DIY Deck Safety Checklist: How to Inspect Your Deck

As a homeowner, knowing how to perform a DIY deck safety inspection is essential to keeping your deck safe, functional, and in top condition. Since your deck is an extension of your home, it requires regular maintenance and care, just like any other structure. To ensure your deck lasts for years to come, it's important to understand how to properly inspect it.

In this DIY deck safety checklist guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to conduct a thorough do-it-yourself deck inspection. You’ll also find a list of essential tools and tips on how to use them for the most effective inspection results.

Why Regular DIY Deck Safety Inspections Matter

Safety First
The most important reason for you to do regular deck inspections is safety.
Neglecting key structural components is linked to deck accidents or collapses. Weather, age, and heavy usage over time all contribute to general wear and tear, making deck inspections crucial in addressing safety concerns. It’s also easy to let structural issues lag without regular inspections, especially when some structural problems are not always easy to catch.
Catch Defects and Damage Early On
Regular deck inspections allow you to catch defects or damage to your deck before they become progressively worse. You can be proactive in knowing what deck repairs you can DIY or when you need to consult with a professional deck contractor.
Extend the Structural Integrity of Your Deck
Early detection of issues like loose fasteners, small cracks, or minor wood rot can prevent problems from escalating. With regular deck inspections, you can address minor deck repairs before they require overhauls or even a complete deck replacement, saving both time and money. Maintenance extends the lifespan of your deck, and regular deck inspections are part of it.
Protects Your the Value of Your Investment
Maintaining your deck adds curb appeal and increases your home value. Do you plan to sell your home? A safe and structurally sound deck is an added selling point. Regular deck inspections ensure your deck complies with safety standards, maximizing resale potential, protecting your investment and giving you peace of mind.

Tools You’ll Need for a DIY Deck Safety Inspection

Before you begin your inspection, gather the necessary tools. Using these tools will make your DIY inspection safer and more manageable.

Flashlight: For inspecting underneath the deck and in dark corners where damage can be hidden.
Screwdriver or Awl: Used for probing wood to detect rot or termite damage.
Hammer and Nails: For quick fixes like securing loose nails during inspection.
Carpenter’s Square: To check for warping or twisting boards.
Level: Ensures your deck surface, steps, and railing are still level and haven’t shifted.
Tape Measure: To measure spacing between railings or between deck boards to ensure safety standards are met.
Camera or Smartphone: Take photos to document areas of concern or before-and-after shots for comparison.
Moisture Meter: Detects moisture content in wood, which can help identify areas of rot.
Binoculars: Helpful for inspecting hard-to-reach areas without a ladder.
Safety Gear: Gloves, safety glasses, and knee pads are recommended for protection during a thorough inspection.

Homeowner's DIY Deck Safety Inspection Checklist

Learn what to look for during a deck inspection. Our DIY Deck Safety Checklist includes tools and techniques for spotting damage and identifying potential repairs.

1. Inspect the Deck Surface

Cracks, Splinters, and Rot: Use a screwdriver or awl to gently probe the boards. If the wood is soft or breaks apart easily, it’s likely affected by rot or pests. Document areas of concern with a camera for reference.
Warped or Buckling Deck Boards: Place a carpenter’s square on warped boards to check the extent of bending. Warped boards can create tripping hazards and should be replaced.
Discoloration or Fading: Use a moisture meter to test any discolored areas for elevated moisture levels. This could indicate water damage or mold.
Loose or Protruding Nails, Bolts & Screws: Secure nails with a hammer, or replace them with deck screws for a more permanent fix. For safety, wear gloves to avoid cuts or injuries.

2. Deck Structural Integrity

Ledger Board: Use a flashlight to closely examine the ledger board for signs of rot, rust, or improper installation. The ledger board is a horizontal board which secures a deck to a home or building. Check for loose or missing bolts. A damaged ledger board can be catastrophic as a primary attachment in your deck's framing.

Joists, Beams & Support Posts:

Beams are large, long components of a deck frame that sit on posts and span the foundation or concrete piers. They provide primary support for the entire deck and distribute load across multiple points.

Joists are the smaller, shorter components of a deck frame that connect to the beams and are installed horizontally to help distribute the load of a deck evenly. Deck flooring is attached to the joists.

Support posts are vertical components that carry the weight of the entire deck. They rest on concrete footings or piers and transfer the deck’s load to the ground.

