Most often when a deck collapses the first thing people thing about are the outside support posts failing, whereas it is actually more common to fail on the house side. There are many reasons for this, the most common reason, not enough fasteners (bolts/screws/nails) used to secure the ledger board to the house wall. Then […]Read More about Classic Deck Failure
Undisclosed Hidden “Feature Deck”
Setting the scene: The client and the Realtor loved the beautifully fenced rear yard, the grass surrounded by concrete and a patio, the table, chairs and umbrella, the very large deck and gazebo, for our client (the buyer) the rear was the major attraction of the house. Arriving at the house and looking out the […]Read More about Undisclosed Hidden “Feature Deck”
Decks Look Good Often Badly Built & Unsafe
Saturday, May 1st 2021: Restaurant deck collapses in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. Forty people fall sending eleven to the hospital, two with critical injuries. A quick internet search will reveal far too many unfortunate and avoidable incidents like this happening on a regular basis. What factors are at play with deck failures and how can we ensure […]Read More about Decks Look Good Often Badly Built & Unsafe
Incorrect Joist Hanger Installation Unsafe!
If they can be nailed wrong, they will be. It seems that more than half of the decks we inspect have a problem with the joist hangers. For some reason (and its probably price) people want to buy a smaller joist hanger than necessary saving a few dollars and putting the deck in jeopardy. Joist […]Read More about Incorrect Joist Hanger Installation Unsafe!
What is Usually Wrong With a Deck?
A Realtor from a Xenia office recently commented that there had only been one deck in the last two years that we had not thrown the book at. Thinking about that statement I realized he was probably correct. Unfortunately most of the decks we inspect, even professionally built decks are badly constructed and potentially dangerous. […]Read More about What is Usually Wrong With a Deck?
