This essay is on a photo of a bottom rail of the railing on a deck which was 48 inches above grade. In the photo, you can see that the rail is not connected to the post and is a safety hazard.
This picture is of a front porch on a very old home. In an effort to level the porch, and the supported flat roof above,( not pictured), deteriorated wood was cut and replaced with pressure treated 6 x 6. This was repeated with all the post across the porch. Also some decayed decking boards where milled and replaced. To do so, the pilaster against the exterior wall, was cut exposing the old wooden siding behind. This is a complicated situation, and I would recommend further evaluation by a professional.
Inspecting a deck illustrated. Some key points concerning deck failure: Due to obvious increased use, more decks collapse during the summer than the rest of the year combined. 90% of deck collapse is a result of the ledger board becoming separated from the house. Rail failure is the cause of more injuries than collapse. Graspable handrails are very commonly overlooked.
In this image the framing was quite unique, and inappropriate. Double joist had been installed at the posts causing the flooring to span nearly 36" to the next joists. It amazes me that no matter how long I do inspections, there will always be some things I never would have dreamed of seeing.
Decks are possibly the most susceptible structures prone to failure. Due to the lack of maintenance, exposure to the effects of weathering, and structural inadequacies. Many decks are built by good intending home owners without the knowledge of what they are asking the deck to safely withstand.
All outdoor electrical outlets are required to be GFCI. One should be placed within 6 feet of a door accessing the deck. Further, it’s important to have adequate weather covering for exterior outlets in order to not let water enter the outlets.
Permanent wood foundations were developed in the 1960’s, it’s possible for inspectors to encounter such a foundation from time to time. Some builders claim the wood foundation adds several benefits that a concrete foundation cannot. It’s important to make sure that adequate waterproofing is installed on wood foundations because they are particularly vulnerable to water damage.
The picture shown is of a wooden deck with a built in bench seat. If I’m not mistaken, the railing should be higher or the bench seat lower, because children that stand on the bench would be more likely to fall over the rail.
I was reading the article about decks and i was that all but the lowest of decks 6x6 posts. I’ve done several mock inspections and practice inspections and I’ve seen several decks with 4x4 that were not very low to the ground.
The photo I added is of a set of stairs coming off the deck to the lower level. The stairs were built into the ground. The railing is on both sides and the pickets are no more than four inches apart.
The photo I looked at is of bracing on a second floor deck. The bracing should be two feet down and two feet across. this will keep the deck from swaying back and forth and will give it structural integrity.
deck post shall be constructed of 6x6 post if higher than 12 feet 14 feet is ok only if cross bracing is used.Decks shall not be attached to over hangs.Each segment of decking should support a minimum of 4 joist
This deck has improper plank spacing and the planks are sitting on top of particle board which does not allow for drainage. The deck is in direct contact with the earth and not pressure treated. Additionally, there are several nail pops, warped boards which pose a tripping and safety hazard
Hud 203(k) consultant. I was not aware that this position exists. I perform disaster housing inspections as a contractor, so this looks like another way to expand my business and to make some more money. I will probably apply to be a 203(k) consultant.
Decks are more complex to inspect than most people think. With so many potential safety hazards, the inspector should take great care to go over everything.
The primary things to look at include, but are not limited to;
Ledger connection and condition
Joist to ledger connection
Post to girder connection
Water proximity to framing members, particularly posts
Baluster (or openings in general) spacing, and
Condition of lumber and hardware
This stair rail looks good at first glance. They have proper post spacing, proper baluster spacing, closed risers and a graspable handrail. Notice the apparent lack of a footing for the upper stairs. Id probe around the footing to ensure proper sizing, then probe the lumber, both close to the ground and at all wood to wood connections. Then measure to ensure proper rail height, step consistency and opening allowance under the stair rails.
After viewing all the inspection articles on deck inspections, I have come to the conclusion. It doesn’t matter who put the deck up, contractor or homeowner. It is crucial to follow all inspection procedures and look for standards of practice. Wood, fasteners, flashing, and supports are all critical. I would rather take the extra time and find flaws than read in the newspaper a deck has hurt someone.
The deck at the rear of the photo is higher than 2 feet off the ground - however, no guardrail is present to prevent people falling off. The seating is too low to provide adequate fall protection. A minimum of 36-42 inches high fence is required as per Code.
Inspecting for beam sag refers. The test for beam deflection is done to ensure that L/360 deflection limits are not exceeded. L/360 is,simply stated, the maximum deflection in inches, where L=length of the beam in feet, and 360 is the divisor. So: a 10 foot beam is 120 inches. 120/360=1/3. Maximum deflection for the beam is 1/3 inches from its horizontal midpoint. Often beams are installed crown up to counter deflection by using the natural fibre arrangement of the member.
Deck flashing was missing at the time of inspection. No deck flashing at the ledger board could allow water intrusion into the wall destruction. The could damage the wall structure and create a fall hazard for the deck. I recommend a qualified decking contractor evaluate further and correct as needed.
