aging decks

After hearing and reading about the deck that fell off a house in Forest Lake, I started to think and wonder why.

First, it is good to learn that of those who were on the deck and fell with it, none were critically injured. There were some broken bones, bruises, scrapes and scary moments. Yes it could have been worse. ...

Based on the pictures I saw, I would call it a total failure of a main structural component of the deck that led to a domino effect. There were as the report said up to 27 people on the deck when it fell. That’s a lot of people, but it looked to be a fairly large deck and I would expect that for its size under normal conditions, the deck should have held. That leads me to think about “normal conditions”.

In an interview, a family member said the deck was 23 years old and it was built with the house when new. They also said that they have had many people up there before with no apparent problem….so what happened?

I’ll give you a few of my own opinions. That’s right, “My Opinions” I was not there when it happened, nor since it has happened, so these are just thoughts. 

I will focus on the age of the deck. 23 years is an old deck. Most building and real estate experts put the useful life of most decks at 15-20 years. That of course depends highly on how a particular deck was maintained over those years and of course how it was built. Decks can most definitely last longer then that.

Methods and materials have changed drastically in 23 years. The focus today is much greater on the correct attachment method to the house. Years back some thought nails were a sufficient method. Joist hangers have changed and also the way those hangers are attached. New fasteners and new ways to install them. It’s all different. Today there is even a newer type of treated wood that if you use the wrong type of galvanized metal and nails with it, the treatment in the wood will eat way at the metal. Some reports say within a year! My feeling on this particular deck and why it failed has to be more the age then anything.

Decks do wear out, wood rots, anchors get loose. In time those slight sways and creaks that seem to be normal start to get worse. It’s easy to miss, it happens slowly and it all seems normal until that one day.

On the Forest Lake deck I am guessing that had a part to play in its collapse. Add the 20+ people all on one section, a little movement, a joist hanger fails, or a post shifts slightly, and it starts a slow chain reaction that brings the deck down .

There are probably more factors then this, but it’s worth thinking about. I’m sure once the insurance company gets involved, there will be more investigating done as to why. I expect to hear no one is at fault. It was just circumstances that came together all at once to cause this.

This does bring to attention the importance of good routine maintenance of your home. You don’t need to be an inspector to inspect. It’s amazing how much information you can gain from your home by a simple 30 minute walk around once a year.

To the family who lost the deck, I’m glad to hear there were not more serious injuries.

Good luck in re-building, and if you need the name a of good deck builder…………:)

More on decks in future posts, stay tuned!

~ The Carpenter