If you see any of these warning signs you should consider repairing, retrofitting or rebuilding your deck.
1.
A deck should be built using a combination of wood, nails, screws and metal connectors. Look at how your deck is built – if all you see is nails, your deck may be unsafe.
2.
Depending on how the deck was built, vital connections may have degraded over time due to various factors. Issues such as wobbly railings, loose stairs and ledgers that appear to be pulling away from the home are all causes for concern.
3.
Metal connectors, nails and screws can corrode over time. Look for rust and other signs of corrosion that can weaken the structure of your deck.
4.
Wood can rot and degrade over time with exposure to the elements. Wood members within the deck frame that have rotted may no longer be able to perform the function for which they were installed, making your deck unstable.
5.
As wood ages, it is common for cracks to develop. Large cracks or excessive cracking overall can weaken your deck, making it susceptible to collapse.
