Deck Construction for your Home – The deck of a house is generally a wooden platform built above the ground and connected to the main building. The origin of the term deck comes from the deck of ships. It is generally a flat surface, raised above the ground, that is supported surrounded by a railing. Most decks are constructed of wood type products.
Due to environmental concerns, composite decking (a mixture of two materials, typically wood pulp and recycled material such as plastic bottles or plastic bags) have appeared on the market. Proponents of composite decking have touted this as a much needed development as this helps to curb logging of trees for new decks. However composite decking has been found to contain harmful chemicals, cannot be refurbished, and despite claims from decking companies, the composite deck still attracts molding.
Many cities now require a building permit for any deck over a predetermined size, usually about a 100 square feet. Barrie ON has the following requirements in their bylaws. Decks and porches require building permits unless they are less than 10m2 (107ft2) in size and not attached to the building or located at an entrance.
Decks are often built from pressure treated wood. Pressure treated wood is long lasting and holds up to wet and icey weather conditions. Pressure treated wood however is treated with chemicals which have been known to be toxic. Slivers received from pressure treated wood most generally become infected. Pressure treated saw dust also contains toxins such as strychnine, also often used as rat poison. These toxins, when inhaled, can require hospitalization for both acute and chronic exposures.
As wood ages, it is common for cracks to develop. Large cracks (longer than the depth of the member) or excessive cracking overall can weaken deck framing. Toe-nailed connections are always at risk for splitting. Splitting of lumber near connections should be noted by the homeowner and the affected area should either be repaired or wood replaced.
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 adjacent structure are all causes for concern. The tightness of fasteners should be checked. If it is not possible to reach both sides of a bolt, it may be struck with a hammer. The ring will sound hollow with vibration if the fastener is loose. The ring will sound solid if the connection is tight. The hammer test is subjective, so the home owner should hammer-test bolts that can be confirmed as tight or loose, and compare the sounds of the rings to develop a control.
All screws, bolts and nails should be hot-dipped galvanized, stainless steel, silicon bronze, copper, zinc-coated or corrosion-resistant. Metal connectors and fasteners can corrode over time, especially if a product with insufficient corrosion-resistance was originally installed. Corrosion of a fastener affects both the fastener and the wood. As the fastener corrodes, it causes the wood around it to deteriorate. As the fastener becomes smaller, the void around it becomes larger. Inspectors normally do not remove fasteners to check their quality or size, but if the inspector removes a fastener, s/he should make sure that removal doesn’t result in a safety issue. Fasteners removed should be from areas that have the greatest exposure to weather.
Electrical outlets are required to be installed in decks that are over 20 square feet in size, as stated in the 2008 NEC. Extension cords are likely to be used to run appliances on large balconies, decks and porches (greater than 20 square feet) if receptacles are not installed at these locations. Extension cords can be dangerous, especially if used outdoors and in wet conditions.
The Barrie Home Inspector is a Certified Building Code Official who has completed all the required Part 9 and Part 3 Ontario Building Code courses which includes residential decks. As a Certified Home Inspector this assures your home will be inspected by someone with the knowledge and experience to ensure that will have “Peace of Mind” when making your next Real Estate purchase.
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