Spring is here and the sun is shining!  Don’t you love living in New England?  You can’t wait for summer BBQs and family gatherings on your deck, but you’re starting to realize your deck isn’t what it used to be.

May is Deck Safety Month! The fact is that there are millions of outdoor decks in America that were built before  the codes got tougher over the past few code cycles. Requirements for support posts, deck railings, and structural attachments are being more strictly enforced and the safety of your family is being prioritized. There are a lot of unsafe decks out there, and it is important to know what can be done so you do not join the club of homeowners making the national news for deck failures, injuries, and casualties.

In addition to abiding by the necessary upgrades in code, it is the homeowners’ responsibility to inspect their decks! Be sure to inspect your wooden columns and joists for excessive cracks, rot, and water damage. Does your deck have a sufficient amount of piles, large enough piles, and piles that go deep enough into the soil? Do you have a ledger that attaches your decking to your house? Is that ledger flashed? If so, is it flashed with materials that oxidize? Is your metal hardware deteriorating? Do you have extra bracing for a 3 season room or adding that hot tub you’ve always wanted?

These are just a handful of the many questions you should be asking about your current decking before checking it off as “safe.” At Professional Building Services, we see plenty of decks that are at the end of their life & are quite hazardous to homeowners and their families. As a 5 generation, family owned and operated company, we truly want to make sure that the safety of your kids and grandkids takes priority this year. Let us help you ensure this peace of mind with a new, secure, low-maintenance deck this year!