Porches, Balconies, and decks are required to be inspected by the Home Inspection Standards of Practice.  A  deck collapse or railing failure can cause serious injury.  Deck inspections are a very important for the future safety of occupants and guests.

Decks and balconies are a popular outdoor living space in Southern Indiana.  There are estimated over 2 million decks built or replaced in North America every year.  Many of these are built by the homeowners, often without building permits or professional help.  Decks appear to be simple so many people just tackle the project themselves, which leads to a multitude of non-professional decks.

Decks are actually a structure the needs to be planned carefully.  The posts and joists have to be sized based on the height and expected load.  A deck with a hot tub would have to be much sturdier than one without for example.  The deck attachment to the house must be solid and flashed properly.  The rails need to be a certain height and strength when the height above grade requires.  The steps need to be a certain height and depth and have handrails if there are 4 or more.

These are all items that I check as a licensed home inspector when doing deck inspections.