Deck And Patio Inspections For Safety And Maintenance In Property Care – Your home’s deck can be a very special and serene place. You can relax, spend some time outside without leaving home or enjoy cooking with the family. But how do you make sure your deck is safe to use for years to come? Here are some deck tips and safety precautions to consider.

The deck is only as reliable and safe as its foundation, which consists of support posts. To ensure that the deck is durable and gives you a solid foundation, the pier system must have holes deep enough and below the frost line. If the holes are shallow, the support post can move during the winter when moisture builds up in the soil, causing the soil to move.

Deck And Patio Inspections For Safety And Maintenance In Property Care

In addition, the bases of the support posts are best covered with galvanized plates before anchoring them to the pier with concrete. Such foundations are an additional precaution against rotting and help stop erosion over time.

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Deck railings are a major safety feature, especially if you have children or pets with you. There are three main problems with railings. First, you need to make sure it is strong and stable enough to support at least 200 pounds. pressure in all directions. To test it, push and pull it to see if it stays secure despite the extra pressure. Most US building codes require handrail support posts to be no more than 6 feet apart. This ensures the stability of the deck railing.

Second, the railing must be at least 36 inches or 3 feet above the deck floor. The handrail must be easy to grip with a diameter greater than 2.25 inches. And finally, as an added precaution to prevent children and pets from being pinched by the rails, each handrail should be no more than 4 inches apart. These safety precautions are especially important if your deck is built above ground.

When it comes to stair railings, the same safety precautions apply to deck railings. You may also want to check the integrity of the stairs and make sure they are not wobbly. The stability of stairs can be attributed to columns, lamps and steps. So make sure that these individual parts of the stairs are still secured and securely connected, especially the connection point between the deck and the stairs.

Deck Safety Check Program

Rots and wood-destroying organisms such as termites are wood’s worst enemies and should be prevented at all costs. To do this, immediately remove leaves and other deposits such as moss or moss. For starters, the floor can get slippery around this. Moisture can also cause wood to rot and splinter.

To check the integrity of the wood, use an ice pick or any sharp-tipped tool. If you can easily push the tool into the wood, or if you find that the wood has become spongy, this is a good indication that replacement is needed. As a precaution, also check other parts of the deck, such as support posts, running boards, beams and railings.

Between nails and screws, screws make better deck fasteners because of their better grip on the wood, while nails can loosen over time. Regardless of the type of fasteners you use for your deck, you should check them regularly for corrosion and loosening. Replace the nails that have appeared and now tighten the loose screws.

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This should take care of the squeaky sound and slight wobble. But if that doesn’t fix the problem, the deck may be structurally compromised and it’s best to have your deck inspected by a professional and make the necessary repairs.

Fire can be a real problem if you have a wooden deck. So, if you plan to have a barbecue party, it is better to place the barbecue somewhere away from the deck. The same goes for fireplaces, chimneys and candles. However, if you have a grill or candles on your wooden deck, use a fire retardant mat to ensure safety.

A well-lit deck not only adds aesthetic value to your property, it’s a basic safety measure you can’t afford to ignore. That’s why you should check and replace broken bulbs regularly. Make sure the light fixtures and electrical outlets you use are up to standard.

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To prevent accidents, make sure the stairs are well lit. Trim shrubs and clear outdoor light fixtures so they don’t block light.

If you have trees around the property, make sure no branches are too close to the deck, as falling leaves can cause problems. Decaying branches can also suddenly break without warning while you or your loved ones are on the deck. Regular pruning of surrounding trees is the best preventive measure.

Flashing is a waterproof and corrosion-resistant material that connects your deck to the main house. This protective material prevents water from the deck from entering your home by redirecting the flow to the ground. Since your deck is constantly exposed to harsh elements, you need to make sure your home doesn’t take a beating by checking the integrity of your deck flashing.

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To do this, observe lightning when it rains. If the water flows smoothly from the lightning to the ground, you can be sure that your house can last the rainy days without any problems. If your deck is not flashing or even a little moisture is finding its way into the siding, you need to call a professional and get the repairs done or you will have to worry about major water damage in the future.

Your deck often takes the brunt of natural elements such as sunlight, snow and rainwater. It’s good to get into the habit of doing a routine deck maintenance and cleaning check. These deck tips and safety precautions won’t take long. Cleaning once a year is enough to clean mold and mildew. Once the old finish has faded, you can do some repairs as well as seal or refinish.

A deck can be a valuable addition to any home and is where many happy memories are made. However, the deck can also be a place where serious injuries can occur. So, to ensure that you never face the possibility of an accident due to a fall or structural issue, it’s a good idea to have a licensed inspector perform a regular structural integrity assessment of your deck. The best way way to do this is to schedule a home maintenance inspection. During a home maintenance inspection, a certified, trained and insured WIN home inspector will carefully inspect over 300 items inside and outside your home, including your deck. Following the inspection, your inspector will provide you with a detailed, easy-to-read report showing any next steps or maintenance required.

Best Practices For Keeping Your Deck Safe And Secure

For more information or to contact a home inspector near you, contact WIN Home Inspections by clicking here. You can also contact us at inquiry@ and one of our experts will get back to you right away. Experts at the North American Deck and Railing Association () offer safety tips for homeowners and encourage you to check your deck.

“It’s spring and we all want to enjoy our decks,” said Bob Lett, vice president of market development for WOLF Home Products. “We want to help keep homeowners safe. Deck maintenance is more than cleaning the deck. It means making sure the entire deck structure is in good, safe condition. Just like your car, you need to evaluate, tune up. keep your deck in safe operating condition on a regular basis. This checklist can help you do just that.”

1 – Look for split or decayed wood. Look for soft, spongy areas on floorboards (where the deck attaches to the house and is a common source of floor failure), support posts and joists under the deck, deck boards, railings, and stair wood that may indicate damage or deterioration insects. .

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2 – Test the handrails and railings. Secure these key deck parts so that they are securely attached without any “give” that could indicate failure. Then, get out of the stick. Most codes require a 36″ high handrail (and generally encourage 42″ high handrails) with rails spaced no more than 4″ inches apart (measured from the inside of the rail) to prevent crushing small children and pets.

3. Check fasteners. Over time, fasteners can “stick” out of the wood, loosen, or even corrode. Check nails, screws or anchors and tighten or replace anything that looks suspicious.

4 – step carefully. Check each step to ensure safety and no corrosion. If there is an area behind the stairs

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