Inspect deck for rot and loose fasteners
Why it matters
Deck collapses cause hundreds of injuries annually, almost always due to rotted ledger boards or posts that went uninspected. A probe test takes minutes; a deck replacement costs $10,000–30,000.
Stop forgetting to do this.
HomeOS generates a personalized maintenance schedule so you never miss another inspect deck for rot and loose fasteners.
How to do it
- 1
Use a screwdriver and probe the deck boards, posts, and especially the ledger board (where the deck attaches to the house).
- 2
Soft spots where the screwdriver sinks in indicate rot.
- 3
Check all fasteners for corrosion and loose connections.
- 4
Look under the deck at the beam-to-post connections.
- 5
Any rot at structural elements warrants a professional evaluation.