5 Signs Your Deck Is Unsafe
The deck of your Millville, Delaware, home is a wonderful place to spend warm days. Cooking and eating, watching the sun set, and gazing at the stars are just a few of the things you might love to do outside on your deck. Your family and friends use your deck, so you want to know it’s safe. If you notice any issues like rot, sagging boards, or termite damage, your deck could be structurally compromised. You should call us to come take a look.
Small Amounts of Water Damage
Water can hit part of your deck and cause that part to decay and rot, though the rest of it is okay. It might be from something dripping onto only that portion of the deck, like a tree branch or a leaky gutter. Be especially careful if there’s water damage near any outdoor outlets or lighting schemes. We also handle your deck’s electrical work, so let us deal with any electrical inspection and repairs.
When only the boards in one small portion of the deck are damaged, we can do a small repair that involves removing just the damaged part and replacing it with healthy wood. The new wood won’t be the same color as the old wood, even if you stain it, but it’s much less expensive than tearing down your entire deck.
Post Rot
The posts holding your deck up can rot where they touch the ground. They should be anchored in cement or concrete. Often, dirt, leaves, and other debris cover up the concrete and dampen the bottom of the posts. Dig the posts out if dirt and debris are covering them. Rot at the bottom of posts means those posts aren’t structurally sound anymore and need to be replaced.
We can replace a couple posts without re-doing your entire deck. If most or all of the posts are damaged, you’re looking at a deck that’s unsafe to walk across. The whole thing will need to be replaced if every post is starting to rot.
Joist Problems
Check the joists for signs of softness. If you can dig out pieces of wood with a fingernail or a screwdriver, they’re too soft to support anyone’s weight. Sometimes joist problems come from the metal connections. Lots of rust in the nails, screws, and connections in your joists will weaken them too.
Because joist problems are hard to fix without ripping out a big portion of your deck, it’s usually easier to tear down your old deck and start a new, more structurally sound option. When we come to look at the joist damage, we’ll let you know what’s possible.
A Sagging Frame
Does your deck sag in the middle? Do the boards give a lot when you walk across them? Sagging decks almost always indicate a lot of damage because the joists, the posts, and the deck boards all contain damage to make a deck sag in the center.
A deck that sags in the middle isn’t safe to use, and you shouldn’t try to test the boards or see how damaged it is yourself. Have us over to inspect the damaged deck. Should you need to have a new one installed, we’ll give you maintenance instructions so the new deck doesn’t develop the same problems.
Termite Damage
Like with your house, if you catch termites early, you can do small repairs to fix the damage. Look for small holes in the wood of your deck. Even if you don’t see any, call us if you catch sight of a termite on your deck so we can check for damage. it takes a while for termites to build a large colony, so catching them early is the best way to keep them from wreaking havoc on your deck’s wood.
Whether your deck needs to be repaired or rebuilt, Custom Mechanical has talented carpenters who can take on the job. Have us over to assess the damage to your deck, and we’ll recommend a plan for fixing it. If your entire deck needs to be rebuilt, we’ll give you a new, structurally sound deck to enjoy. Call us today at 877-696-0808.
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