Beams: Check the beams for signs of cracking, splitting, or sagging. The beams should be straight and firm, with no warping or bending. Use a tape measure to ensure that they are properly spaced and securely fastened to the support posts. Tap the beams with a hammer to listen for hollow sounds, which could indicate internal rot, a serious issue that can compromise the deck’s strength.
Joists: Inspect joists for rot, splitting, or signs of insect damage. Use a screwdriver or awl to probe any suspicious areas for softness. Check the joist hangers (the metal brackets securing the joists to the beams) for rust or corrosion. Make sure the joists aren’t sagging or pulling away from the beam. If joists are spaced too far apart, this could lead to deck board instability.
Support Posts: Inspect support posts for signs of rot, splitting, or leaning. Measure the spacing between posts to ensure they haven’t shifted. Posts should be firmly connected to the beams and not show any signs of movement. Like beams, tapping the posts with a hammer can help you detect internal rot. Also, check that the posts are still securely connected to the concrete footings or piers without any gaps or movement.
Rusted, Corroded, Loose, Missing Fasteners: Use binoculars or a flashlight to spot corroded fasteners from below the deck. Corrosion weakens connections and should be replaced immediately. Also, check for loose or missing fasteners. Fasteners are any metal hardware used in deck construction to secure various components of the deck frame together, such as boards, joists, and beams.
Framing Brackets: Brackets are used in deck framing to enhance the strength and support of the deck. Tighten any loose screws on framing brackets with a screwdriver. Inspect for rust or bending that may compromise structural integrity.
Cracked Concrete Piers: Concrete deck piers are columns that extend from the ground with a wooden post attached to the column. Use a flashlight and level to inspect for cracks or unevenness in concrete piers, which may indicate shifting or settling.
Busted Bracing: Deck bracing is a structural support element added to a deck to enhance its stability and strength. Inspect cross-bracing, V-bracing, and knee bracing under your deck using a flashlight to look for gaps, bowing, or missing screws. Most bracing is structurally supported using T-strap or L-strap hardware. Damaged bracing can cause swaying and reduce your deck’s strength and stability.

3. Railings & Stairs

Test Railings for Stability: Push against the railings to check for wobbling or instability. Use a level to ensure railings are properly aligned. If they are loose, tighten the bolts or screws.
Check Deck Stairs: Inspect stair stringers and risers for cracks, rot, or sagging. Measure the height and width of steps to ensure they meet code requirements and feel stable when stepped on.

4. Flashing & Water Damage

Inspect Deck Flashing Around the House Connection: Remember to inspect the flashing around the house connection. This is important for water damage prevention. Flashing is a thin, impermeable material installed in critical areas of deck construction to prevent water from infiltrating and causing damage. Flashing is usually made from aluminum, copper, stainless steel, vinyl, or plastic. It directs water away from vulnerable spots where the deck meets a structure, particularly around the ledger board—the part of the deck attached to the house. Use a flashlight to inspect for gaps or missing flashing. Check that water isn’t seeping between the ledger board and the house, which could cause significant structural damage. Signs of faulty flashing can also include water stains and discoloration on the deck floor and exterior wall of the house near the deck connection, warped deck boards, rot, mold, and spongy boards near the ledger.
Check for Mold, Mildew, and Water Stains: Take photos of water stains and mold growth for documentation. Use a moisture meter in affected areas to determine if there’s a drainage issue.

5. Pest Infestation & Damage

Look for Signs of Pest Infestation: Use a screwdriver to probe suspicious holes or weakened areas. If the wood crumbles or appears hollow, it’s likely the result of termites, carpenter ants or other insects.
Examine the Soil Underneath Your Deck: Check for evidence of burrowing animals or insects. Ensure there is no direct soil-to-wood contact, as this invites pests. Use a camera to photograph areas that may need treatment or repair.

When to Get a Professional Deck Safety Inspection

Structural Damage: If you identify signs of structural damage, such as sagging beams, broken joists, or extensive wood rot in posts, it's time to hire a professional deck contractor for a deck inspection. These structural issues may compromise the safety and stability of the deck, requiring specialized deck repair services you can not do yourself or, even a complete deck replacement.
Complex Repairs: For tasks beyond simple, common DIY deck repairs, like replacing deck joists or installing new support posts, professional deck expertise is required to ensure safety and compliance with local building codes.
Deck Load Concerns: If you plan to add heavy objects such as a hot tub or outdoor kitchen to the deck, consult a professional deck contractor to assess if the deck can handle the additional weight.

Get Started with a Professional Deck Inspection

Do you require a professional deck inspection or deck repair services? CanaDeck’s professional deck contractors are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

By scheduling a professional deck inspection and addressing potential repairs early on, you can ensure your outdoor space stays in top-notch shape year round.