Many decks, although they may meet building code requirements, are not built using the best practices. For example, balusters are not cut level and posts are notched rather than using brackets thus decreasing they breaking strength. These two common issues can contribute to railing failure and injury.
The existing guardrail is missing a section. This is a safety concern. I would recommend to the home owner that this section be repaired to ensure a continuous railing for the deck. Also, this deck height varies from 1’-0" (at one end) to 8’-0" (at the other end). Even though the deck was built approx. 20 years ago, there is a safety concern for the size of the openings at the spindles located at the higher portion of the deck.
After completing the “How to Perform Deck Inspections” I realized that our own deck railing is too wide to be graspable. It’s an older deck but whenever upgrades or changes are made to it, this feature will definitely be changed.
This inspection was an older home in the city of Baltimore. The deck was older and someone had painted it instead of staining it which speeded up the deterioration process. The photo is of the top step whereas the carriage was broken off on one side, causing the step to become non-supported and also resulted in the step cracking and leaning downward. Of course this is a falling/ tripping hazard. I advised that a licensed Home Improvement contractor that specializes in decks make needed repairs and or replacements. This deck should be power washed to remove all painted areas. Any defective decking boards, rails and or stairs or their supporting systems be replaced. The deck should then have a water repellant coating applied once the deck fully dries out.
Three times now I have submitted essays that have been accepted however I can not move onto the test because it says my essay was not completed. Quite a bothersome failure in the system. Please correct this issue as soon as you can. Again I hate to write any of this however it keeps demanding 40 words. Again my essay had many more than 40 words as you can easily see. I’m running out of things to say but need these minimum of 40 words on this attempt hoping the system allows me to continue
This deck railing is completely devoid of balusters (vertical portions of the railing). Balusters are required as a safety measure. These should be installed with a bevelled top end, and so that a sphere with a diameter of four inches cannot pass between them.
Many decks will have been built without upper or lower flashing around the ledger board. It is fairly simple to install the upper flashing after the fact - remove the necessary deck boards and slide the flashing up under the house wrap. It is a bit more of an undertaking to loosen the ledger board to slide the lower flashing underneath. Ultimately, like anything else, it is much easier to have it done properly the first time.
A missing receptacle on a deck of more than 20 square feet is a safety issue. That is almost every deck out there when you consider a tiny 3 foot by 6 foot deck is 18 square feet. Because on any deck electricity will used and running extension cords will be a trip hazard, this is a logical requirement.
With 40% of decks being built improperly, their inspection needs to be carefully done. There isn’t a lot of this to check but, far too many were done incorrectly from the beginning, to the point that not only is the structural integrity doubtful but substantial water damage can affect the main structure where it is attached.
Read the article How to sell to real estate professional. One of things I learned is that you must separate yourself from the competition. Your presentation as well your professionalism will make you more favorable then one who only shows up with just a business card and jeans.
The Deck in this photo has completely collapsed most likely from improper installation. Decks can be extremely dangerous and even fatal if not built and installed correctly. This deck has failed at the deck to house connection and will need to be completely replaced.
All decks with access from the home are required to have an installed electrical receptacle, unless the deck is less than 20 square feet. One reason for this is to help eliminate the need to run extension cords to the deck form the interior.
This deck in unsafe in many ways. It is missing the railing for the stairs, the railing for the outer part of the deck has openings big enough for someone to fall through, the upstairs railing spans over 6 feet between posts, joist hangers were not used, the ledger board is flashed but the ledger strip is not and is rotting. The 5 main posts have been replaced, but installed incorrectly. The post is not mounted to the pier, instead it is notched around the stairs ledger board and transferring its load to a rotted beam sitting on the pier.
I chose the deck article, since this was the deck course. I learned about checking for loose fasteners with the hammer test. Loose fasteners will have a hollow sound with vibration and tight fasteners will have a solid sound to them.
The deck only has three risers therefore it does not need a railing. The problem with this deck is that is has decking boards that are coming in contact with the soil. This should not have been done as the decking boards should not have contact with the soil because they will rot.
Decks should be built according to local code, some rules to keep in mind are; deck posts should be set below the frost line and should be attached to the footing. Sprinklers and downspouts should be kept away from posts. Railings should be between 34" and 38" high, also a graspable hand rail that is 1.5" to 2" wide should be installed.
In the article regarding Deck receptacles I learned that the reason the NEC added the code for exterior receptacles was due mainly to the hazard of using extension cords. The dangers associated with extension cords are structure fires, electrical burns and shocks, as well as being a trip hazard. Around 2000 injuries a year involving extension cords are due to people tripping over them. Be careful out there.
Because railings are the most visible element of a deck, they offer the builder an opportunity for creativity. They can be made of many materials, formed to different shapes and connected in many ways. However, builders must remember that the railing design must adhere to local building codes that are designed to ensure safety. Typically, if a deck is more than a certain distance from the ground, as little as 18 inches in some areas, railings are required for safety purposes. Codes specify a certain maximum opening between balusters, spindles, or pickets so that a 4-inch diameter ball wont pass through the railing. The height of the railing is also regulated, with a height of 36 inches standard for residential
Because railings are the most visible element of a deck, they offer the builder an opportunity for creativity. They can be made of many materials, formed to different shapes and connected in many ways. However, builders must remember that the railing design must adhere to local building codes that are designed to ensure safety. Typically, if a deck is more than a certain distance from the ground, as little as 18 inches in some areas, railings are required for safety purposes. Codes specify a certain maximum opening between balusters, spindles, or pickets so that a 4-inch diameter ball wont pass through the railinginches standard for residential …
