May is Deck Safety Month, have you checked your deck lately?

May has officially(or maybe unofficially) become deck safety month.  With the winter thaw, and the spring bloom of flowers, many homeowners with decks begin to clean off the winter residue in preparation of outdoor living for the spring/summer.  However, a unsafe deck can lead to accidents and perhaps fatalities.

The North American Deck and Railing Association is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the necessity for regular inspection and maintenance of existing decks and proper installation of new decks, and we would like to help pass along this safety message.  To an untrained eye, simply looking at a deck, it may appear that everything looks fine.  However, over time, components of the deck such as the deckboards, railings, banisters, or stairs may decay, split, rot, or simply become loose.  Look for missing or loose connections as well.  These are all warning signs.  Furthermore, many older decks may not be in compliance with newer building codes.  All these are potential safety concerns.

To begin with, take a look at this deck safety checklist.  How does your deck stack up? Does it seem that your deck may have potential issues? How about annual maintenance? Has your deck been kept up? If it seems that maybe you have more than a few issues going on, maybe a professional deck inspection may be needed.

Deck failures can be avoided. It's a matter of making the consumer aware of the necessity of choosing a professional deck contractor, regular maintenance and inspection, and knowing the limits of the deck structure.

If you haven't check your deck lately, join deck safety month, and do it this May.