A deck is a large, raised wooden floor attached to the back of a house and contained by a perimeter railing for safety. Decks are rarely covered, and usually have a rough or informal look that is not integrated with the rest of the house's design. They are typically intended to be locations for large outdoor social gatherings, such as barbecues and birthday parties. Access to the deck may be from the ground through a stairway, or from the house through a back door.
Exterior decks and balconies appear to be simple to build, most people don't realize that exterior decks and balconies are structures that need to be designed and built to adequately resist certain stresses and loads to prevent collapse. Every year in North America over 2 million decks are built or replaced each year. It is estimates that of the 45 million existing decks, only 40% are safe. Like any structure, a decks and balconies must be designed to support the live loads such as weight of people, snow, and personal objects. These structures must be able to resist lateral and uplift loads that can act on the deck structures. Deck stairs must properly be attached to the deck structure with steps that have uniform tread and risers. The decks must have guardrails and handrails that are firmly attached, at proper height and must be graspable. Their must be balusters properly spaced to protect small children from entrapment. The hidden under structures such as their posts, beams and support are more complex but equally important. Now this is not the complete list but meant to give you an awareness of some of the design features to protect you and your family.
Today's home inspection I came across a deck and make-shift stairs and railing. This structure was not professional built to standard deck building practices. In fact, there were so many defects I report that the structure is not safe and should not by used until replaced. Now this may be an extreme case but more common than one would believe. Below are a couple of photo's of the structure used as a deck.
For your safety and safety of your friends and family it is recommend having a Certified Professional Inspector or Licensed Builder inspect your deck or balcony if you suspect a problem or before you buy that dream home. It just might save your life or serious injury.
