Replacement is way to go with rotted porch deck

Q Would you tell me how to care for a 15-year-old deck that has wood rot in it? Can the rot be prevented or eliminated? Is it necessary to replace the infected wood? The deck has been painted every few years. Deane Howard La Mesa, Calif.

A By all means, cut out and replace the infected wood. Look carefully for dry rot, which sometimes is mistaken for termites.

Before putting new wood deck pieces in place, treat them on all four sides with a product such as Wood Life, Cuprinol, or equal. Follow the treatment with paint.

A wood preservative also is a preventative against dry rot, particularly if applied to new wood.