Deck board soft or rotting

Soft, spongy or visibly rotted deck boards are a routine finding on Florida decks, especially on the two-thirds of Longwood's housing stock built between 1970 and 1989 where an original deck structure is well past typical service life.

Likely causes, ranked

1. Water trapped under or between boards -- the most common cause. Poor drainage or debris buildup keeps wood wet long after rain stops.
2. Age and UV exposure -- pressure-treated pine has a working service life, and Central Florida sun and rain shorten it compared to drier climates.
3. Termite or wood-boring insect damage -- soft wood with a hollow sound, rather than visibly wet wood, points here.
4. Undersized or corroded fasteners -- older decks built before code updates sometimes used fasteners that have since corroded, weakening the board's grip.

What you can safely check yourself

• Press on the suspect board with your foot -- noticeable give or a spongy feel means it needs replacement, not just a surface treatment.
• Look underneath if you can access it -- standing water or debris trapped under the deck is a repeat cause, not a one-time event, until the drainage is fixed too.
• Tap nearby boards -- a dull, hollow sound compared to neighboring boards can indicate hidden rot or insect damage spreading beyond the visibly soft spot.

When it needs more than board replacement

If the ledger board (where the deck attaches to the house) or the support posts and footings are affected, that's structural repair, not a board swap -- and if a permit applies to the scope of work, the City of Longwood's guidance is to confirm with the Building Division before starting. This is carpentry and structural repair work within general handyman scope for smaller jobs; larger structural rebuilds may need engineering review.

What it typically costs

Board replacement runs $25-$125 per square foot by material; see the full deck & fence repair cost page for the breakdown and permit notes.