Decks are the most overlooked Inspection but still very important aspect of a Home Inspection. Deck are commonly used as gathering location for parties, cook outs and family get-to-gathers. We carefully inspect all aspects of the decks to ensure that they have met code requirements.

Even if you have a well-built deck, time and exposure to the Saint Louis Area elements is the enemy. Most wooden decks have a useful life of 10 to 14 years with proper annual maintenance. Even the new decks built with man-made products made of a combination of wood and plastic have about the same life, because the structure holding the deck boards have an average 10 to 14-year life.

Our certified home inspection includes a visible inspection of exposed areas of the deck and the materials used. This includes supports, the mounts, lag bolts, ledger strips, brackets, posts, footings and wood types. There are requirements that must be followed for the deck to be up to code to ensure the safety and integrity of the deck. We also inspect the rails and stairs. These are extremely important for the safety of the people on the deck. A raised deck should have a rail around the parameter as a safety precaution. If the deck is used by small children, extra protection is needed with the guard rails, the rail opening between the balusters should be no more than four to five inches wide. We carefully inspect every aspect of the deck and building components.