When you’re building an outdoor deck, you want to ensure one of the important things you need to consider is safety. Design flaws, improper installation, and other things that make the deck a hazardous place to hang out at. This is why following safety rules is vital and they are best followed by deck builders. Here are some tips for deck building that will make it safe, secure, and reliable.

Decking Safety Tips

Start With The Foundation

When building a safe deck, you first want to go over the ground on which it is going to be built. There is nothing worse than having a deck installed on a foundation that is not ideal for the deck and can’t handle its weight. This is something that you need to consider before even thinking about building a deck. So, you want to first inspect the ground underneath.

It shouldn’t be too compacted or hard, otherwise, it just won’t dig up properly and it shouldn’t be too soft either so that the deck dumps in after a while. It needs to be perfect. This is why a lot of the time people can’t get decks installed or built outside their homes because the foundation is just not right.

That is how much a foundation and the right ground type matter. You can call in a professional deck contractor and they will start with their ground inspection first. You can get your hands on a good contractor by searching online or asking people who have just gotten their decks done.

Get A Permit

This is the next important tip that you need to keep in mind and this is also something that can lead to a safer deck. Whenever you construct something outside, you need to get permission from local authorities first.

They will usually carry out their inspection and you can rest assured that the deck built will be safe. If it’s not, then you won’t be granted a permit and if you don’t have a permit, you’d be digging a hole for yourself if you still go ahead with the construction of the deck.

Selecting The Right Area

The next safety tip you want to consider is the selection of the area where the deck is going to go. First of all, you can’t just build a deck wherever you please. There is a whole selection of area which is perfect, not only for the ground but also for the direction and the layout of the deck.

This is important to consider and you need to be serious about it because if the deck is built in the wrong place, then everything can come crashing down, which is just not what you want at the end of the day.

Hire A Professional

Decks are really easy to build or install by yourself, even if they’re available in pre-made planks and some joints. But, if you want to go for a safe deck that will give you peace of mind, then you want to always go for a professional.

A professional deck installer has everything that it takes to build the deck of your dreams without compromising the safety aspect of it all. They know what can be done and what can’t be. So, you will be avoiding many problems by hiring an expert.

Material Quality Matters

The next thing to go over is the material selection, and you don’t just want to select any material that just looks good. The material should be sturdy, durable, and should be able to withstand the extreme conditions of the outdoors. This is why many people don’t choose hardwood and go for better versions of wood like pressure-treated wood and composite.

Plus, you should never ignore the importance of hardware like nails and fasteners. They should be high-quality as well, otherwise, the deck won’t be safe at all.

Railing Design

Railings on a deck are critical when it comes to deck safety. A lot of the time, decks without railings or railings with too small height can be a death wish and they can turn into pretty dangerous things if someone trips or loses their footing.

So, this is why deck railing should be installed by following the local building codes. It should be sturdy and of the right height with the right amount of spacing between the pickets. Moreover, the pickets should be vertical instead of horizontal to keep children or pets from climbing.

Stair Safety

If your deck is going to have stairs, then you want to ensure that the stairs are built according to safety standards and that they don’t turn into a tripping hazard. This is a very important step in deck building and ensuring safety because there are so many things that can go wrong with it.

The steps can be too narrow, too high, too steep, or made of a slippery material. All of those conditions are not ideal. So, if you’re going to go the extra step and get stairs on your deck, then you need to do it the right way.

Remember Proper Water Drainage And Ventilation

You don’t want water to pool around the deck because it will create a slip hazard. Not only that, water and moisture is the enemy of wood. It will cause several problems like rotting, warping, swelling, fading, and more. A Warped and uneven deck can become a tripping hazard as well. So, remember to plan carefully for water drainage and ventilation so the deck stays durable and hazard-free for long.

Consider Safety Doors

This is another great safety building tip, especially if you have small children or infants in the house and you’re scared that the kids will find their way to the deck or the stairs, then you need to install a safety door that blocks the deck either from stairs or the outside.

This door will be locked at all times, and you can rest assured that kids won’t find their way outside the deck and they can be safe and under your supervision. This is also a great idea for wandering pets and other wild animals if you don’t want your house to become a pit stop for such creatures.

Opt For A Single-Level Design

Multi-level decks are amazing and they look eye-catching too, but are they safe? Well, the answer to that is: probably not. Multi-level decks are not only hard to build and more expensive, but they can also be very heavy for the ground or foundation.

This is why it’s crucial that you go for a simple and single-level deck. It will sate your inner deck lover, it will be enough for you to add that layer of change to the house and it will be safer as well.

However, if you still want a multi-level deck, consider a safe design approved by the contractor and the local authorities. Moreover, use durable materials, non-slip coating on the wood panels, and install a safety net around the deck.

Conclusion

Decks need to be safe since they’re outdoor structures and they need to stay in a good shape and withstand outdoor elements. Therefore, it’s a good idea to hire an experienced deck contractor Port Jefferson who can design and build your deck.