Before the Guests Arrive: A Homeowner's Holiday Deck Check

Every year around this time I start seeing the same thing on DMV porches and decks: lights going up on the railings, a heater dragged out for the people who smoke a cigar after dinner, and a cooler full of drinks parked by the back door because the fridge is out of room. I love it. A deck at the holidays is where the overflow of a good party ends up.

It's also the time of year when we ask the most of our decks and look at them the least. Summer's over, the furniture's stacked, and nobody's really thinking about what's going on underneath. So here are a few easy things I'd check myself before company comes over. None of it needs tools you don't already have.

Start where the deck meets the house

If you look at one thing, make it this. The board that ties your deck to the house is called the ledger. The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) calls it a common source of deck failure. Go under the deck if you can and look along that connection. You're looking for dark, soft, or crumbly wood, rust streaks, or water stains running down the wall. Push a screwdriver gently into the wood. If it sinks in easily or the wood feels spongy, that's worth a closer look. NADRA also points out the ledger shouldn't be held on with nails alone.

Give the railings a good shove

Holiday guests lean. They lean while they talk, they lean while they take the family photo, and sometimes they sit right on the top rail. Walk your railings and push on them firmly. They shouldn't give, wobble, or creak. NADRA notes most codes call for railings at least 36 inches high, with gaps under 4 inches so little kids and pets can't slip through. Your town's rules may be different, so treat that as a rough guide and not the final word.

Walk the stairs like a guest who's never been here

Go up and down slowly. Does every tread feel solid? Is the handrail tight? Is there anything on the steps, like a planter, a pumpkin left over from October, or a bag of salt? NADRA specifically says to keep stair paths clear of décor and other trip hazards. At night, with a few drinks in and a plate in each hand, those steps are the busiest part of your deck.

Look at what's holding it all up

Look at the posts and the spots where they meet the ground. Posts should stand straight, the deck shouldn't sway when you shift your weight, and nothing should look like it's sinking or lifting. Freeze and thaw is hard on everything outside here in Maryland, Virginia, and DC, so it's worth a look every winter.

Think about how many people you'll have out there

Decks are built to carry people, but an older or tired deck isn't the place for a crowd. If yours has any of the warning signs above, be honest with yourself before you invite the whole family out for the toast. Keep the party inside until someone's had a look.

Holiday lights: a few simple rules

I'm all for lighting up a railing. The Electrical Safety Foundation (ESFI) keeps it simple:

• Use only lights and extension cords marked for outdoor use.

• Plug outdoor decorations into a GFCI-protected outlet. If you don't have one, you can buy a portable outdoor GFCI.

• Check every strand for cracked sockets or frayed wire before it goes up.

• Hang them so you aren't pinching or stapling through the cord, and keep cords out of snow and standing water.

• Turn everything off when you go to bed or leave the house.

When the snow and ice show up

• Shovel gently. For composite decks, Trex recommends a plastic shovel, not metal, and pushing the snow along the direction of the boards. That's good advice for most decking.

• Go easy on ice melt. What's safe depends on what your deck is made of. Read your decking manufacturer's care guide before you throw salt down, and rinse it off when the weather breaks.

• Don't let heavy snow sit for weeks. NADRA's own leadership has pointed out that heavy snow puts extra stress on outdoor structures. Clearing it as you go also keeps your steps safer.

• Sweep off leaves and debris. Wet leaves get slippery and hold moisture against the wood.

When to call someone

If you find soft wood at the ledger, a railing that moves, a post that's leaning, or a deck that sways, stop there. That's not a weekend fix. NADRA recommends having older decks looked at by an ASHI-certified home inspector or a knowledgeable deck builder.

I'm a NADRA-certified deck safety inspector, and this is the kind of walkthrough I do with homeowners. If you'd like a second set of eyes before the holidays, email info@candangos.com and we can schedule an inspection.

That's it. Nothing on this list takes more than half an hour, and it lets you enjoy the party without worrying about what's under your feet.

Happy holidays from our family to yours. Stay warm.

Rapha

candangos.com · 301-MY-BUILD