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A certified inspector evaluates the ledger board, footings, framing, decking, railings and stairs, then reports what is unsafe now and what is wearing out. Book online in a couple of minutes, or ask for a price first.
A deck is exposed to constant weathering, temperature shifts and load stress, and those conditions work on it in the same order every time: connections loosen, fasteners corrode, and wood takes on water and rots. Our inspectors evaluate every part of the structure, from the ledger board and the footings underneath to the boards, railings and stairs you actually stand on, and the report names what is unsafe now and what is heading that way. Tap any part to see what is checked.
A standalone deck inspection is worth booking when you are buying a property, preparing one for sale, or if the deck is more than five years old. Many homeowners pair one with a residential home inspection for a complete picture of the property, and it sits alongside the rest of our professional inspection services.
Every component is evaluated against the ASHI Deck Inspection Standard of Practice. Building a deck, or having one built? A new construction inspection verifies framing, footings and connections while they can still be seen.
Most reports are delivered within 24 to 48 hours, with safety concerns and major defects listed first. We inspect decks across Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, southern Pennsylvania, and West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. Check your city, county, or ZIP code in our service area, or book online.
Three steps from the first call to the finished report, and no time limit on questions once you have it.
Call our office or book online, whichever you prefer. Give us the property address and a few details about the deck, and we will confirm the appointment and assign your inspector.
Your assigned inspector starts underneath, where the ledger board, the footings, the posts, the joist hangers and the bracing are, then works the surface: the boards, the railings, the stairs and the clearances around them. Each finding is recorded and photographed as they go.
The written report is delivered 24 to 48 hours after the inspection, with photographs of what was found and the recommended repairs. If anything in it needs explaining, reach out. Questions about your report are welcome at any point afterward, whether that is the same week or years down the road. There is no cutoff.
Knowing the warning signs of a failing deck lets you act while a problem is still small. These five are the ones homeowners miss most often, and every one of them can end in structural failure.
A lot can go wrong with a residential deck, and this is the one that takes the whole structure down. The ledger board is what holds the deck to the house, and a safe connection needs lag screws or lag bolts running through it into the rim joist. Without those fasteners the primary connection between the deck and the house is compromised, and the deck can simply pull away from the wall. It is the most common cause of a catastrophic deck collapse, and it is the first thing our inspectors look at.
It is a common misconception that a joist hanger needs one nail to hold it in place. It needs all of them. Builders often put a couple in to hold the hanger while they work and never come back to finish the job, and a partly nailed hanger pulls away from the ledger board or rim joist under load.
Posts that rest on the ground soak up water and rot. Older decks often have concrete footings sitting right at ground level, which is enough to keep pressure treated posts damp. A rotted post loses its strength and stops carrying the weight it was put there to carry. Newer decks hold the footing a few inches clear and use a bracket to keep the post dry, and that detail is one our inspectors check every time.
If the deck moves as you walk across it, that is common and the movement is not always severe. Over time, though, the shaking works on the fasteners and connectors, and the joists gradually travel away from the rim joist or ledger board, weakening the whole structure. Angle braces fixed underneath stiffen the deck and take the stress off the joists, and that is the kind of repair the report will recommend.
The edges of a house should be watertight. The smallest leak grows mold inside the wall and rots the rim joist, which is the primary support for the deck. Stand or crawl underneath and look at the ledger board: if there is no metal or plastic lip over the top of it, the flashing is missing. It is one of the most overlooked components on a deck and one of the most consequential.
NADRA member
North American Deck and Railing Association
NADRA is the trade association that sets and promotes safe deck building practice across North America. Our membership is what keeps every deck inspection we carry out measured against current industry benchmarks, and we inspect balconies and patios on the same basis.
Our inspectors are licensed, insured and continuously trained, and every one is backed by general liability and errors and omissions insurance. We are also members of the North American Deck and Railing Association, which is the body that sets safe deck building practice. These are the credentials that matter for a deck inspection; the full roster of certifications, awards and association memberships is a click away.
InterNACHIInternational Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Every inspection follows its Standards of Practice.
Certified Master InspectorThe inspection profession's senior designation.
ASHIAmerican Society of Home Inspectors. Decks are evaluated against its Deck Inspection Standard.
BBB Accredited, A+Better Business Bureau accredited since 2019 with an A+ rating.
Angi Super Service AwardAwarded for 2025 on verified customer reviews.
Thumbtack Top ProTop Pro standing on Thumbtack, earned on customer reviews.
See every credential we hold: inspector certifications and accreditations, awards and association memberships.
What a NextDay Inspect deck inspection covers, who it is for and what you get back, in plain language.
The inspector evaluates the whole structure, not just the part you stand on. Underneath, that means how the deck is attached to the house, the lag screws or bolts through the ledger board and the flashing over it, the posts and their footings, the joist hangers and the bracing. On top, it means the spacing and condition of the deck boards, the fasteners, the railings and the infill spacing between balusters, the stair treads and graspable handrails, clearance from power lines, and any lighting or other components attached to the deck. The six areas above list what is checked in each.
The three common moments are buying a property, preparing one for sale, and any deck that is more than five years old. Weather, temperature swings and everyday load stress work on a deck continuously, so age on its own is a reason. If you have noticed movement, a soft board, a loose railing or rust on the fasteners, that is another.
Yes, and it is worth doing. If you are building a deck or overseeing a contractor's work, an inspection during construction and again after it means the footings, the ledger connection and the framing are looked at while they can still be seen. For a ground up project, a new construction inspection covers the deck alongside everything else before it is concealed.
Yes. We inspect balconies and patios on the same basis as decks, to help make sure these parts of the home are safe to use. Tell the office which one you have when you book and the inspector will know what to expect.
A NextDay Inspect residential home inspection looks at the deck as part of the property. A deck inspection is the standalone service, for when the deck is the only thing you need looked at, and many homeowners book both together for a complete picture of a property. If you are not sure which one fits your situation, call (703) 450-6398 and the office will tell you.
Single family homes, townhouses, condominiums, multi-family buildings, new construction and commercial buildings. Whether the deck is composite, pressure treated lumber or hardwood makes no difference to what is checked.
Most reports are delivered within 24 to 48 hours of the inspection, with safety concerns and major defects listed first, so you know what needs attention right away. Findings are photographed, explained in plain language, and paired with the repair we would recommend. See a sample inspection report.
It depends on the property, so we do not quote one number for every deck. Book online or call (703) 450-6398 and the office will price it for yours. A free quote is the quickest way to get that in writing.
We are based in Sterling, Virginia and work across Northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Check your city, county or ZIP code on our service area page.
Yes. Deck inspections are carried out by InterNACHI and ASHI certified inspectors who are licensed, insured and continuously trained, and every report is peer reviewed before it goes out. We are also members of the North American Deck and Railing Association, and every component is evaluated against the ASHI Deck Inspection Standard of Practice. The credentials block above lists what we hold, and the certifications page has the full roster.
Have a different question? Read all of our FAQs or call (703) 450-6398.
