Most Requested Service
Deck Waterproofing
A walkable waterproof deck system, built up in layers over a properly prepared surface, is the difference between a deck that last...
Deck Waterproofing details →Deck Repair and Dry Rot Repair in San Diego County
Dry rot is what water damage becomes when nobody finds the leak. We repair rotted plywood, framing, and structural deck members across San Diego County, then waterproof the rebuilt deck so the same failure does not get a second run.
Since 2012CA Lic. #1063501San Diego County
Signs of rot and structural water damage
When to call us
- ✓Soft or spongy areas underfoot
- ✓Deck surface sagging or pulling away at edges
- ✓Fungal growth or dark staining at the underside
- ✓Fasteners rusting out or losing grip
- ✓Crumbling wood at posts, joists, or the rim
- ✓A previous repair that is failing again
What dry rot actually is
Dry rot is a wood decay fungus that needs moisture to start and keeps working as long as moisture keeps arriving. It hollows framing from the inside, which is why a deck can look acceptable from above while the structure underneath is losing capacity. Every dry rot problem is a waterproofing problem first, because the fungus is just the messenger.
Repair without the diagnosis is a rerun
We see it constantly: rot cut out, new wood installed, surface recoated, and two years later the same corner is soft again because the water path was never closed. Our repairs start where the water starts. Find the entry point, fix the flashing or membrane failure that fed the rot, then rebuild the structure with new material and modern connections.
Rebuilt and protected
Replaced plywood and framing get primed for the waterproofing system that goes over them, so the repair and the new membrane work as one assembly. You get photos of the opened structure, the repair, and the flashing before we close anything up, because you should know what is under your deck surface.
Scope of Work
What deck repair includes
- ✓Exploratory openings to map the full extent of the rot
- ✓Water entry diagnosis: flashing, membrane, or drainage failure
- ✓Structural replacement of plywood, joists, and posts as needed
- ✓Treatment of adjacent wood at the rot boundary
- ✓Modern flashing and connection hardware
- ✓New waterproofing system over the rebuilt structure
Pricing, Honestly
What drives the cost
Rot repair pricing depends on how far the decay traveled before it was found, which is only knowable by opening the structure up. We give a repair range after the exploratory inspection, then a firm scope once the full extent is mapped. It is the one service where we insist on discovering before promising, because guessing low and change-ordering later is how this trade earned its reputation.
- ✓Extent of decay mapped during exploratory opening
- ✓Structural members affected: plywood only versus joists and posts
- ✓Access to the damaged area
- ✓The waterproofing system rebuilt over the repair
How We Work
Diagnose. Prepare. Seal and verify.
01 / Diagnose
Find the true source
We trace where water is actually entering before anything is quoted. Sealing over a mystery is how the same failure happens twice.
02 / Prepare
Fix what is underneath
Substrate repair, flashing, and slope come before any product goes down. It is the part of the job you never see, and it decides everything.
03 / Seal + Verify
Install the right system
Materials matched to your surface and exposure, installed to spec, checked before we call it done.
Related Services
Often part of the same fix
When Water Already Won
Water Damage Restoration
When water has already reached the inside of your home, two jobs matter: drying and repairing the damage properly, and making sure...
Water Damage Restoration details →
Coastal Exposure Specialists
Balcony Waterproofing
Balconies take the worst of the coastal exposure and hide the results inside their framing. We waterproof balconies on homes, cond...
Balcony Waterproofing details →Straight Answers
Questions we hear about this work
Is dry rot dangerous to leave alone?
On a walking deck, yes. Rot removes structural capacity quietly, and elevated decks and balconies carry real loads. If an area feels soft underfoot, treat it as a priority inspection, not a someday project.
Can rotted wood be treated instead of replaced?
Wood at the boundary of a repair can be treated to stop residual decay, but structurally compromised members need replacement. Anyone offering to inject or paint away load-bearing rot is selling time, not a repair.
Will my insurance cover dry rot repair?
Policies vary and rot from long-term leaks is often excluded, but the documentation matters either way. Our photo record of the damage, the cause, and the repair gives you the strongest possible file for whatever conversation you have with your carrier.
How do you know you got all of it?
We open the structure until we reach clearly sound wood in every direction from the damage, and we show you. Closing up early is how repairs fail, so mapping the true boundary is the discipline of the trade.
Next Step
Get a diagnosis, not a sales pitch
Tell us what you are seeing with your deck repair + dry rot project, anywhere in San Diego County. The owner reviews every assessment and every quote.
3930 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92105
Mon to Sat: 9AM to 5PM · Sun: Closed
CA Lic. #1063501 · Since 2012
Quoted by the owner. No sales rep follow-up circus.