Booking jobs for the week of Jan 19, 2026 (612) 555-0184
Serving the Twin Cities Licensed & insured
Home/ Services/ Decks & Fences

Decks and fences built to survive Minnesota winters.

Loose railings, popped nails, warped boards, sagging gates, and the fence post that finally gave up after twenty freeze-thaw cycles. We fix what’s there — same-day whenever possible, and always at a price you can see before we start.

See Pricing →
What We Fix

The deck and fence problems Minnesota homes get

Freeze-thaw cycles, snow load, and the summer sun take a toll on outdoor wood. Most of it is fixable without a rebuild — and we’ll tell you honestly when it isn’t.

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Deck board replacement

Warped, split, or rotted boards swapped for matching decking. Pop the board, inspect the joist below, replace fasteners, and lay in the new plank cut to length and gap.

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Railing tightening & repair

Every railing that wiggles. We tighten the ledger connection, replace rotted balusters, and re-anchor posts to the frame. Railings are a safety item — we don’t leave one that moves.

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Gate realignment & hinge repair

Sagging gates rehung on new hinges, gates that drag across the deck fixed at the frame, and latches adjusted so they engage the first time. Everything tested open-and-closed before we leave.

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Fence post reinforcement

The fence post that finally gave up after ten winters. We brace or replace the post, re-set the fence panel, and match the existing fence style and height.

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Picket & panel replacement

Individual pickets replaced or a full panel swapped. We match profile and height — cedar, pine, or composite. Matched fasteners and stain color when possible.

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Power washing & stain prep

Green algae, dirt, and old stain removed from wood surfaces. Full-season prep for staining or sealing — we do the wash and leave the wood ready for your stain of choice.

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Stair tread & stringer repair

Loose treads, broken stringers, and wobbly stair rails. We replace damaged treads, reinforce weak stringers, and re-anchor the handrail to code.

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Nail & screw replacement

Popped nails are the leading cause of splinters and board movement. We pull old fasteners and replace with coated deck screws or ring-shank nails that hold through freeze-thaw.

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Fence staining & sealing

One-coat stain or sealer on fences up to 200 linear feet. We handle the sprayer, the brush work, and the cleanup. Two-coat projects quoted separately.

Where We Stop

Repairs, not full rebuilds

If a deck or fence is past repair, we say so. Structural work, permits, and full replacements go to the deck builders and fence contractors we work with.

We handle

  • Board and picket replacement (up to 25% of the surface)
  • Railing repair and tightening
  • Gate realignment and hinge replacement
  • Fence post bracing or single-post replacement
  • Stair tread and stringer repair
  • Nail and screw replacement with proper fasteners
  • Power washing and stain prep
  • Single-coat stain or seal on fences under 200 ft

We hand off

  • Full deck rebuilds and structural framing
  • Ledger board attachment to the house (permit work)
  • Footing installation and new post setting
  • Fence line layout and new fence installation
  • Composite decking replacement of a full surface
  • Rot damage extending into the frame or joists
  • Decks over 30 inches with structural failures
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A deck builder and fence contractor on call.

When a job needs a permit or a full rebuild, we hand you a name and a number — and we’ll coordinate the visit so you get real numbers, not a shrug.

Pricing

Flat rates for the jobs we do most

Deck and fence repairs are billed by the hour or by the board, whichever is cleaner for the job. Here’s how the pricing lands on the calls we get most.

Job
Typical time
Typical total
Deck board replacementPer board, cut to length and fastened
30–45 min / board
$75 – $110 / board
Railing tighteningPer section, up to 8 ft
20–40 min
$95 – $130
Baluster replacementPer baluster, matching profile
15–25 min
$60 – $85
Gate realign & hinge swapPer gate, new hinges, latch adjusted
45–75 min
$120 – $180
Fence panel replacementPer panel, up to 8 ft wide
60–90 min
$150 – $220
Fence post bracePer post, reinforcement without full replacement
45–75 min
$120 – $180
Stair tread replacementPer tread, cut and fitted
30–50 min
$95 – $140
Power wash — deckStandard 12x16 deck, up to 200 sq ft
60–90 min
$180 – $260
Stain prep — fencePower wash and prep, up to 100 linear ft
90–150 min
$240 – $380

Labor only. Decking, fence boards, pickets, hinges, and stain are bought at cost with your approval before purchase — no markup. Projects over 25% board replacement are quoted as a project, not by the hour. Second hour onward billed at $65/hour when bundled into the same visit.

Recent Job

A powder-post repair that saved a whole fence

A homeowner in Roseville had three fence posts that had rotted at the ground line. Replacing the whole fence wasn’t in the budget.

Wooden residential fence and gate after repair work

Roseville, MN · September 2025

3.5 hours on site · $420 total · full fence saved for under 10% of replacement cost

  • Excavated around three rotted posts at the ground line
  • Installed post repair spikes to brace each post at grade
  • Reattached fence panels to the reinforced posts
  • Replaced six pickets that had split from the movement
  • Replaced gate hinge and rehung the gate to close cleanly
  • Power washed the fence line and prepped for fall staining
  • Advised the homeowner on the timeline for a full post replacement in 2–3 years

“Two fence companies told me I needed a full replacement — $6,800. NorthStar braced the posts and got me three more years for four hundred. Honest work.”

