Deck Safety
Be Alert. Be Informed. Be Safe.
10-Point Deck Safety Checklist
Inspect your home’s deck each spring so you can enjoy a fun, safe summer. Download this free 10-point checklist from our friends at NADRA.
Deck Evaluation
Checklist
For contractors and deck builders, here is a deck evaluation checklist to follow to ensure you don’t miss something when you inspect a deck.
How to Talk With a Deck Contractor
When you work with a professional deck builder, you want to be prepared. Here is an article to help you prepare for that meeting so it can be productive.
10-Point Deck Safety Checklist
Deck Safety First:
Protect What Matters
Educate. Inspect. Correct. That is the campaign of the North American Decking & Railing Association (NADRA) to promote deck safety. NADRA has been leading the charge to prevent deck-related injuries, naming May as Deck Safety Month.
Every May, NADRA reminds us about the importance of checking decks to make sure if there are any issues, they can be addressed before summer, when families use their decks the most. Mitchell Construction is a proud member of NADRA, and we fully embrace the organization’s deck safety initiatives.
Check Your Deck
Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of NADRA, estimated about 30 million of the country’s roughly 60 million decks were beyond their useful lives. What about your deck? Is it in good condition?
“Your roof has a life expectancy. Your windows have a life expectancy. What about your deck?” Beaudry said.
Everything breaks down over time, and Chicago’s harsh winters place additional strain on decks. As a result, homeowners need to evaluate their structures.
“It’s time to Check Your Deck!”
- Mike Beaudry
NADRA's 10-Point Deck Safety Checklist for Homeowners
The 10-point checklist by NADRA provides homeowners with a simple guide to evaluate their deck’s overall safety and condition. It covers inspecting structural wood components like joists, posts, and ledger boards for rot or deterioration.
The 10-point checklist by NADRA provides homeowners with a simple guide to evaluate their deck’s overall safety and condition. It covers inspecting structural wood components like joists, posts, and ledger boards for rot or deterioration.
NADRA’s Deck Evaluation Checklist provides a thorough, step-by-step process for meticulously examining every critical component of a deck’s structure. This includes assessing the ledger attachment, footings, support posts, beams, joists, decking surfaces, stairs, railings, and other features. The checklist guides experts through evaluating new and existing decks’ structural integrity, safety, and code compliance. The detailed criteria for each deck element allow for consistent and reliable professional deck inspections.
Split or decaying wood
Cleaning & Maintenance
Surrounding
Trees
Lighting
& Electrical
Railing
& Banisters
Grills, Firepits, Chimney’s, Heaters and Candles
Outdoor Furniture & Storage
Loose or corroded fasteners
Flashing
Stairs
Outdoor Furniture &
Storage
Cleaning &
Maintenance
Railing &
Banisters
Outdoor Furniture &
Storage
Lighting &
Electrical
Grills, Firepits,
Chimney’s, Heaters
and Candles
Flashing
Surrounding
Trees
Split or
decaying wood
