May is Deck Safety Month®

Do decks last forever?

Of course not. Yet far too many homeowners, apartment owners, and business owners sometimes think they do. Today it’s estimated that 30 million decks are past their useful life and are candidates for replacement or repair. With the growing number of families spending more time outdoors, it has become even more important for homeowners to have their decks inspected.

That sobering stat comes from the voice of the decking industry, the North American Decking and Railing Association (NADRA), a not-for-profit corporation, and trailblazers of the Check Your Deck® campaign.

“A deck isn’t like a roof, door, or window. An aging window or roof may leak air or moisture. A deck is all about life safety. If a deck collapses, a railing gives way, or the stairs fail, there are serious injury risks,” says Michael Beaudry, NADRA executive vice president.

Long-time southern California construction contractor and deck builder Art Steedle of Steedle Brothers Construction agrees. Steedle says you don’t have to look far for unsafe decks, due to aging or shoddy construction.

“You look at some of these decks and think, ‘How did this happen?’” Steedle says.

The good news is, May is Deck Safety Month®. This NADRA-sponsored event is a time for responsible deck builders, remodelers, inspectors, and contractors to promote deck inspections and homeowner safety. To support safety awareness, NADRA makes available an assortment of deck safety marketing resources tied around the theme, Check Your Deck™.

A comprehensive Deck Safety Toolkit is available without cost to NADRA members. All of us at Feeney encourage NADRA members to request this high-value Toolkit now. It’s a powerful way to market and differentiate your business. Even if you’re not a NADRA member, the organization makes available a remarkably handy Deck Evaluation Checklist for consumers, that we enthusiastically endorse.

The Deck Evaluation Checklist covers all aspects of deck safety inspection, including:

• Stairs
• Footings/Deck Support and Posts/Columns
• Beams and Joists
• Ledger
• Deck Boards/Deck Surface
• Handrail Assemblies and Guards
• Miscellaneous

NADRA also makes it easy for owners to find a builder or inspector.

Professionals also have access to a their own Deck Evaluation Checklist. By the way, if you’re a deck builder, contractor, or inspector and not a NADRA member, we encourage you to consider this valuable investment in your business and industry.

Feeney is proud to be a 2024 NADRA Deck Safety Ambassador. As you consider ways to multiply your 2024 project schedule, take advantage of Deck Safety Month throughout May. You may not only pick up some deck repair and replacement projects, but also win valuable respect and good will as a safety-first service.