— Karen P., Roseville, MN

Seasonal Timing

The best time of year for each job

Deck and fence work in Minnesota has a season. Here’s what we recommend and why.

Spring

Post-winter inspection

Walk the deck and fence line after the last freeze. Identify boards lifted by frost, popped nails, and railing movement. Repairs done now prevent bigger issues by summer.

  • Railing tightening
  • Nail & screw replacement
  • Board replacement — minor
  • Gate realignment
Summer

Peak repair & finishing season

The best window for anything involving finish work. Stains cure properly, wood is dry, and we can power wash and finish in the same visit if the schedule allows.

  • Power washing
  • Stain & seal
  • Full board replacement
  • Stair tread & stringer repair
Fall

Winter prep window

Last window before wood becomes brittle and stain won’t cure. This is the ideal time for one final repair pass before snow load arrives.

  • Final railing check
  • Fastener replacement
  • Post bracing before freeze
  • Winter-ready seal coat
Winter

Emergency & small repairs only

Stains and sealers won’t cure in cold weather. We handle safety-critical repairs only — railing failures, gate issues, and post failures that could get worse with snow load.

  • Railing failure response
  • Post brace on failing fences
  • Gate repair
  • Snow-load damage assessment
DIY vs. Call

What you can handle yourself

Some outdoor repairs are genuinely fine on your own. Others are safety items — and those we don’t recommend guessing on.

Try it yourself

Low-risk with basic tools

  • Replacing a popped nail with a coated screw
  • Tightening a loose baluster bracket
  • Power washing a small deck yourself
  • Painting or staining a section you can reach easily
  • Sweeping debris off the deck between seasons
Worth calling

Doable but tricky

  • Board replacement (needs joist inspection)
  • Gate realignment (hinge geometry)
  • Baluster replacement on a matched fence
  • Full-deck power washing (equipment damage risk)
  • Single-coat staining a full fence
Call a specialist

Safety or structural

  • Any railing that wiggles or gives way
  • Rotted posts below the ground line
  • Ledger board attachment to the house
  • Deck structure taller than 30 inches
  • Full deck or fence replacement
Prep

Before we arrive

Deck and fence repairs go faster when we know what we’re walking into. Five minutes of prep on your end helps.

01

Clear furniture and grills

Move furniture, grills, and planters off the deck. It gives us room to work and prevents scuffing items you’d rather not see dinged up.

02

Mark the problem spots

If you know which board is loose or which post is wobbling, put a piece of painter’s tape on it. It saves time and prevents missed spots.

03

Have the gate closed

If pets are in the yard, keep them inside during the visit. We open and close the gate repeatedly to test the repair, and we’d rather not worry about a bolt for the door.

04

Note the wood type

If you know your deck is cedar, pressure-treated pine, or composite, tell us when you book. It changes the fasteners we bring and the way we cut replacement boards.

Quick Answers

Common deck & fence questions

How much board replacement is too much?

As a rough rule, if more than 25% of your deck boards need replacing, a full deck resurface is usually the better long-term call. We’ll tell you honestly at the visit and, if it’s close, give you both numbers so you can decide.

Can you fix a rotted fence post without replacing it?

In many cases, yes. If the rot is only at the ground line, a post repair spike can brace the post and extend its life 3–5 years. If the rot runs into the buried section, the post needs full replacement — we’ll tell you which it is at the visit.

Do you offer deck staining?

We offer single-coat stain on fences up to 200 linear feet and stain prep on decks. Full deck staining is a painter job that we refer out. Stain prep (power washing, sanding, sealing any cracks) is a service we do provide.

Do you work in the winter?

We do safety-critical repairs year-round — railing failures, gate issues, post bracing. Staining and sealing wait for warmer weather since finishes don’t cure below 50°F. If you have a fence post failing in January, call us — we’ll come out and brace it so it survives until spring.

What about composite decking?

We can replace individual composite boards, but matching older composite colorways can be tricky since manufacturers discontinue lines. We’ll source the closest match and, if we can’t find one, we’ll tell you upfront so you can decide whether to replace the section or the full run.

Do you install new decks or fences?

No. Full installation goes to the deck builders and fence contractors we work with. We handle repair, maintenance, and small replacement work on existing structures — that’s where we add the most value.

See all 28 questions →
Related Services

Often bundled with deck & fence visits

Most homeowners add one or two of these to the same trip and save on the second-hour rate.

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Doors & Windows

Fix the exterior door while we’re already working outside.

Learn more → 🛠️

General Repairs

Exterior caulking, minor fixes, and hardware on the same visit.

Learn more → 🎨

Drywall & Painting

Fix the interior wall that shares the problem with your exterior.

Learn more → ❄️

Heated Driveways

Snow-melting installs that pair naturally with a deck or patio build.

Learn more →

Wobbly railing? Sagging gate?

Send us photos and we’ll quote a flat number. Booking for the week of January 19, 2026.