When's the last time you really looked at your deck? That's too long. Inspect it now with these tips.
Easy Deck Inspection and Repair Tips
Updated on Sep. 05, 2024
If you’re trying to increase the value and enjoyment of your home, building a deck is a logical and DIY-friendly place to start. Decks bring the outdoors “in,” extending your living space with patio furniture, grills, entertainment systems and even hot tubs. But just because they’re outside, decks are structures just like any other part of your home. If they’re built and maintained poorly, the results can be catastrophic.
Luckily, a well-built deck will last for years. We talked to Mike Reeder, brand president of Archadeck Outdoor Living and former 15-year owner and operator of Archadeck of Columbus, Ohio, to get the inside scoop on deck maintenance and inspection. “Bottom line, if it was built properly, outside of maintenance on wood decks, it should last a very long time,” Reeder says.
To keep your family and friends safe and keep your horrifying deck collapse off the local news, follow all building codes when building a deck, get your deck inspected and look for the signs of deterioration on existing decks. Ahead, we’ve got easy deck inspection and repair tips to keep your deck in tip-top condition.
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Check the Ledger Board
If you have an attached deck, the ledger board is what holds the deck to your house’s rim joist, and it must be connected with proper hardware to ensure stability, Reeder says. Half-inch lag screws or bolts comply with International Building Code (IBC) standards, adopted widely in the United States, so if your ledger board is attached with too-small screws (or worse, nails), upgrade them.
Make sure your fasteners are hot dipped, galvanized metal or stainless steel. Spacing depends on many variables, so consult your local building code for more info. Fasteners should be staggered so they’re not stacked side-by-side or on top of each other. Lag screws must poke all the way through the rim joist on the inside of your house, and bolts should have washers at the nut and bolt head.
Nearly all deck collapses — about 90% — happen when a deck separates from the house at the ledger board, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). If you find a rotted ledger board or shoddy construction you’re uncomfortable fixing yourself, call a deck pro or inspector immediately.
- Pro tip: Not all decks have ledger boards. “Structures can be built in a way that we call ‘freestanding,'” Reeder says. “Freestanding a structure simply means not attaching [the] structure to a home, but built independently adjacent to a home.”
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Replace a Rotten Support Post
Properly built decks must support dead loads, which is the weight of the deck itself, and live loads, which is all the stuff that goes on the deck, including furniture and people. If you have support posts that are rotted from poor construction, water intrusion or age, replace them. A rotted post is a weak link in a deck’s support structure.
How do you replace a post when the deck’s sitting on top of it? “The best way is to use a jack and lift the structure up off existing foundation, remove and replace the post, then add proper and sufficient hardware,” Reeder says. You can rent hydraulic jacks at a home improvement store. Jack the deck up just enough to remove and replace the post.
If your deck post sits right on a concrete footer, add a proper post base using concrete anchors. If it’s just buried in the dirt, add a new footer using a concrete form, allowing the concrete to cure before adding the base and post. Replace the old post with pressure-treated wood. “Posts should not rot if you’re using properly treated pine,” Reeder says.
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Check the Joist Hangers
Joist hangers hold the deck’s floor joists to the ledger board and the rim joist on the opposite side of the deck. The floor joist “sits” in the hanger, which is nailed to both the floor joist and the ledger or rim joist. They have lots of holes for fasteners, and you should use every one of them. (“Well, of course; that is why they are there,” Reeder says.) Okay!
If you see any nails that are missing, add them. Pull out and replace rusted or corroded nails. Joist hangers used outdoors are usually attached with galvanized joist hanger nails, but you can also use screws if recommended by the manufacturer. Don’t just grab any old deck screw; they’re not rated for the load. Hanger manufacturers like Simpson Strong-Tie make hex-head screws just for this purpose.
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Shore Up Guardrail Posts
A party on the deck can turn into a trip to the emergency room if a guardrail on your deck gives way. The International Building Code (IBC) requires deck railings to withstand 200 pounds of force. But, due to leverage, a 200-pound force pushing against a guardrail creates an incredible 1,700 pounds of force on a fastener holding the railing support post to the deck, according to InterNACHI.
If your deck’s guardrail posts are held in place by wimpy-looking screws or nails, add carriage bolts. Carriage bolts have a smooth mushroom head, so they sit nearly flush with the outside of the post, and a square shank near the head to hold the bolt in place while tightening. To add carriage bolts, drill all the way through the post and joist, insert the bolt, and secure with a nut and washer.
For an extra level of security, InterNACHI recommends adding a bracket called a deck tension tie. It connects the post to the perpendicular floor joist using the post carriage bolt(s) and galvanized joist hanger nails.
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Missing Ledger Flashing
Reeder says decks fail for many reasons, but “most are caused by lack of flashing (water barrier material) when decks are attached to houses.” Look between the deck and your house, or crawl under and check for flashing over the ledger board. If you see wood instead of vinyl flashing or tape, that’s not good, but you can add it now.
You’ll have to pull up the first decking board (or two) from the floor of your deck. Carefully pry up the siding and wedge the flashing under the siding and over the ledger. Use vinyl, Z-shaped flashing, not aluminum, which can corrode. Overlap edges by several inches if your ledger board is longer than the flashing. Caulk joints or butt ends, and anywhere water could intrude.
If water has been penetrating for years, you might have more problems than adding flashing can fix. Sometimes, it’s better to start fresh. Get a deck inspection to ensure the structure is safe, and proceed from there.
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Maintain Your Deck
Homeowner neglect is another reason decks fail. “This occurs most often with wood decks,” Reeder says. “Without painting and staining, over the years, boards begin to rot.” Watch for places where water pools, and divert it if it’s coming from your roof with gutters or rain diverters. Watch for staining, flaking paint or rot. Replace decking boards as needed, and keep paint and stain in good condition.
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FAQs
What is the first thing I should do if I notice something wrong with my deck?
“Call a building inspector, local structural engineer or a certified deck builder,” Reeder says.
How often should I have my deck inspected by a professional?
“If you see or feel something about your deck that is moving, loose or deteriorating, it’s time to have it inspected,” Reeder says. “Even if it bounces slightly under your feet, I would get it inspected.”
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About the Expert
Mike Reeder is the brand president of Archadeck Outdoor Living, a design/build company that offers custom deck building and patio contracting. Before moving to the national side, Reeder spent 15 years owning and operating Archadeck in Columbus, Ohio.
Sources
- International Code Council: International Building Code, (2024).
- International Association of Certified Home Inspectors: Inspecting a Deck, Illustrated (2009).
