Sometimes demolition is not the answer. In some cases you might think it is time to demolish and build fresh but there is something to be said about the possibility of restoration. An old deck is not the end. If the deck is still stable and strong it can be saved. And throwing out good lumber is a sin. If you have a deck that looks like it needs to be torn down but is not suffering from other issues then you may not have to destroy it. You could restore it. Signs of an old deck that must be torn down are easy to see. If the wood is warped or twisted then it is unsafe. The warping and drying, especially through a seasonal year with a winter and a spring, can cause the wood to shrink and change shape. This causes nails to rise up and out of place making it dangerous to walk barefoot.
They can also be a dangerous tripping hazard. These nails are often rusted unless they are galvanized and waterproof. Getting a cut from them could mean atrip to the hospital for a tetanus shot. Do not take the risk of using an old damaged deck. Decks can also get creaky. If your deck makes sounds when you walk on it, or if you feel like you are bouncing on the planks then you have cracks in your planks and they will break very soon. This means the deck cannot be restored and must be replaced. Often this can be done easily by replacing the damaged planks. Make sure to stress test each plank with something heavy and if it doesn’t break you can keep it. The best way to build a deck is not with nailed but screws. Try not to just screw pieces of wood together, buy metal brackets and use them to ensure the structure of your deck will last for a long time. Make sure all the metal you use from brackets to screws are waterproof and galvanized and make sure to use a drill to create guide holes or you will split the wood.
When restoring a deck it is a good idea to sand away the surface on both sides to get rid of anything on the surface that could damage the wood while also making it look fresh and new. This can only be done a few times before the wood starts getting too thin so do it right the first time and then varnish the wood with an all-weather varnish that will show its natural colour and not yellow over timefrom UV radiation. Using pressure-treated wood is great but the colour is not as beautiful and the grain is all but gone. The other problem with pressure-treated wood is it cannot be recycled into other things. The chemicals used to treat it are poisonous and dangerous to the environment so the wood must be disposed of in a special landfill with a protective concrete layer to stop the chemicals from leaving into the soil.