Stressed-out Decks

The deck below is the final blog related to an earlier post about tall trees near homes and how that impacts roofs and decks. The wood at this deck, at the time of the inspection, was still in satisfactory condition. At least, based on what a person could see under the debris, that was the case. Regardless, if this condition continues unabated, that will not be the case forever. A deck like this is designed to have gaps between the decking boards. Why? So the rain can drip through and the surface will dry. If the gaps are too close together, debris clogs them, or moss and fungal growth is growing, moisture can collect and that rots the wood in a short period of time. In a case like this, if a person really wants to keep the trees, the secret to keeping the deck sound for as long as is possible is simple --- clean, clean, clean, sweep, sweep, sweep.

Thanks for looking.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections