Here is a picture of rooted wood on the deck.
A sign that air born fungi has penetrated the unprotected wood. If the home owner had protected the wood by building deck with pressure treated wood or painted the deck this situation could have been avoided.
Because decks appear to be simple to build, many people do not realize that decks are, in fact, structures that need to be designed to adequately resist certain stresses. Like any other house or building, a deck must be designed to support the weight of people, snow loads, and objects. A deck must be able to resist lateral and uplift loads that can act on the deck as a result of wind or seismic activity. Deck stairs must be safe and handrails graspable. And, finally, deck rails should be safe for children by having proper infill spacing.
Here is a pick test showing wood damage. This wood damage is not only rotted, but it also has termite damage. The pick tests helps prove if the wood is healthy or damaged. Clearly this wood has damage to it.
DECK RECEPTACLES: After ready this article I came away confused. The first part of this article states “as an inspector you should not report no receptacles as a defect”. But recommend it as a safety means. Then in the summary they say to report it as a safety issue. I will report it as a safety issue if it is not a GFCI outlet.
This is an image of a deck. In this image you can see that the underside of the deck has been closed off due to siding. Inspection of this decks underneath would be submitted as inaccessible in the report to the client.
Deck Receptacles
In this article I learned that exterior receptacles are required on decks. The receptacles on the deck must be of ground fault circuit interrupter type. The exception to this is if its supplied by a dedicated branch circuit.
The attached photo is from mastermylist.com. The header is rotting and as well as the wood sill plate. In addition, water stains can be seen on the concrete head wall. The floor joists do not appear to have rot or water damage but the drainage run off the site grading appears to be negative (flowing towards the deck) based on the stains on the concrete head wall.
The attached photo is from mastermylist.com and indicates wood rot of the ledger board. The wood decay could also be at the ends of the joist based on the stains (very dark… could indicate continuous water entering this area.) on the concrete wall.
This essay is based on the article “Inspecting a Deck, Illustrated
by Nick Gromicko, Founder, International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)
Graphics by InterNACHI’s Lisaira Vega”:
“More than 2 million decks are built and replaced each year in North America. InterNACHI estimates that of the 45 million existing decks, only 40% are completely safe.”
The required and optional tool to perform the deck inspection are as follows per the article:
Required: flashlight; measuring tape; ladder; level; plumb bob; probing: tool; and hammer.
Optional Tools: moisture meter; magnet; and calculator.
Inspector noted deck boards that are butted together improperly. Deck boards show indications of weathering and nail pops that can create a danger. No receptacle accessible on deck. Recorded as defective and recommendation that a qualified contractor for further examination for determination.
The receptacles (2) on deck did not have faceplates that were securely on the supporting surface to prevent moisture from entering the enclosure. If the receptacle is installed on uneven surfaces, such as stucco, stone or brick, a caulking compound can be used to fill in gaps.
there are many types of fasteners, nails, screws, and bolts. It is very difficult to know which one is right for which application. Most always you as a inspector will just see the head. There are markings on the head to indicate brand and type but not always. When inspecting you ned to think about withdrawl and shear strength. Withdrawl the about a force it takes to pull a nail for example straight out. most nails are easy to withdrawal because they are smooth. Some nails have shanks with ridges which makes the much harder to pull out. that is why screws and bolts are hard to pull out they have threaded shanks. the life span of the fastener is very important knowing what to took for. fasteners are made of different types of metals such as steel which may be most common. Bright fasteners have no coating and will rust and corrode which make them brittle and break due to weather and weight or pressure applied to fasteners. That is why fasteners have coatings such as , Galvanization, sink, vinyl, and phosphate coatings. there more resistant to rust and corrosion. she jobs call for the use of wall anchors which help hold the fastener in. anchors are usually made of metal or plastic . drill a small pilot hole and pound anchor in gently then screw or in fastener anchor expands and keeps fastener from backing out. moister cycles cause fastener holes to expand and contract over time. holes get a little bigger. and fastener will pop out. you see this a lot in decks.
Im taking this course to better my knowledge as a home inspector, as well as receive my license, just like most of you are doing here. I hope to start a very lucrative business where I make my own hours and satisfy all my clients with reasonable prices and quality work.
Stair rail balusters missing. Stair rail balusters required on deck stairs having 4 or more steps. Stair rail balusters should be installed where opening of no more than 4 3/8" exist between balusters. This is considered a safety issue. Recommend correction by a qualified contractor.
Article titled ‘Deck Receptacles’. I learned that in 2008 the NEC code was updated to require electrical receptacles to be installed essentially within the perimeter of decks. The 2005 NEC code requires one electrical receptacle in front and one in back of house. As for houses built before code requirements, an inspector should make note of no outlets in rear of the house as a safety issue.
Deck Inspection: The stair stringers are in direct contact with soil/rock. The preferred method is to install them on top of posts which extend below the frostline. Also noted is the gutter downspout directing water towards the deck posts, which will contribute to decay. Recommend repair and evaluation by a qualified contractor.
The image above depicts a typical deck load distribution. People tend to gather near the railings of a deck, and so more load is likely carried by the posts.Hot tubs filled with water and people are heavy and can weigh a couple of tons. Most decks are designed for loads of 40 to 60 pounds per square foot. Hot tubs require framing that can support more than 100 pounds per square foot.
Balconies, decks and porches that are accessible from inside the dwelling unit shall have at least one receptacle outlet installed within the perimeter of the balcony, deck or porch. The receptacle shall not be located more than 6 feet (2m) above the balcony, deck or porch surface.
Efflorescence for Inspectors: Efflorescence can be a cosmetic issue or it can be a moisture intrusion problem that can lead to structural and/or indoor air quality issues. Efflorescence should be noted in an inspection report because it is generally an indication of excess moisture, which can also encourage mold growth.
The above photo shows multiple defects in the deck construction. Supports are improperly secured to joists. Joists should rest on support post and not rely on sheer strength of ONE nail. All joists were secured in this manner which is unacceptable. Collapse shall be imminent. Advise removal and replacement by qualified contractor.
