Each year, hundreds of people are unnecessarily injured in deck collapses. Until recently, the idea of "deck maintenance" meant some sanding and another coat of stain to the deck boards. The North American Deck and Railing Association, Inc. (NADRA) declared May as Deck Safety Month in 2006 in an effort to save lives and prevent injuries. Now in its fourth year, the Deck Safety Month program increases public awareness of the necessity for regular inspection and maintenance of existing decks and proper installation of new decks.
Collapsing without warningThere are an estimated 40 million decks in the United States that are believed to be over 20 years old. The older the deck is the more likely it was built without the benefit of building code requirements. These decks, and unfortunately even some not-so-old decks, may be attached to the ledger with nails. As we have seen in media reports, there is no warning for a deck collapse. It's a split-second event; no time to react. It is therefore quite urgent that as many deck owners as possible be reached with the simple message - Check Your Deck!
Getting the word out
Deck Safety Month is about getting the word out to consumers that decks are a wonderful and useful addition to a home, yet they can also be a site for tragedy if not built correctly and maintained on a regular basis. This is where you, the home inspector, come in. It's your cue to enter ... stage right.
Through programs like Deck Safety Month, consumers are more savvy than ever and may need little encouragement to move forward with a professional deck inspection. What you can do for homeowners is certainly much more than what they can do for themselves. You know current building practices. You know areas of particular concern.
Inspecting decks
To perform a professional inspection of a deck, consider using the NADRA-developed Deck Evaluation form, available for download from
www.ASHI.org or
www.NADRA.org The form covers the areas of most concern in a deck inspection: everything from footings to flashing, and ledger connections to guardrail systems. Using this form makes it easy to create a report that your client can use to have necessary repairs performed by a qualified deck builder.
Helping the deck owner see the light.
There are some basic things that we know the deck owner might never think of. It's important to share your knowledge with the owner so he or she gets the perspective. You might let your customer think about the fact that a deck sits outside 24/7/365 - and it doesn't get a break. Over time, wood deteriorates and fastener connections lose their integrity.
The customer may feel secure in knowing that his or her deck was framed with pressure-treated lumber, but do they know whether the ground contact
pressure-treated lumber used was meant for ground contact? Another concern for pressure-treated lumber is for decks built during the few years immediately following the introduction of ACQ - some decks may have been built erroneously with non-compatible fasteners, which will deteriorate quickly.
To quote the real estate industry, "location, location, location." What part of the country a deck resides in will affect how it reacts to the environment. Decks located near salt water will deteriorate much faster than those near fresh water. Of course, dryer climates generally see less deterioration - but these decks age as well. Decks in areas with snow-load issues sustain stress damage that won't be visible until the spring thaw.
Sales tipTell your customer this: "You wouldn't take a road trip without doing a little extra maintenance on your vehicle, right? You are getting ready for spring and summer enjoyment of your deck. The same applies here as for your vehicle."
"Planning an event like a family get-together, neighborhood barbecue or even a wedding reception? Great! Take care of the preliminaries first - get that deck inspection, and fix any problems. Then you can move confidently on to planning the event. Just plan for safety first."
No matter what your customer decides, you can always leave them with a copy of NADRA's 10-point Check Your Deck® checklist (available at
www.nadra.org ). It promotes deck inspections by a professional, but at the same time gives homeowners some basic things to look for that will get them to look at their deck from the perspective that it needs to be maintained. The smart ones will contact you for a full inspection.
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Deck Safety in the Media
Last year, ASHI received widespread recognition from participating in staged deck collapses with the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) and Simpson Strong-Tie during National Deck Safety Month.
Following deck safety demonstrations in Seattle, Atlanta and Evanston, Ill., Frank Lesh, ASHI past-president, was interviewed about deck safety on the June 3 Today Show. "USA Today," the national newspaper, took note of all the deck safety activities and quoted Lesh, along with representatives from NADRA and Simpson Strong-Tie, in the article "Summer highlights deck danger," published June 11 in print and online.
The deck safety demos also caught the attention of the local ABC affiliate in the California Bay area, which requested that an ASHI member take part in a segment it was doing on the topic. Max Curtis, a member of the ASHI public relations committee, obliged.
For some time, the society has enjoyed a close connection with Simpson Strong-Tie, an ASHI Affiliate member. As National Deck Safety Month neared this year, ASHI and NADRA decided to formalize their mutually beneficial relationship by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding.
As allied organizations, they look forward to working together on education, public relations and other areas of interest to NADRA and ASHI members.
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Clear-View Deck Railing - It's what you don't see that matters
