How to Inspect Your Deck for Summertime Safety
There is one thing for sure, all you have to say is summer and deck and people start to think of decorating their decks with flowers, plant, cushions, pillows, candles and even new deck furniture but what everyone should think of first is to inspect their deck for safety.
Everyone should start with looking at the boards, both under your feet and under the deck. You are looking for weak, cracked or broken boards. Next you should poke every board in several places with a screwdriver, ice pick or something similar. What you are looking for is soft spots; this could be a sign of rot. If you find any weak, cracked, broken or soft spots then you need to replace the board or boards right away. You never know when one will actually brake into.
The next step is to hold on to the railings and try to move them back and forth; they should not move at all, if they do then fix right away. You don’t want one of the railings giving away while someone is leaning on it. Now walk up and down the steps several time; they should not give with your weight or shimmy; if any of the steps do then replace right away or the next time you walk down the stairs you might find your self on the ground.
Walk under your deck now and look at every board and bolt. There should be bolts in every 4×4 for support. If you don’t see any then fix this right away.
While you are under your deck, look for any sawdust on the ground. This could be a sign of insects that are burrowing into the wood. This is not much of a problem if your deck is made out of pressure treated wood but decks that are made out of untreated woods or cedar can be a problem. These decks should be inspected at least once a month.
There are other things that everyone should be aware of when inspecting decks.
Areas that tend to stay damp
Keep your eye on any areas that stay damp or are exposed to water on a regular bases. Especially if the area that tend to be damp has any of the fasteners in the water. This can lead to wood rot and rusted fasteners giving away.
Check flashing
A flashing is installed where the deck and the house comes together; it’s a metal or plastic guard that directs water out and away from the deck. Check to make sure that the fastening is firmly and sound in place.
Loose or corroded fasteners
You are looking at nails, screws and/or anchors. You need to tighten any loose anchors, pound in any nails that have worked there way up and check the fasteners for rust or corrosion. If you find any, replace them.
Railings and banisters heights
The codes require a 36-inch high railing and usually a 42-inch high railings with rails no more than 4 inches apart to keep small children and pets from being able to squeeze through.
Clean and keep it clean
Always clear away any leaves and debris that can accumulate on your deck especially in the corners. These can be slippery when wet, posing a safety issue and can also cause mildew. If you do have mildew then clean and apply new waterproofing coating.
Check accessories
Always check you grill; fire pits, chimneys, heaters and candles, all should be away from flammable surfaces and never leave the deck with anything burning. There is a non-flammable pad that you can get that will protect the decks surface.
Lights
Make sure that all your lighting works properly. Light covers probably need to be cleaned if you haven’t cleaned them in the past year. Check the electrical outlets and make sure they are up to code, working right and are childproof.
Store deck chemicals
Store all deck chemicals in a safe and out of the way place that children can’t find like barbecue lighter fluids, matches and cleaners
