Many homeowners love entertaining visitors and spending leisurely time on a deck but this can all go wrong when the deck or deck railings collapse. If you have hired the services of a deck contractor, then you won’t need to worry about the security of your deck. However, you do need to check your decks safety and security if it is old or at the time of installation. Here are some tips to ensure your decks security. You should also consult a decking supplier for further advice.

• Anchor the deck: Make sure that your decking posts are properly anchored at ground level. If you do not do this, the deck could cave in. Different anchoring procedures and methods are necessary for different ground exteriors and supplies. Therefore. it is vital to consult your decking supplier when you purchase supplies. You should also not let cost affect your decisions here as anchoring the deck properly is more important.
• Attach the deck to the house: A deck does not stand on its own. Anchoring the deck securely to your home is of utmost importance for ultimate security. Remember to use bolts; screws and nails will not properly anchor the deck to your home.
• Secure the deck floor: For the ultimate security, make sure that your floor is properly constructed with the appropriately sized joists and beams, which should also be spaced correctly and secured tightly. Galvanised brackets are ideal when you need to affix your joists to your beams and your beams to your posts. Never use the “toenailing” method for deck support.
• Secure the railing posts: Always ensure that you use the proper fasteners when securing your deck railing posts to your deck. You should also space them in close proximity to one another to negate any weak points between rails.
• Deck stair safety: Make sure that all stairs, irrespective of how many there are, have banisters. Any type of fall could be very dangerous, and a handrail along your stairs help the physically disabled, elderly and children with support for improved equilibrium.
• Safety gates: Often overlooked, a safety gate is critically important, especially if young children live in, or will be visiting, your home. Many accidents involving children at home involve deck staircase falls.
• Deck finish: The finish you select for your timber deck will directly determine how long the structure remains in good and workable condition. Ask a professional for advice on finish types and how to protect the deck from infestation damage. Whether you choose timber or another decking material such as PVC, composite, or aluminium, it will have a construction technique and required fasteners unique to that material.

If you are not confident in your deck-building material, contact a local decking construction professional and have them build the perfect deck for you to enjoy for years.