Railings are supposed to withstand about pounds of lateral force. If it sways when you push on it, have an inspector check it out immediately. If your railing is secure, inspect it closely for minor damage and reinforce any loose parts and replace damaged pieces. Also double-check whether the railing meets local codes, which generally call for a railing at least 36 inches high with less than a 4 inch gap between balusters. Just like any stairway, deck stairs require a railing.
Any swaying or wobbling is cause for concern. Additionally, the stair steps should be solid and not sag or shift. Secure loose boards and replace any that are damaged. Take a look under your deck to see if your fasteners and connectors are sound. Items that hold your deck together including nails, bolts, screws, and joist hangers should be made of galvanized steel, but this material still needs a close inspection; even galvanized steel can rust.
Check the joist hangers, which hold the joists in place. Every hole should have a joist hanger nail securing the hanger to the deck frame. If you need to add nails, use joist hanger nails which must be long enough to go through the floor joist and into the frame.
Secure any loose fasteners. If you notice nails that have worked out, replace them with deck screws. Often the culprit is wood rot. When water invasion has weakened the wood to the point of softening or rot, no fastener is able to perform securely. When some homeowners and inexperienced deck builders, for that matter think about deck waterproofing, the focus of the consideration is often the deck surface or the railings and the esthetic value waterproofing brings to outdoor living space.
Sadly, it is the critical inside perimeter waterproofing details that are neglected that can allow water to infiltrate the deck components and the building envelope which can compromise the structural security. Many times, water intrusion and wood rot is discovered before weakening to the point of collapse and the deck can be salvaged, but sometimes the water damage goes unnoticed. When this happens for too long, eventually the rot will deteriorate the wood until the deck becomes unsafe This seems to be more common in circumstances where the owner or manager of the property is not the primary resident, such as in the vacation beach home deck collapse in Ocean Isle Beach, NC in July For example, see Duradek Case History where the inside perimeter waterproofing details were previously neglected and threatened the structural integrity of the deck.
However, many older constructions were only connected to the central unit house with nails alone. These older deck units require specially dedicated attention since they could be at especially high risk of collapsing. If a homeowner does not properly install a ledger board to the side of their house, this can result in the board detaching from the house and the joists, causing the deck to collapse. Another possibility is that maintenance of the ledger board was neglected, and the board eventually deteriorated and caused a collapse.
Joists are supposed to provide support for all the decking. When joists are not measured correctly or they rot, it may cause accidents that can lead to severe injuries. Beams are placed upright into the ground and horizontally across certain areas of a deck to support the weight that will be placed on top of them.
Many beams are constructed of wood or some form of durable metal. When constructing a deck, you must ensure that you choose undamaged beams that will stand the test of time and weather. If a wooden or metal beam is not strong enough to support the weight placed on it, they may begin to splinter or bend. If this occurs suddenly or the homeowner does not catch this defect in time, their deck may collapse when they least expect it. As these beams hold up the rest of the deck, replacing or repairing them once they are damaged can be a dangerous task.
Rain, excess heat and snow can still cause problems for decks, despite new, modern construction techniques. Therefore, it is always wise to keep regularly checking and correcting any issues your deck may present.
Head injuries can be severe and sometimes life-threatening. During a deck collapse, a falling object or a trip and fall accident can cause a person to hit their head.
A massive blow to the head area can cause TBI. People experiencing brain injuries are likely to suffer from memory loss, concussions, and contusions. In more severe situations traumatic brain injury can cause death. Puncture wounds are likely to happen during a deck collapse. Frequently, puncture wounds need immediate medical assistance to prevent further complications. Depending on the severity of the injury, a person could require surgery and an extended period of recovery time.
Unfortunately, during a deck collapse accident, people are completely exposed and at risk of sustaining injuries. For instance, broken bones are a typical example of the type of injuries a person can sustain during a deck collapse. As a result of a bone fracture, a person can experience a great deal of pain and discomfort.
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