Is Your Business Prepared for Deck Safety Month?Is Your Business Prepared for Deck Safety Month?

The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) stresses the importance of May’s National Deck Safety Month’s® initiatives and recommends that all homeowners Check Your Deck® before inviting loved ones out onto your deck.

“The number one priority and message to all homeowners is to ensure that their decks are safe for use,” says Michael Beaudry, EVP at NADRA. “Providing a safe outdoor living space for your family and friends comes down to three simple action items, 'Educate. Inspect. Correct.™' doing these three things to ensure your decks are safe for the year ahead is every homeowner’s responsibility. Decks are the same as your home’s roof, doors and windows, these products all have life expectancies. The exterior is exposed to sun, rain, snow, salt and extreme temperature changes over the years. The need to maintain and provide annual inspections is critical for keeping decks strong and safe.”

RESOURCES FOR DECKING PROS

NADRA has created campaigns and educational programs, along with certifications for home inspectors, deck builders, remodelers, builders, code officials, engineers, architects, distributors, lumberyards and manufacturers to improve proper installation practices. The organization has also developed checklists and safety awareness information for consumers to ensure they have details available to them to check their decks. Information can be found on the deck safety section of NADRA's website.

There are more than 60 million decks in the United States alone. It is estimated that over 30 million decks are past their useful life and need to be replaced or repaired. Many decks were built before code requirements were established to protect consumers. Some of these older decks may have deck-to-house attachments using only nails instead of the current recommended construction using deck tension hardware that greatly helps in the prevention of ledger failures.

EDUCATING HOMEOWNERS

A key element to homeowners enjoying their decks for years to come is making sure it is safe. NADRA’s “10-Point Consumer Checklist” is a quick way to take a look at the basic areas that might need attention, possibly some maintenance, repair, or even replacement. The free checklist can be found at www.NADRA.org.

For homeowners, it’s important to have a professional deck inspection. A professional deck inspection can be done by a certified professional who will thoroughly examine your deck, provide information on the deck’s condition, identify dangerous problem areas, and give insight of what to keep your eye on in the future.

NADRA deck builders and inspectors adhere to a strict code of ethics. Deck builder members are required to submit proof of licensing and insurance as required by their state. Homeowners can search for qualified deck builders and inspectors using the member directory at www.NADRA.org.

Follow NADRA on Instagram (@NADRARocks) to see safety tips and updates during Deck Safety Month® and throughout the year.