If you’ve pondered whether it’s time to check your deck, now’s the moment. A well-constructed deck can endure for decades, but one showing signs of rot, missing fasteners, or instability when walked upon might pose a safety risk. Decks built by inexperienced DIYers, uninspected during construction, or over 15 years old (considering older building codes) are prone to serious issues. Unfortunately, every year, accidents occur — some resulting in severe injuries or worse — when such decks collapse, often during gatherings or parties. The good news is most problems are easily fixable, inexpensive, and swift to address. Your local home centers, lumberyards, or even online sources like strongtie.com offer tools and materials required for the fixes. This article will highlight warning signs of a hazardous deck and provide solutions. If uncertain about your deck’s safety, consider having it inspected by a local building professional.
Issue 4: Wobbly Deck
If your deck wobbles as you walk across it, there’s likely no need for alarm. However, in certain instances, the movement of the deck can place additional stress on fasteners and connectors. Over time, the joists may separate from the rim joist or ledger board and shift from their vertical position, compromising their strength. To address this, reinforcing the deck with angle bracing can eliminate the sway. These braces are discreetly positioned and ensure you can traverse your deck without fearing its collapse. Install a treated 2×4 diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner beneath the deck. Secure it by driving two 16d galvanized nails through the brace into each joist. If a single board isn’t sufficient for the span, use two, overlapping them by at least two joists. Trim the bracing flush with the outer edge of the deck.
Issue 5: Loose Railings
While loose railings won’t result in your deck collapsing, they pose a risk of falling off the deck. Railing posts attached solely with nails are prone to loosening, and additional nails won’t resolve the problem. A durable solution involves using a 4×4 post anchor designed for deck rails and adding carriage bolts. Measure the thickness of the post and rim joist, then acquire 1/2-inch diameter galvanized carriage bolts with a length exceeding this measurement by 1 inch. Also, obtain a nut and washer for each bolt. Drill two 1/2-inch holes through the post and rim joist, offsetting them—one approximately 1-1/2 inches from the top of the joist and the other at the same distance from the bottom (ensure no drilling occurs where a joist meets the rim joist). Insert the carriage bolts through the holes and tighten the nuts until the bolt heads sit flush with the post.