TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- Every year we hear about decks collapsing and injuring, or even killing, people. These aren't isolated incidents. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says thousands of people are hurt on decks each year.
The problem, according to the North American Deck and Railing Association, is that there are 40 million decks that are at least 20 years old and don't comply with current building codes. How do you know if your deck is safe? We get answers in this Angie's List report.
Deck builder Tom Booker has seen just about about every kind of deck construction there is. He says the way to avoid a disaster is to make sure your deck is properly secured with nuts and bolts – not nails – at the ledger. That's the board that sits against the house and connects to the deck.
"Most deck collapses, the deck collapses because it detaches from the house at the ledger, so it is the most critical connection of the entire deck," said Booker.
A deck doesn't have to collapse for it to cause injury. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors says that only 40 percent of existing decks are completely safe. Railing failures are a more common problem... and one of many that is easily avoidable with a little regular maintenance.
"If it moves, if it shakes, if it feels soft, you really need to get a professional in to take a look at it because that's signs of larger issues," said Booker.
Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List, adds: "You should inspect your deck at least once a year, and be sure to check the flashing where the deck meets the house. Make sure there's not water getting in there because if it does, the wood might rot and cause damage."
You can do a quick check for signs of decay on a wood deck by exposing the post where it goes into the ground and then pushing a screwdriver into it. If you can push into the wood, you've got a problem that needs some professional attention."
It's also a good idea have a deck builder do an inspection, not a maintenance company. A builder can make sure you're addressing structural issues and not just cosmetic concerns. It should run you anywhere from $50 to $200.
You can also find a thorough deck safety checklist from the Deck and Railing Association.
Remember you can catch the latest Angie's List report every Tuesday morning on WTXL Sunrise.
