Your deck is the perfect place to relax on a warm summer evening with friends and family. Keeping this haven safe is a vital component of enjoying your outdoor space throughout the summer, so you should take a few minutes to check over your deck and inspect it for any potential safety hazards.
Here are just a few of the top deck safety hazards you should keep an eye out for this summer.
Problems Related to Wood
Some wood problems are easy to recognize, while others might take a closer inspection. Splintering, warping boards, and boards that have come even a little loose over time can be spotted easily; if you have these things happening on our deck, you probably are well aware of them.
Other wood issues, however, may not be as obvious. Older decks may be suffering from rot. What are the signs? You may notice areas that are discolored, darkened, and particularly soft— dry-rotted wood will give way when pressed on with a flathead screwdriver. Check over the entire surface of the deck, as well as the stairs and railings.
Another area to check for prospective wood problems is the base of the deck. Older decks should have footers with special metal brackets affixed to them to anchor the deck. This is important simply because pressure-treated wood was not rated for ground contact until recently. If the wood is in direct contact with the ground and your deck was installed prior to 2006, you may have a problem with the supports rotting.
Railing Issues
Over years of use and weather, railings can become less stable, creating a potential falling hazard. This happens as the fasteners loosen from the wood with changing weather – as the days become hot, the wood expands; slowly working nails and screws out of their places.
Ice can have a similar effect, particularly if there is already a separation between the deck surface and the railing. Ice can form in those cracks and crevices during the winter, further loosening the rail. A quick lap around the deck and stairs, giving each railing a good jerk back and forth (carefully, of course, without leaning on the rail for support) will give you a good idea of where you may need some repairs.
On the other hand, if your deck is more than 30” off the ground, and it doesn’t have railings in place at all, this is a safety hazard. The deck needs modifications ASAP.
Stair Concerns
Wobbling, warping, and loose risers are the main things to be on the lookout for when inspecting your deck stairs. Just as with railings, time and weather can take their toll on the fasteners holding the tread (the cross piece of the stair, sometimes referred to as the step) down. Unstable stairs are a hazard unto themselves, but they can also cause people to bear more of their weight on the railing for support, which can cause the railing to become loose prematurely.
Check over the stairs just as you did the deck surface, looking for any signs of rot or lifting away from screws. Take a firm step on each tread or manually reach down and try to wiggle them, and check that they are securely in place.
Another concern, particularly with older decks, is an open riser design. This simply means that the space between each step is open. This is no longer considered a safe method of building stairs, as it presents a tripping hazard. If your deck stairs have open risers, you should consider having them updated.
Connection and Support Situations
This is an area that is extremely important and often overlooked when you are giving your deck a seasonal once-over. The connecting points of the deck to your home must be secured using the right bolts at the right spacing. ⅝” through bolts should be used to connect the deck to your house, and these bolts should be spaced no more than 20” apart. If this isn’t the case, or if there are any signs of rot or loose bolts, this needs to be addressed immediately, as most cases of decks collapsing are due to improper attachment to the house!
While inspecting the connection of the deck to your house, also take a look at the support joists and how they are fastened. They should either be fastened with a metal joist hanger (a metal bracket like band that wraps around the underside of the joist and attaches with multiple screws) or a ledger board – a wood board that performs the same function. Once again, if the joists are not secured in this manner, or if any of the joist components are rotted or failing in any way, the deck could be at risk for collapse and immediate attention is needed.
Contact Iron River Construction Today
Take some time this week to make a quick inspection of your deck and make note of anything that might need attention. If you have concerns about your deck, don’t hesitate to call Iron River Construction to schedule a free deck consultation.
