Owner-operated · Homeowner guide · Cumming
Rot, Termites or Carpenter Bees? Checking a Deck in CummingCumming · North Georgia
Cumming: A soft board, a pile of sawdust or a neat round hole can send any homeowner down a worried search. On decks around Cumming, the usual suspects are wood rot, termites and carpenter bees, and each one leaves different clues. Knowing which is which tells you who to call and how urgent the fix really is. Owner-operated, with a free written estimate.
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Homeowner guide · Cumming
Is it rot, termites or carpenter bees chewing my deck?
Cumming homeowners who spot odd damage on deck wood can learn a lot from a flashlight and a screwdriver, since the way wood gives way tells decay and insects apart.
- Owner-operated: Breno visits and writes your estimate himself
- A team with 10+ years of combined experience
- Insured with general liability coverage
- 31 Google reviews as of Nov 2026, rated 5.0
- Before-and-after photos from our own completed jobs
Cumming
Look for Soft Spots and Discoloration
Start on the deck surface. Look for boards that are darker than the wood around them or feel spongy when you press with your thumb. Rot usually shows up as darkened, softened wood that crumbles or splits along the grain, and it is often worst near board ends, around the stairs and anywhere water sits after rain. If the wood feels punky but there are no holes, tunnels or debris, moisture decay is the most likely cause.
Insects leave other clues. Termites tend to leave mud tubes running up posts or along the foundation, and the wood they attack can sound hollow when tapped. Carpenter bees drill clean, perfectly round holes, usually on the underside of rails, fascia boards or joists, with coarse sawdust collecting below. Those differences are your first clue to what you are dealing with.
Cumming
Probe the Wood With a Screwdriver
A flathead screwdriver is the simplest inspection tool there is. Press it gently into suspect areas. Sound wood resists and the tip barely marks it. Rotted wood lets the tip sink in with little effort, and the fibers come out in short, soft pieces instead of long splinters.
Termite damage behaves differently. A thin shell of surface wood often stays intact while the inside is eaten away, so the screwdriver may suddenly break through into hollow galleries packed with soil. Carpenter bee tunnels are narrow and run along the grain, so probing near a hole usually finds firm wood around a clean channel. Test in several spots, especially low on posts and anywhere water collects.
How it works
Five steps. No surprises.
Call, text, or send the form
Tell us what is going on: a new deck, a repair, or “not sure yet.” We reply the same day.
Free on-site visit
Breno looks at the deck or the yard himself, measures, and goes over your options with you.
Written estimate
Scope, materials and price come in writing, so you know the plan before anything starts.
Schedule and permits
We agree on a start date and confirm any city, county or HOA requirement for your address first.
Build and final walk-through
Breno is on the job, and we go over the finished work with you before we call it done.
Real B&T work
Photos from real jobs
Real photos from B&T projects in North Georgia, not necessarily from Cumming.
Cumming
Focus on the Frame and Ledger First
The ledger board, where the deck attaches to the house, and the framing underneath matter far more than the surface boards. Rot often starts at the ledger when flashing is missing or has failed, because water gets trapped between the deck and the house. Termites also favor hidden, damp spots close to the ground, such as post bases and the bottom of stair stringers.
If the top of the deck looks fine but the joists feel soft or the ledger sounds hollow, the problem may be bigger than it appears. That is the moment to stop guessing and have someone look closely at the structure. A sound frame with a few bad boards is a small repair; a compromised ledger or rotted posts is a safety issue.
Cumming
Photograph What You Find
Take wide photos that show where on the deck the problem is, then close-ups of the damage itself. For rot, capture the dark, soft areas and any white or yellow fungal growth. For insects, photograph mud tubes, entry holes and any debris piled underneath. Put a coin or a key next to the damage so the size is easy to judge.
Good photos help in two ways. A pest control company can use them to decide whether termites or bees need treatment, and Breno can use them to get a head start before he visits in person to check the frame, boards, railings and stairs.
Cumming
What Draws Each Problem to a Deck
Rot thrives where wood stays wet: under planters, beside downspouts, where leaves pile up and on shaded lots with little airflow. Wooded parcels around Cumming, including lake-influenced properties toward Buford Dam Road, can hold moisture under a deck longer than open, sunny yards. Termites look for wood touching soil or damp areas near the foundation. Carpenter bees prefer bare or weathered softwood and often return to the same boards each spring.
