• Ledger board not properly anchored to the house.
Loose Ledger / Lag screw and carriage bolt
When decks are attached directly to the house, they should be properly supported by a long, horizontal, pressure-treated board called a ledger, The bolt pattern of the fasteners is critical to the safety of the deck. The end of each floor joist is fastened to the ledger, usually by a metal hanger. Most catastrophic deck collapses occur because the ledger is either badly decayed or not properly fastened to the house. In addition, the ledger board is properly flashed so water does not get under or behind the ledger to help stop water damage
• Loose, rotten, CRACKED, OR SPLIT DECK BOARDS and posts
Deck boards can begin to rot, crack or split, making the deck a safety hazard. Even if there’s not a threat to your deck’s structural integrity, there may still be a threat to bare feet as you walk around on your deck. Replacing the defective boards is a common fix for this problem, and is typically quick and won’t cost anything close to completely replacing an entire deck.
Keeping your deck protected with stains and sealants can help prevent cracking, splitting and rot. Wood rot results from wood that is above a certain moisture threshold. This moisture allows a fungus to grow and eventually destroy the wood.
Wood decks need protection from moisture. Regular application of a stain and/or sealant helps to prevent moisture infiltration. When this protection fails after repeated exposure to the elements, moisture may begin to accumulate in the wood, thereby allowing fungus to form and wood rot to take place. Moisture can also come from the ground. Deck posts that aren’t properly installed may be placed directly in the ground. When this happens, moisture can easily penetrate the wood and allow it to rot. Posts should be installed on concrete deck footings in most cases, to prevent this moisture problem.
If you find rotten wood on your deck, get it replaced before additional damage occurs due to collapse.
• UNSTABLE RAILINGS AND STAIRS
Safety is critical for railings and stairways, and defects are often found with exterior stairways and railings. Handrails are important safety features that can prevent falls. Decks and stairs that are thirty inches or more above the surrounding grade need a sturdy guard that rises far enough above the walking surface to prevent a fall. Commonly, railings are too low, and as decks age, they grow too weak to prevent falls. Graspable handrails are often lacking on short deck stairways, especially if they are not home entrances, but all flights with four or more risers need one. Loose railing that cannot withstand a side pressure of 200lbs.
• Framing, Framing
Defects of the framing structure, or supports of the deck, are often related to design and lack of professional installation. Post bases in contact with the ground will rot over time. Over-spanned joists and excessive cantilevers are common and can lead to instability and even deck failure. Framing that holds up to regular use as an entrance and is safe for heavy loads during social gatherings often needs larger and more framing members than expected. Inadequate deck framing may look solid and substantial, so deficiencies may not be noticed until damage or injury results. Many home buyers will have no information on how a deck was planned, so any structural concerns identified should be taken seriously and acted on.
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