Spending time on your outdoor deck is great – however, getting injured on your deck is not. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 33,000 people are injured each year because of a structural failure of a porch, deck, railing or staircase. To make sure you, your family and your friends can all safely enjoy time spent on your deck, make sure to go over this quick checklist to make sure your deck is in good shape!
A few common safety issues show up in wooden decks. One thing homeowners should keep an eye out for is cracks in the wood planks on their decks. Though small cracks may not be too much of an issue, it’s important to keep an eye on them. Over time, those small cracks might expand after moisture freezes and expands it over the winter months. Larger cracks, or cracks located close to deck fasteners, are something to look out for. These larger cracks could mean that the wood is weakening and therefore not as stable.
Rotting wood is another safety hazard that could weaken the deck’s overall structure. One way to prevent or reduce rotting wood is to be sure to regularly stain and seal your deck to keep moisture out of the planks.
Fasteners, connecters, nails, bolts and screws are all important to check, too. Make sure none of these important connectors are rusting or loose.
Deck railings are another potential hazard. Railings are meant to have a little give to support the weight of people leaning on them – however, if railings wobble noticeably, they may be unsafe.
If any of these issues show up on your outdoor deck, make sure to have an inspector come and look it over. And if you need deck restoration or a complete deck replacement, contact the deck builders at UglyDeck.com.
UglyDeck.com can revive your deck with their maintenance free decking materials. They can use composite decking material on your deck and your railings, and composite decking can help reduce some common decking issues.
Check out the services UglyDeck.com offers and contact them today!