Keeping the deck clean, letting it dry out, moving leaves and planters, and keeping wood off the soil all help with all three. A good finish on the wood makes it less inviting to bees and slows water absorption, though it will not stop termites on its own.
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Cumming
Repairing the Damage After the Cause Is Handled
If termites or carpenter bees are active, a pest control professional should treat them first. Once the cause is handled, or when the problem is plain rot, the damaged wood still has to be dealt with. B&T Properties repairs and replaces deck boards, joists, posts, railings and stairs, and rebuilds decks when the frame is too far gone to save.
Breno visits in person, probes the frame and ledger, and explains whether a targeted repair will do or whether a larger section needs to be replaced. We work in Cumming neighborhoods such as Windermere, Vickery and Polo Golf & Country Club, along with nearby Johns Creek, Alpharetta and Milton, and every visit ends with a free written estimate.
Straight answers
Cumming homeowner questions
What do termite mud tubes on a deck post near Highway 20 look like?
They are thin, pencil-wide tunnels of dried soil running up a post, a stair stringer or the foundation. Breaking one open may show live termites inside. If you see them, call a pest control company before any wood repair.
How can I tell if carpenter bees are drilling into a railing in Vickery?
Look for perfectly round, smooth holes on the underside of rails or fascia, coarse sawdust below them, and bees hovering around the same spot in spring. The tunnels run along the grain inside the board.
Are spongy stair treads on a downtown Cumming deck a sign of rot?
Usually. Stair treads collect water and dry slowly, so soft, dark, crumbly wood there points to rot. Check the stringers underneath too, since they often rot from the same moisture.
What does sawdust under a deck in Polo Golf & Country Club mean?
Coarse, fibrous sawdust under a round hole usually points to carpenter bees. Fine, gritty debris mixed with soil near hollow wood is more typical of termites. Look up for the source before deciding.
Can rot spread from the ledger into the rest of a Cumming deck frame?
Yes. Trapped water at the ledger can soften the ends of the joists that hang from it. Any softness or dark staining at the ledger deserves a close look right away.
Does a deck near Buford Dam Road with a few damaged boards need full replacement?
Not necessarily. If the joists, beams, posts and ledger are firm, replacing the damaged boards may be enough. If the frame is soft, those members need repair or replacement too.
Should termites be treated before a Cumming deck is repaired?
Yes. Treat active termites first through a pest control company, then repair or replace the damaged wood. Fixing boards while termites are still active only feeds them new wood.
What should I photograph first if I suspect damage on a deck in Windermere?
Start with a wide shot of the whole deck, then close-ups of soft spots, holes, mud tubes or debris with a coin for scale. Include the ledger, the post bases and any spot where wood touches the ground.
Verified Google reviews
What the neighbors are saying
These are verified Google reviews from B&T customers.
★★★★★
“Breno did an excellent job repairing my home. He was professional, reliable, and paid close attention to every detail. The quality of his work exceeded my expectations…”
★★★★★
“The quality of the work was exceptional. The team was friendly, responsive, and made sure everything was done right. I would definitely recommend B&T Properties.”
Who’s doing the work
About B&T Properties
B&T Properties is run by Breno, who visits the job, writes the estimate and stays involved until the work is done. The crew has 10+ years of combined deck experience, and the company carries General Liability insurance. We work in Cumming and across North Georgia.
Upgrades
Make it yours: popular upgrades
Thinking beyond the basics? Mention any of these at your free estimate and Breno will go over what makes sense for your home.
Multi-level layouts
A split-level layout that works with the lay of your lot instead of fighting it.
Composite decking
Boards that resist rot and skip the yearly stain. Worth pricing in at the start.
Railing styles
Aluminum, composite or wood railing, from classic balusters to a cleaner, low-profile look.
Lighting
Low-voltage LED lights on stairs, posts or under the rail cap for evenings outside.
Written warranty
1-year workmanship warranty
Our labor carries a written one-year warranty counted from the finish date: if our workmanship is the cause, we repair it free. The warranty excludes faulty materials (the maker’s warranty applies), ordinary wear, storm damage, misuse, skipped upkeep and other contractors’ work. Send claims in writing.
Free written estimate
Tell Breno about your Cumming deck — free and in writing.
No call center, no sales rep — the person who answers is the person who does the work.