The importance of proper deck construction
Recent TN deck collapse - Link
Recent SC deck accident - Link
Many consumers and home owners don't think it will ever happen to them. When you think about it, most decks aren't used on an everyday basis. But it only takes that one 4th of July gathering of friends and family to have the unfortunate happen to you. Deck construction is an extremely serious issue. Most decks aren't built to the local building codes, but they certainly should be.
This attachment is not adequate.
The most important is how the deck is attached to the structure (home). There are several methods. The best method is using lag bolts to physically attach the head joist to the homes rim joist. View our Deck Construction Guide to learn more about this method. Using nails just isn't enough to support a structure that could possibly weigh thousands of pounds when there is a load on it.
As a home inspector, I see many defects everyday and the majority of them deal with an attached deck.
View a study on deck collapses - Download
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