Hit 1,000 deck boards replaced and my knees are screaming

I just finished my 47th deck repair job this year (moonlighting, you know) and counted up all the boards I've swapped out. Came to exactly 1,004 individual deck boards, not counting railings. That number surprised me because I started doing these small jobs to fund my own deck rebuild. Has anyone else tracked a random milestone like this with their side work? It really puts the physical toll in perspective.

3 comments

3 Comments

thea_knight13h ago

Hold on, 47 jobs times 20 boards per deck doesn't quite add up to 1,000.

cora_perez12h ago

Yeah that math doesn't work. If you're really doing 20 boards a deck you're probably stacking them and counting wrong or the client is lowballing the size. Measure the square footage yourself next time before you give a price, saves a headache later.

lee_ward543h ago

Hold on, wait. Twenty boards per deck? That's like saying you're only cleaning a 10x10 patio. Most standard decks I've seen are at least 300 to 400 square feet, and that's before you account for stairs and railings. Even a small, basic deck with 5/4 decking runs more than 20 boards just for the top surface alone.