How to Repair a Front Porch Deck

Walk around to the side of your front porch deck and shine a flashlight under it to locate the deck joists. Look upward at the underside of the damaged planks to see where the joists run perpendicular to the porch planks.

Put on goggles and a dust mask to keep sawdust out of your eyes and mouth.

Set a circular saw to the same depth and the thickness of the wood planks. Typically, this is 1 inch as most decks are generally constructed of 1-by-3-, 1-by-4- or 1-by-5-inch planks.

Rest the blade about 2 inches away from the deck joist on the damaged porch plank. Saw into the damaged plank lengthwise, going in the same direction as the long grain. Stop about 2 inches before you reach the deck joist on the other side.

Insert a pry bar into the cut in the plank and pry up to break the plank lengthwise in two. The plank might break completely free or half of it may stay fastened to the joist below.

Pull up any nails with a claw hammer and then pull the second half of the plank up from the deck.

Measure and mark the cut lines on a replacement plank to fit within the empty space. Cut the replacement plank to size using a circular saw.

Fit the replacement plank into the empty space and fasten it to the deck joists with stainless steel nails.

Apply a coat of wood sealant to the new plank using a paintbrush. Let dry for the amount of time suggested by the manufacturer before walking on the new plank.