Is Your Deck Safe? Every year hundreds of decks fail due to age and structural defects. Our decks are wonderful settings for social gatherings and family events. We lounge on our decks and enjoy our morning coffee or an afternoon beverage as we watch the sunset. Some times the deck holds one person and sometimes many. An unsafe deck can fail and collapse with no warning injuring whomever is on the deck at the time of collapse. Even a new deck that is installed incorrectly or constructed using sloppy workmanship can fail in its first year. As a home inspector I've been amazed at the many incorrect deck construction techniques I've seen. Some of the more common issues I've seen are: • Attaching the deck improperly to the house • Improver footing supports • Joists improperly connected to support straps or hangers • Wood rot in the framing, stairs, or railings • Stairs improperly connected to the deck or improperly supported • Guardrails are loose or too far away from each other • Rusting or corroded metal supports, straps or joist hangers • Using the wrong sized fasteners in the wrong applications • Bolts are too small or are the wrong finish for the exterior conditions If you are not familiar with deck building codes or industry practices hire a professional home inspector or licensed deck builder to inspect your deck and make any repairs necessary. Here are a few things you can look for or should be aware of: • Look at the condition of the wood. Look for splits, decay or rot, use a screwdriver to probe for soft spots especially where the deck connects to your home and all support posts and joists. • Pay special attention to areas of the deck that are in the shade and may remain wet longer than the rest of the deck in the rain or snow seasons. Those areas will rot sooner and if you have fasteners in those areas they too will show wear due to moisture damage. • Look for small holes in the wood surfaces that might be made by insects. • Look at all your nails, screws, bolts and tighten them as needed. • If you have rusty fasteners replace them. • Pay special attention to loose or sagging railings or stairs. Replace them if they wobble or sag. • Be especially careful of any grills or fire pits that are on your deck. Check for fire damage in these areas,    discoloration for example. • Check that all of your electrical outlets, lights and appliances are in safe working condition. • Trim trees as needed, tree limbs swaying in the wind can cause damage to your deck, rails or stairs. Performing annual maintenance will allow you to safely enjoy your deck for many years. When in doubt about the structural condition of your deck or any part of your home, call a professional. Don't be a statistic this year; be safe in your outdoor activities.