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Is My Deck Safe?

January 27, 2020
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Have you ever wondered, “is my deck safe?” Having a safe deck is one of the most important parts of owning a deck. Decks are great for entertaining, holding milestone family events, hanging out with friends, and relaxing on in nice weather. However, if a deck is not properly cared for, it can become a liability, and worst case, cause injury or worse to your friends or loved ones.

It is very important to consistently have your deck professionally inspected for defects. Here are a few things your decking professional should look at to ensure your deck is safe to use.

Deck Material

Your deck’s material is an important part of maintaining your deck’s structure. Inspect your deck for splitting or cracking wood, which can get worse as time passes. Additionally, your deck may have rot. This can quickly compromise your deck material’s integrity and cause soft spots, warping, and loose boards that can all become dangerous.

The use of plastic and composite-lumber for deck materials is becoming more common. However, the majority of decks are built with pressure-treated wood, cedar, or some other type of wood. Whatever type of deck material you have, be sure to have each board inspected for cracks, splinters, insect infestation, rot, popped fastener heads, warping, or other problems. Have the damaged decking replaced as soon as possible.

Ledger and Flashing

The ledger is the long horizontal board that attaches your deck to your house. The flashing is the piece of plastic or metal that prevents water from getting in between the ledger and house. If the flashing is pulling up from its proper place, has a lot of mud and debris, or is cracking you need to get it repaired.

How important is it to maintain the integrity of the ledger and the flashing of a deck? It is extremely important, maybe a matter of life or death, to make sure that the ledger is not rotted and the flashing is intact. “The number one reason why decks collapse is because the ledger is badly decayed or not properly fastened to the house.”

Hardware

Inspecting your deck’s hardware is another crucial part of keeping your deck safe. If your hardware is showing signs of rusting or wear, you should have a professional come and replace those pieces. Additionally, making sure all the screws and joints are tightly fastened throughout the year can keep your deck from collapsing.

Railings

Railings are a very important safety feature on your deck. Any decks taller than 30 inches above the ground, are required to have railings around the perimeter of the deck.

If your railings are wiggling or leaning, that is a sign they may be about to fall or break. Keep an eye on them as the moisture from different weather conditions sets in. This can wreak havoc on your deck’s railings. Sadly, most deck-related injuries are caused by a person leaning on a compromised deck railing and falling.

To inspect a deck’s railings, check to ensure that each rail post is attached to the deck’s frame. Next, be sure that the frame and the railings are free from all types of problems listed above.

Then, make sure that the posts are fastened to the frame with the correct bolts and screws. Each post should be inspected to make sure they’re well-secured and showing no signs of decay.

Cleanliness

While cleanliness may not seem important, a dirty deck can hide other factors that will tip you off to a splitting or rotting deck. Additionally, keeping your deck free of mildew is an important way to keep your deck free of rot and mold.

A small amount of bleach (1 cup of bleach per gallon of water) can be used to stop mildew growth on your deck. Use a mop to clean your deck with the solution and then use just water to rinse and let air dry.

Environmental Factors

Make sure your deck is also clear of environmental hazards, such as flammable surfaces next to fire pits, low-hanging branches, and shorted wiring. Use common sense and make sure that you are always looking for environmental hazards on or near your deck.

Know Your Codes

Lastly, make sure you are up-to-date on the various codes for your county or city. The city of Omaha has all of its residential deck guidelines available online so you can be sure that you have the most current safety features in mind when it comes to your deck.

If it’s time for your deck to be inspected, contact us! We’re happy to inspect your deck for you to ensure your deck is up to code and safe to use all year long.

The Pros and Cons of Different Types of Deck Materials

November 19, 2019
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If you’ve decided it’s time to have your new deck built this season, one of the first things you’ll want to think about is choosing a deck material that is right for you. There are many different types of deck materials, including pressure-treated wood decks, cedar decks, composite decking also known as “plastic lumber,” aluminum decks, and even decks made with tropical woods.

It can be confusing because there are many choices of deck materials. At All About Decks, we offer three main types of deck building materials, each with their own set of pros and cons. Each can be useful for different types of projects and is good for different budgets.

Pressure Treated Wood Decks

The first type of material we offer for your decking project is pressure treated wood, sometimes known as “green treated wood.” Pressure treated wood is infused with different chemicals through a pressurized cylinder. These chemicals create a resistance to harmful rot and insects.

PROs of Pressure Treated Wood Decks:

Least expensive option; easy upkeep as it requires only a once a year power washing and then re-sealing every one or two years.
Pressure treated wood is easy to work with as far as cutting and nailing pieces together so your deck can be built relatively quickly.

CONs of Pressure Treated Wood Decks:

Splinters can occur when the sealing wears off.
The slats may warp or crack over time and require you to spend money to have your deck fixed.

Cedar Wood Decks

Cedar is another deck building material we offer for your deck project. This is an excellent option if you love real wood. The natural variety of cedar trees ensures that your deck is one-of-a-kind. We only use the best part of the cedar tree, the deep-colored heartwood.

PROs of Cedar Wood Decks:

Using cedar, especially the heartwood, will keep your deck from absorbing moisture, making it resistant to rot and warping.
Relatively inexpensive compared to other wood types like redwood, mahogany, ipe, and tigerwood; cedar decks last longer than pressure treated wood decks, often between 10-20 years.
Cedar is considered to be one of the most “green” materials because it does not contain chemicals that could be harmful to the environment.

CONs of Cedar Wood Decks:

To keep its beautiful color, a cedar deck requires staining.
Cedar is a soft wood, so it is subject to dings and dents more easily than other materials.
Annual winterizing, consisting of power washing, staining, and sealing, while not required, is highly recommended to maintain the finish and beauty of the cedar.

Some experts suggest that sealing and refinishing your cedar deck every two years is sufficient. Others suggest needing to do it less often. How frequently you need to reseal your cedar deck depends on weather conditions, whether the deck gets a lot of sun exposure, the deck owner’s tolerance for discolorations, and other factors.

Composite Decking Materials

The type of deck building material that offers an endless number of choices is composite decking. Composite decking is either all synthetic or a mixture of natural and synthetic materials, which makes it more durable than all other decking options. If you are looking for the least amount of upkeep, composite is a good choice of material for you.

PROs of Composite Decks:

Composite decks have a low environmental impact, since they’re mostly made of recycled materials that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.
Composite deck materials are available in many colors, looks, and textures.
They’re stain-resistant, weather-resistant, and splinter-free for those who love to walk barefoot.
Maintenance of composite decks is minimal, though some composite deck owners have their deck sealed occasionally to protect against fading.

CONs of Composite Decks:

Since composite decks are made of plastics, polyvinyls, and other plastic configurations, they can look, well, plastic.
With the latest composite deck technology, however, some composite decks look pretty nice.
Composite decking materials are generally more expensive than cedar decks and are definitely more expensive than pressure treated wood.

With so many types of deck materials available, the choice isn’t easy. Going through the pros and cons of the different deck materials will help you decide which material is best for your new deck. If you still need help, reach out and we’ll provide all the information you need to decide.

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