Yearly Deck Safety Check: What to Look For
Do This Once a Year, Every Spring
Most deck failures do not happen all at once. They start small: a rusted screw here, a soft board there, a railing that wiggles a little more than last year. A twenty-minute walkthrough each spring catches almost all of it while the fixes are still cheap. Here is what to check, in order of importance.
1. The Ledger Board (Most Important)
The ledger is the board that attaches your deck to the house. When decks collapse, this connection is the cause the vast majority of the time. Go under the deck and look at where it meets the house. You should see sturdy bolts or lag screws, not just nails. Look for water stains or rot on the ledger and the house rim behind it. If you see nails instead of bolts, or any rot, call a professional before you use the deck. This is not a DIY fix.
2. Railings: Push Hard
Put your weight against every railing section and push. A railing should not move. Check that balusters are tight and spaced close enough that a four-inch ball cannot pass through (that is the code rule, and it is about small children). Wobbly railings are one of the most common things we fix on our deck repair jobs, and they are a genuine safety hazard.
3. Boards: The Screwdriver Test
Walk the deck and poke any suspicious-looking boards with a screwdriver. If it sinks in easily, the board is rotted and needs replacing. Also look for boards that are cupping badly, large cracks, and popped nails or screws sticking up. A few bad boards are a cheap fix. Ignore them and water gets into the framing below, which is not cheap.
4. Stairs and Stringers
Climb the stairs slowly and feel for bounce or sway. Look at the stringers (the zigzag boards under the steps) for cracks, especially at the notches. Check that handrails are solid and every tread is firmly attached. Stairs take the most abuse of any part of a deck.
5. Fasteners and Flashing
Look for rust streaks around screws and bolts, which mean the fastener is corroding. On the house side, check the metal flashing above the ledger. Its job is to keep water from getting behind the ledger board. If it is bent, missing, or caulked over, water is getting in.
6. Underneath: Posts and Footings
If you can get under the deck, check the posts where they meet the ground or the concrete footings. Wood sitting in soil rots. Posts should sit on concrete, not dirt. Look for leaning, which can mean a footing has shifted, something our clay-heavy East Tennessee soil does after wet winters.
When to Call a Pro
Loose surface boards, a popped screw, or a wobbly baluster are easy DIY fixes. Anything involving the ledger connection, the main support beams, leaning posts, or widespread rot is a job for a professional. If your inspection turns up any of the signs your deck needs repair, get a free on-site estimate and we will tell you honestly whether it needs repair or whether the deck has more good years in it.
Common Questions About Deck Safety
How often should I inspect my deck?
Once a year, every spring. A twenty-minute walkthrough catches almost everything while the fixes are still cheap.
What causes most deck collapses?
The ledger board connection, the board that attaches the deck to the house. When decks fail, this is the cause the vast majority of the time. If you see nails instead of bolts, or any rot there, stop using the deck and call a professional.
Should I repair my deck or replace it?
If the damage is a few bad boards, a wobbly baluster, or popped screws, repair it. If the ledger, support beams, or posts are rotted, or rot is widespread through the framing, get a professional inspection. Sometimes a rebuild is the safer and cheaper long-term call.
