Deck Safety Checklist

In Perth we love our decks. With beautiful warm days ahead and BBQ season round the corner, what’s better than chilling with your friends outside on a beautiful warm evening? When it’s too hot and stuffy inside after a warm summer’s day, relaxing on the deck with a coldie in the breeze is absolute bliss. 

Before you get the gang over this partying season though, make sure you’ve given your deck a proper inspection. Water, termites, rot, corrosion and heavy objects can all impact on the integrity of your deck. Weak and damaged decks are most likely to give way when – surprise! – there are lots of people on them. Make sure your entertaining area is safe for you and your friends before summer and deck season really begins. 

PROBLEM CHECKLIST

1. Check for rot and damaged wood. If the timber is soft and spongy you’re facing a big problem; a simple way to test it is to use a screwdriver to poke it gently in multiple areas. If it gives more than 6mm or the wood breaks off without splintering, you most likely have rot. Make sure to check multiple areas of your deck and look for splintering as well as decay. Pay particular attention to the support posts and joists beneath the deck and make sure to thoroughly inspect the base of the support posts where they meet the ground and are exposed to water.
2. During your inspection look for any holes in the wood that may indicate an insect problem.
3. Make sure the flashing is sound and still firmly in place – flashing is the guard that prevents moisture building up in sensitive areas of the deck. If the flashing is damaged there is nothing to stop water from pooling behind the ledger board that connects deck framing to the house.
4. Check the connections between the deck’s beams and the support posts to make sure they have not become loose.
5. Check to make sure that your fasteners (including nails, screws and anchors) are not loose, corroded or popping out. Make sure that the deck and stairs do not appear to be sagging or leaning.
6. Inspect your railings and banisters by grabbing them firmly and wiggling to see if they remain secure.

For any suspected problems you should immediately engage a carpenter and/or registered builder for maintenance checks and repairs. This is only a guide and for a full deck inspection you should engage a professional.

-Em from the Look Local WA team