As I discussed last week, the inventory of wood decks in the United States is becoming increasingly unsafe because of aging. Here are a few more tips to keep your deck safe.
● Clean and maintain: Clean off leaves during winter to prevent mildew. Mildew will also grow naturally if a deck is in a shaded area. Once this mildew gets wet your deck can become a skating rink. If you see mildew, clean it off and apply a new coat of sealant.
● Maintain safe distance between deck and grills, fire pits, chimneys, heaters and candles: There should be hearth extensions in front of fireplaces, noncombustible areas around fire pits, and chimineas should be installed on nonflammable pads. Also, make sure to extinguish all fires before retiring for the evening.
● Install lighting properly: Just like the stairs inside your house, proper lighting of the stairs to your deck is critical for safety. All lighting outlets and receptacles should be installed in compliance with current codes. This is even more critical in exterior applications such as decks where electrical components are exposed to the weather.
● Inspect furniture: After sitting around unused all winter, deck furniture can dry-rot and become unsafe. Before getting in chairs and hammocks, make sure to test them for safety.
● Examine trees: An important part of your spring checkup on your house should be an examination of the trees surrounding your house, especially your deck. Make sure not to ignore your deck in your examination. Make sure to have any dead limbs or diseased trees removed by a qualified tree surgeon.
In addition to the recommendations from NADRA, Simpson Strong Tie has published its “5 warning signs of an unsafe deck” These warning signs are: missing connections, loose connections, corroded connectors and fasteners, rot, and cracks. For additional information on deck safety from Simpson Strong Tie, visit its Web site at www.safestronghome .com/dec.
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