Deck Safety

Would your deck pass inspection?
Are you putting your friends and family at risk?

A recent landmark study has revealed that over the past several years there have been 1,122 people seriously injured and 33 people killed when the deck they were standing on collapsed. While it is unclear how many deck and rail collapses go unreported, on average a catastrophic deck or rail collapse is reported every week in the United States with the most failures occurring between June and August. Deck collapses are increasing at an average rate of 21% per year and virtually all deck collapses occur while the deck is occupied.

What causes this and how can it be prevented? The age of the deck, shortcuts in the initial construction of the deck and lack of ongoing maintenance can all contribute to deck failure. Another thing that adds to the problem is that even if the decking and rails appear structurally sound, the connection of the deck to the house may not be, resulting in the deck falling away from the house. It is estimated that over 40 million decks in the U.S. are dangerously out of code and are in need of major repair or total replacement. Is your deck safe? We can help you protect your family with a FREE analysis and recommendations for improving the safety of your deck.

Safety Tip # 1

Check support posts and beams for rotting, splitting or abnormal movement.

Safety Tip # 2

Closely examine the attachment points between the house and deck. Most decks fail at this connection. Be sure to check the flashing over the ledger board, look for bolts or lag screws that are regularly spaced, and check for rotting wood.

Safety Tip # 3

Check all fasteners, bolts, joist hangers and other hardware for rust and/or corrosion.

Safety Tip # 4

Check all guards and rails to be sure they are sturdy and secured.