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Deck Construction Defects Lead to Deck Collapse Catastrophe
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Here we discuss critical and poor construction details that led to a catastrophic residential deck collapse. Our page top photograph shows the results of a poorly-constructed deck that collapsed and fell eight feet to the ground, sending three people to the hospital. Luckily there were no serious injuries but children playing below the deck ran out as it collapse - otherwise they may have been killed. Also see DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study for an example of an older deck with rot and collapse due to improper construction and missing building flashing, and see Deck & Porch Construction for Safety for a comparison of good and bad deck or porch construction methods.
© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, Steve Bliss, Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
Deck Collapse Case Demonstrates Poor Residential Deck Construction
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During a home inspection we found these unsafe structural details:
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Our photos above show non-structural angle brackets used to connect deck joists to a bolted ledger at a different property (above left), and a steel joist hanger used to connect a deck joist with no nails whatsoever (above right).
Despite our strong warning to the home buyer to stay off of the deck and repair it before use, a statement that it was very dangerous, and that it should be repaired immediately, on moving into the home the new occupants celebrated with a deck party. Sipping a beer, a heavy guest stood at the outer deck railing and idly bumped his weight against the guardrail. The deck detached from the building and fell to the ground, sending three people to the hospital. Luckily there were no serious injuries but children playing below the deck ran out as it collapse - otherwise they may have been killed.
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Our deck defect photos above are close ups of the collapsed deck. They show a questionable-application deck joist connector with roofing nails instead of structural fasteners (above left), and a deck post that extended only 11" inches into the soil (above right). Other deck posts were only 7" into the ground and none were anchored nor connected to piers.
Our photo (at left) shows the common nails protruding from the inner face of the deck ledger board. These are the (inadequate) fasteners that pulled out of the house wall as the deck separated from the building and fell to the ground. Despite multiple inadequate deck construction details and despite the deck having a "CO" issued by a local authority, our opinion was that had the deck ledger been bolted to the building this collapse may have been avoided. Proper deck flashing at the building is also important to avoid both leaks into the structure and rot or weakening of this critical structural member that secures the deck against falling. See Deck & Porch Construction for Safety for a comparison of good and bad deck or porch construction methods. |
Also see Manual for the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies for an excellent guide to deck construction inspection and deck safety.
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Technical Reviewers & References
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- Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia® Website
- Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
Mobile View
STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS & DEFECTS
ADVANCED INSPECTION METHODS
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
Basketball Mold Syndrome - BBMS
BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
Cracks, Checking or Splitting Beams & Log Homes
CRAWL SPACES
DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION
Deck Piers & Posts
Deck & Porch Connections to Building
Deck Flashing at Building
Deck & Porch Structural Fasteners
Deck & Porch Steps or Stairs
Deck & Porch Railings
DECK COLLAPSE Case Study
DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study
DEFINITIONS of Mobile Home, Doublewide, Modular, Panelized
DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
DISASTER BUILDING INSPECTION & REPAIR SAFEY
EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE
ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS
FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-priorities
FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FOUNDATION BULGE or LEAN MEASUREMENTS
FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR
FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES
FRT PLYWOOD
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
LOG HOME GUIDE
PANELIZED CONSTRUCTION & KIT HOMES
MODULAR HOME CONSTRUCTION
MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE
ROT, TIMBER FRAME
SINK HOLES
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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
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 Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab |
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 Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting |
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