In Twin Peaks, we replaced painted wood rails on an upper deck and the back stairs with redwood posts and cable rail, which keeps the view open. The Corte Madera pool deck got a redwood rail with a gate and built-in benches.
What our clients say
We have been working with Home Docs for nearly 20 years on all kinds of projects. They are the best.
In the twenty-two years we’ve owned a home, we’ve done two major and a raft of minor remodel projects … He’s just the best to work with: knowledgeable, helpful, honest, and a great craftsman and advisor.
Thanks again. We appreciated your reliability and good work.
Where we've built and repaired decks
We're based in Novato at 6 Pamaron Way, Suite A and work across Marin and San Francisco. Each town links to a project we've done there.
- FairfaxTile deck and rail over living space in Fairfax
- Corte MaderaCorte Madera pool deckSimple redwood deck in Corte Madera
- Inner Richmond, San FranciscoRedwood deck rebuild and expansion in the Inner Richmond, San Francisco
- Twin Peaks, San FranciscoCable rail system with redwood posts in Twin Peaks, San Francisco
- Bernal Heights, San FranciscoComposite deck in Bernal Heights, San Francisco
Questions about deck and balcony repair
How much does deck repair cost in Marin County?
It depends on whether it’s a few boards and a railing or the framing underneath, and on whether the deck sits over a room. We price your job after we see it. For a public reference point, the median declared value on 257 deck and balcony repair or replacement permits in unincorporated Marin from 2023 to September 2026 was $45,000, according to County of Marin building permit records. That is the value written on the permit application, not a final invoice.
Can you fix a leaking deck or patio over a bedroom?
Yes. A leak under a tiled deck or patio usually comes from flashing or a membrane that has reached the end of its life. We take the surface off, fix any damaged framing, put down a new waterproof membrane and flashing, and rebuild the surface. We offer a free inspection for patios leaking into the room below.
Do you repair dry rot in decks and stairs?
Yes. We replace rotted joists, posts, stair stringers and boards, and we check the ledger where the deck attaches to the house, because that’s where rot does the most harm.
Redwood or composite?
Redwood looks warm and is easy to repair board by board, but it needs sealing every few years. Composite costs more up front and needs very little upkeep. We’ve built both: redwood in the Inner Richmond and Corte Madera, composite in Bernal Heights.
Do you handle the permits?
Yes. Structural deck and balcony work usually needs a permit, and we pull it and book the inspections.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. The Home Doctors holds California contractor license #1154343 (B, General Building Contractor), and we are fully insured.
Decks and patios we've rebuilt
Tell us what your home needs.
Based in Novato, working across Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma, Napa, Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Send a few details and we'll call you back during office hours.