Most of us in the northwest, when we think of decks, probably think of a flat walking surface comprised of either wood decking or a composite decking material with rain gaps to allow rain between the boards. That is usually the case. However, it is also not uncommon to find a solid flat surface -- such as a plywood nailed over the structure below. We home inspectors have to be careful when inspecting decks. They can be very high and construction methods are often suspect.

When plywood is the walking surface, often the homeowner has applied onto that surface some type of waterproofing that is available for consumers -- often a paint-on product with a limited lifetime. If a person is installing that type of deck it is very important to make sure the deck slopes away from the home so water that collects is diverted away from the house. Look at the photo below.

That is a waterproof coating over plywood. In many areas the surface felt solid. But, be careful, there were other areas where a person could step right through the floor. Yes, that is a hole. Once plywood starts absorbing water, de-lamination and rot are not far behind. In this field of home inspection, the inspector needs to look before he or she leaps, doing otherwise could lead to an injury.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith