With the weather warming up people are spending more time outdoors on their decks. As a home inspector it is amazing how many decks that I see which are improperly constructed. Every few years there are news stories about deck collapses. Usually they occur at a party or other event when the deck is loaded to the maximum. The implications of such an catastrophe could be physical injury or even death.
The photos above are from a recent inspection that I performed. The deck construction was inadequate in many aspects. Important areas of concern are the attachment of the deck to the structure, railings and proper column supports. Generally decks must be either free standing or lag bolted to the house. Columns must be 6x6 and supported on concrete pad footings below frost depth. The absence of flashings can cause decay in the form of rot or insect damage to the actual structure of the house.
It is important for a thorough inspection to be performed on the deck. Guidelines for construction are published by the American Forest and Paper Association and meet or exceed the requirements of the 2009 International Residential Code. This document is available for free download at http://www.awc.org/Publications/DCA/DCA6/DCA6-09.pdf
If you are in doubt, hire a home inspector. A list of qualified inspectors in your area is available at http://www.ashi.org/.
Every year there are stories about decks falling off from homes with the result of serious injury. People who are concerned about their decks should should call you now, not when they have sold the house, or worse had the deck fall and need you services as an expert witness.
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