We also perform inspections on balconies and patios to help ensure the maximum safety of these components of the home. Don’t let your outdoor gathering run the risk of being a potential disaster; schedule your stand-alone deck inspection at NextDay Inspect® today! You can schedule your inspection on our website at Schedule or Request a Quote

Things to keep an eye out for at your deck include but are not limited to Lag screws in ledger board, missing nails in joist hangers, rotted posts, weak post connections, deck wobbles, missing ledger flashing, loose railings.

1) No lag screws in ledger board:

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with residential decks. If a ledger board is not well fastened, the deck could easily fall off the house. Building inspectors advise that for a safe connection, a deck must have lag screws or lag bolts installed to the ledger board.

In order for the deck to have a strong connection to the home, lag screws need to be installed on the ledger board. If they are not, the deck can fall off. Inspectors have found that many decks have problems with improper installation of the ledger boards. Building inspectors have advised that the most common problem is a lack of proper fastening of a ledger board to a house. To solve this issue, a lag screw needs to be driven into the ledger board every 16 inches.

2) Missing Nails in Joist Hangers

It’s a common misconception that joist hangers only need one nail to hold them in place. In reality, there are a lot of nails needed for a joist hanger to be secure. Without all the nails, the joist hanger will easily pull away from the ledger board or rim joist. Deck builders often put a couple of nails into the hangers to hold them in place then forget to add more later.

3) Rotten or Compromised Deck Posts

Decking posts that rest on the ground soak up water and then they rot. Older decks often have concrete footings that sit right on the ground and this causes pressure-treated posts to rot. When the post rots, it loses its strength and can’t support the weight of the deck. Newer decks keep the concrete footings a few inches above ground and they use a special bracket to keep the deck posts from getting wet.

4) Wobbly or Shaking Deck

If your deck starts to shake as you walk across it, don’t worry. This is a common issue and the shakes may not be that serious. However, sometimes the shaking can put a lot of stress on the fasteners and connectors. Over time, the joists can move away from the rim joist or ledger board, which will cause it to weaken. Fastening angle braces under the deck will help it stay stiff and take the stress off of the joists.

5) Missing Flashing on Deck Ledger board

The edges of a home should be watertight. The smallest leak can lead to mold inside the walls and the rim joist (support for a deck) will rot. Stand or crawl under the deck and look at the ledger board. If you don’t see a metal or plastic lip over the top of the ledger board, add flashing. Flashing stops leaks from forming, which prevents mold from growing and wood from rotting.