A carefree evening with friends and family can be ruined in a moment by a
deck failure and sudden injury. Every year we hear of some tragic deck
collapse during what should be a happy celebration At Archadeck, we get calls
from people who have a host of issues with their existing deck all the time.
Here's an actual Archadeck deck safety inspection in progress,
notice how this Archadeck franchisee alerts the homeowners to various danger
spots and shortcomings of their existing deck. This deck is a perfect example of
one that should be replaced immediately. We recommend periodic deck safety
inspections like this to ensure your outdoor space is fit for entertaining.
Our acronym be safer sums it up quite nicely. Look at the condition of your
deck boards, most wood will show some cracks and splits over time
but is the general condition of the boards good or are the boards
splintering and unsafe to walk on. A variety of fasteners and metal hardware
connectors should be used to create a continuous pathway to ensure deck
stability and safety. Check to see if the appropriate fasteners and connectors
were used when constructing the deck, look at the condition of the hardware-
does any of it need to be replaced? If visible, look at the posts, seams and
joise that provide the structural framework of the deck, what is their
condition? Is there any noticeable sagging between supports? The attachment
of the deck of a house is the area where most deck failures occur. Pay special
attention to this area and check to make sure that the deck is properly attached
to the house band with appropriate screws or bolts and that it is properly
flashed for water protection. Nails should never be used for this type of
attachment. The footing support the weight on a deck and the columns that
bear on them; a footing that is sinking may cause a noticeable sag in an area
or a column separating from a beam. Check the areas where people exit from the
deck. These access usually involve stairs so
be sure to check the condition of the material used on the stair stringers,
stair treads and risers. Look at the condition of the rail post and
sections of railing on the deck to make sure that it's secure. Check to make
sure that the pickets are fastened securely and spaced no more than four
inches apart, and I think you'll agree that the best part of this sorrily
compromised deck is that it's coming down. A professional deck safety
inspection is yours for the asking, contact your local Archadeck outdoor
living expert today at Archadeck.com call eight eight eight six eight seven
three three two five.
