Be Alert. Be Informed. Be Safe.
Inspect your home’s deck each spring so you can enjoy a fun, safe summer. Download this free 10-point checklist from our friends at NADRA.
For contractors and deck builders, here is a deck evaluation checklist to follow to ensure you don’t miss something when you inspect a deck.
When you work with a professional deck builder, you want to be prepared. Here is an article to help you prepare for that meeting so it can be productive.
Educate. Inspect. Correct. That is the campaign of the North American Decking & Railing Association (NADRA) to promote deck safety. NADRA has been leading the charge to prevent deck-related injuries, naming May as Deck Safety Month.
Every May, NADRA reminds us of the importance of checking decks to ensure any issues are addressed before summer, when families use their decks most. Ace & Hammer Construction is a proud member of NADRA, and we fully embrace the organization’s deck safety initiatives.
Michael Beaudry, a founder and executive vice president of NADRA, estimated that about 30 million of the country’s roughly 60 million decks were beyond their useful lives. What about your deck? Is it in good condition?
“Your roof has a life expectancy. Your windows have a life expectancy. What about your deck?” Beaudry said.
Everything breaks down over time, and North Atlanta’s climate accelerates that process faster than many homeowners expect. Cobb County summers bring intense heat, high humidity, and heavy rainfall that work together to stress deck boards, fasteners, and framing year after year. Fall and winter add freeze-thaw cycles that expand and contract wood fibers, loosen connections, and drive moisture deeper into any surface that isn’t properly sealed or protected. As a result, homeowners need to evaluate their structures.
“It’s time to Check Your Deck!” Beaudry said, and he recommends doing it every year.
The 10-point checklist from NADRA provides homeowners with a simple guide for evaluating their deck’s overall safety and condition. It covers inspecting structural wood components, such as joists, posts, and ledger boards, for rot or other deterioration.
The checklist also recommends checking fasteners, railings, lighting fixtures, and potential hazards in the deck surroundings. It gives homeowners an easy way to identify major safety issues that might require professional repair or replacement.
NADRA’s Deck Evaluation Checklist provides a thorough, step-by-step process for meticulously examining every critical component of a deck’s structure. This includes assessing the ledger attachment, footings, support posts, beams, joists, decking surfaces, stairs, railings, and other features. The checklist guides experts in evaluating the structural integrity, safety, and code compliance of new and existing decks. The detailed criteria for each deck element enable consistent, reliable professional deck inspections.
Split or decaying wood
Flashing
Loose or corroded fasteners
Stairs
Railing & Banisters
Cleaning & Maintenance
Grills, Firepits, Chimneys, Heaters, and Candles
Lighting & Electrical
Outdoor Furniture & Storage
Surrounding Trees