Another reminder to inspect your backyard deck for safety issues

The recent collapse of a 20-year-old deck in South Attleboro in New England that sent an elderly woman to the hospital has residents of the area concerned. Inspectors in South Attleboro have been making the rounds to inspect other local decks for safety issues and advise homeowners on needed maintenance and repairs.

Building inspectors note that three common risks might turn your backyard deck into a dangerous collapse and liability issue waiting to happen:

• Weather that rots or dries the wood rapidly or corrodes connecting hardware.
• Building codes that in the past were less strict than those we use now.
• Pine needles, leaves, and other debris that gets behind the ledger board and retains moisture leading to rot and loosening of the deck connection to the home.

The deck collapse injury attorneys at Denena & Points remind you to inspect your backyard deck at least once per year to locate safety issues before they become hazardous. Look at the bolting of the deck to the home. First off, your deck should be connected by bolts and not by nails that can easily pull out. Look for any rot or separation of the deck and its connections from the home.

Check for cracked or splintering wood and for corroded hardware. Check the sturdiness of deck rails. Collapsing deck rails can lead to many injuries and fatalities even when the deck itself does not give way.

To learn more about the dangers of deck collapse and what you need to do in its aftermath, download our free book on balcony and deck collapse from this web page.