This checklist identifies the conditions that matter before they become structural events.
01Structural — Wood Decks
Ledger board connection
The ledger is the board that connects the deck frame to the house. It is the most critical connection on the deck. Look for: ledger-to-house fasteners that are rusted through, gaps between the ledger and the house wall that allow water infiltration, and any soft or spongy wood at the ledger or the house rim joist behind it. Soft wood here is rot. Rot at the ledger is a deck failure waiting to happen.
Post bases
Deck posts should sit in post bases that hold the post off the concrete footing — direct wood-to-concrete contact causes rot at the base. Look for post bases that are corroded through, post ends that are soft or show dark staining, or any visible movement in a post when you push against it.
Joist and beam condition
Probe the underside of deck joists and beams with a screwdriver. Healthy wood resists the probe. Wood that the screwdriver sinks into easily has rotted and doesn't have the structural capacity the deck was built for. Pay particular attention to where joists connect to the ledger and where beams connect to posts — these connections hold the most load.
Decking boards
Surface boards should be solid, with no soft spots and no boards that have pulled away from the joists below. A board that bounces or deflects significantly underfoot is not adequately fastened. Gaps between boards are normal and intentional; boards that have cupped or crowned to the point of creating a trip hazard should be replaced.
02Structural — Concrete Patios
Crack evaluation
Hairline cracks in concrete are normal. Cracks wider than a quarter inch, or any crack that shows vertical displacement between the two sides, is worth monitoring or repairing. Cracks that allow water infiltration in freeze-thaw climates widen every winter.
Heaving
A patio section that has heaved — lifted above the adjacent section — creates a trip hazard. If tree roots are the cause, the heaving will continue until the root or the patio is addressed.
03Railings and Stairs
Railing integrity
Deck railings are required to be 36 inches high for decks under 30 inches off the ground, 42 inches for higher decks. More importantly, they're required to hold load. Grab each railing post and attempt to move it. Any visible movement at the base — the post rocking in its mounting bracket — means the connection needs reinforcement.
Baluster spacing
Balusters should have no gap greater than 4 inches. A gap that allows a 4-inch sphere to pass through is large enough for a child's head.
Stair stringers
The diagonal boards that carry the stair treads should be solid, properly fastened at the top and bottom, and show no rot at the connection to the deck frame.
04Grilling and Fire Safety
Grill placement
A gas or charcoal grill should be positioned a minimum of 10 feet from the house, deck railing, or any combustible surface while in use. Grills stored on covered decks between uses should not be stored adjacent to the house wall.
Gas grill connections
Check the propane hose and regulator connection annually for cracks or brittleness. A soapy water solution applied to the connections while the tank valve is open will bubble at any gas leak.
Annually, ideally in spring before the outdoor season begins. After any significant storm with high winds. After any year where the deck has seen heavy use or unusual loads.
Ray Torres is a home safety writer based in Phoenix, Arizona. He writes about the slow, quiet hazards in residential buildings — the ones that have been sitting slightly wrong for long enough that nobody notices them anymore.