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| February 19th, 2011 08:36:42 am |
 Home deck failures |
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This past year I have seen an increasing number of failed decks resulting in their total collapse.
So far we have been very lucky with no injuries or worse occurring. Investigations
show that so far every deck has failed not because of overloading but
because of the structural failure of the home's band or rim joist. The deck ledger that is
bolted to the side of the house conceals the homes rim joist making
examination very difficult. A recent deck failure resulted in the deck
pulling away from the house and literally scissoring down to the ground
on the support posts. No one was on the deck at the time but had they
been there, serious injuries would have resulted from the fall, broken
boards, protruding nails and the like.
No broken posts or beams were evident and almost the entire deck
remained in one piece. Stairs generally do not survive due to the
twisting during the collapse. The deck itself did show signs of
deterioration from age but that was not what caused the deck to fail.
I find many deck stairs are deteriorated evidenced by cracking of the stringers, soft
or constantly wet or rotted support blocks for the treads and so on.
People get so used to seeing and using them they no longer look to see
what condition they are in until an accident occurs. Pressure treated
lumber does not last forever no matter what the supplier says and decks
that receive no yearly water sealer or stain last even a shorter period
of time. Good quality pressure treated lumber is good for ten to fifteen
years at most. After that time, the wood starts to deteriorate very
quickly. I have seen six inch by six inch posts rot in less than five
years.
The last two deck failures I have seen did not fail due to deck construction as attested to
by the fact the deck is almost 100% complete after the collapse
occurred. The band (rim) joist on the house which is not pressure
treated, simply rotted away from years of water exposure behind the deck
ledger. One deck showed clear evidence of carpenter ants at work as
well. This failure of the rim joist allows the lag bolts from the deck
ledger to simply pull away from the house while remaining intact. The
result is the deck moves outward slightly until it clears the lag bolts
and then down it goes. Snow and ice weight can hurry along the process
as well. Before using your deck the next nice day, get under the deck
and look at the ledger/rim joint to see if there is any damage present.
Try and poke the rim joist with a sharp awl or screwdriver. If you can
penetrate the rim joist you may have a serious problem. If you see any
indication at all that the deck may have moved away from the home, get
away quickly from the deck and call a contractor to come take a good
look. Remember deck life span lasts only ten to fifteen years. A few new
decks boards from time to time does not prolong the life of the
structure beneath your feet. If the deck support posts are out of plumb,
that is another good hint that something is wrong. Do not ignore these
warning signs. Newer decks have a flashing installed over the ledger to
prevent rain water from entering the space between the deck and the
house. Make sure you check it well. You or your kids could get seriously
injured or worse. Removal of a structurally unsound deck is and can be
very dangerous work. If you are not sure of what and how to do it call
for professional help.
Pete
Your Friendly Building Inspector
http://www.Wagsys.com
BICES-Building Inspection & Code Enforcement System Software |
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Category : General
| Posted By : PeterA |  Comments [1] |
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| December 28th, 2010 08:55:51 am |
| Proper Use of Extension Cords |
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Every year we see house fires caused by the improper use of extension
cords. There are basically two classes of cords, Indoor and Outdoor.
Outdoor cords are generally heavier gauge wire with a weatherproof
exterior jacket. Some cords are quite expensive as they can be used in
frigid temperatures and remain pliable. All outdoor cords today are the
three pronged type. Two blades are for power and the round one is the
ground. You will notice the blades are different sizes thereby forcing
you to plug the cord in only one direction and thereby obtaining the
correct polarity. Never remove the round ground lug. Indoor cords have a
much lighter gauge wire and have only the bare minimum covering on the
wire. Never use an indoor cord outside.
Also never run a cord under a rug at any time. The friction from your
feet and weight can damage the cord and cause a fire. Do not overload
the cords by plugging piggy back cords into one smaller cord. Too many
cords plugged into one circuit can overload the wiring and cause a
serious house fire as well. Careful and proper use of cords can be an
aid but careless use can be a disaster.
Pete
Your Friendly Building Inspector
www.Wagsys.com
BICES-Building Inspection & Code Enforcement System Software |
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Category : General
| Posted By : PeterA | Comments [2] |
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