Be Very Careful!

The following is not meant to scare but rather to inform.  Many consumers simply compare contractor estimates based on price alone.  There are serious consequences for poor deck construction. 

• Thousands of injuries and deaths occur each year directly related to improper and inadequate deck construction.

•   At the very least, please make sure your project is being constructed with a building permit!

• The following are just a few of the many cases we encountered in the Kansas City Metro area from 1997-2008. We lost these bids to competitors claiming to build the same quality as us but at a lower price.

(We’ll let you be the judge)

• We were called back later to resolve the faulty construction techniques and poor craftsmanship!  

Be careful who you hire.  The most expensive project is the one that has to be redone.  The best priced deck is the one that requires the least amount of maintenance, lasts the longest, and adds the greatest value to your home.

 Don’t just take our word for it.  For more pictures and information, visit  http://www.deckfailure.com/

No flashing or water channel – ledger board incorrectly connected for lap siding application.

Improperly installed flashing – it should be behind the siding.

No flashing or water channel installed – the deck ledger is so soft you can poke a screwdriver through it.  Luckily, the rot hadn’t made it into the house yet.  Many others are not so fortunate.

Improperly installed or non-existent flashing and water channels causes thousands of dollars in damage a house’s structure.  It is also very dangerous.  This is the number one cause of deck collapses which often cause serious injury and death.

 Improper use of a hardware - tie not rated to carry a deck ledger beam.

 Insufficient ledger board fasteners – should be ½” lag w/ washer or ledger lock every 16” and two every 32."  Very dangerous - can easily cause deck collapse and serious injury or death.

Improperly supported framework – no ledger bearings, improper cantilevers, and post/ beam spacing out of code.

Insufficient footings – piers not at required 36” frost line depth.

1.      Footings are set in an unstable base.

2.      Openings in benches are over 4” maximum.

1.      Insufficient footings - piers not at required 36” frost line depth.

2.      No Post standoff barrier to prevent rot.

3.      Decking spanning well over 24” maximum.

1.  Insufficient footings: piers not at required 36” frost line depth & footing materials inadequate for load support.

2.      No Post standoff barrier to prevent rot.

1.      Inadequate joist support. – 5” L Brackets not rated to support 2” x 10” joists.

2.      Ledger board covering ventilation duct. – It should be notched around opening.

1.      Bench openings are larger than 4” maximum required by code

(Small children can easily fall through and the deck is over 12’ off the ground)

2.      Very poor miter cuts at corner joints.

1.      No stair riser boards.

2.      No Grab rail.

3.      Bottom stair rise over 7 ¾” maximum.

4.      Stair rise is variance more than 3/8”.

5.      Power line too close to deck height.

1.      Inadequate footings – support posts not in full contact with piers

2.      No standoff or attachment connection between post and pier

(Notice how they even tried to push some of the posts out of level to hit the piers)

1.      Over notched side rim plate created a weakened framework and, in turn, caused sagging deck boards to accommodate white PVC piping.

2.      Railings are not built to withstand 200 lbs. minimum lateral pressure.

1.      No stair railings with 4 or more rises.

2.      No stair riser boards.

3.      Stair stringer support brackets not making full connection. 

4.      Stairs buried in dirt: causes accelerated deterioration.

5.      No 3’ level stepping surface at bottom of stairs.

1.      No stair rail on left side of staircase.

2.      Stair rail on right side is below 34” minimum height.

3.      Benches and planter are inadequate to serve as a guardrail for a deck more than 30” above grade.

Double check to make sure you know what you’re getting! 

An estimate’s text is pretty vague.  Don’t trust word description to describe the quality, style and type of work to be performed.

  Make sure you can view the contractor’s past work first hand by visiting decks they've previously built.

Composite decking expands and contracts with varying temperatures.  Here’s an example of what happens when composite is not built properly. 

Unfortunately, this will not be covered under a manufacturer’s warranty because it is not installed correctly.

Sloppy craftsmanship – composite should always be pilot drilled prior to screw installation.

Hopefully, a poorly built deck is discovered before something terrible happens.

Craftsmanship Without Compromise

"Never sacrificing quality to save money!"

"Never taking shortcuts to save time!"