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Highlands Today

Nuts And Bolts Of Deck Safety

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By Douglas  Carman | Highlands Today

Published: June 30, 2008

SEBRING —Whether you're having a barbecue overlooking your back yard or lounging in a lawn chair near your beached boat to read this paper, many of you are probably putting your dock or deck to use now.

If you have a wooden deck or are thinking of having one built, you might want to make sure it's in good shape so that you can enjoy it over the summer. Local contractors have come across decks and docks with loose nails and deteriorating planks, and in some cases it's because they were not built properly or because they weren't well maintained.

Maintenance And Use
Serious injuries on decks and docks in the county rarely happen –– the Highlands County Emergency Medical Service could not recall any instance where they took a call for an injury caused specifically by an accident on either one.

Still, warped and split planks, loose nails and rotting or slimy wet wood could turn a place for relaxation into potential hazard.

Ron Payne, the manager of W&W Lumber of Sebring, said a typical deck needs to be recoated every two or three years with a deck sealant. Particularly, look for a sealant that is silicon-based.

"It protects wood from water intrusion, which makes it swell and crack," Payne said. Some sealants also come with wood stains. Don't use polyurethane unless the deck is enclosed, because a polyurethane-coated deck surface gets slick when exposed to the sun.

Some types of timber don't need sealant every other year, but Dusty Young of Dusty Young Construction Inc. in Sebring suggested applying it anyway.

The wood itself usually should be looked at every 10 years, along with the pilings, anchoring and joints. Look for loose bolts, loose screws, splintering and rotting.

"The main thing, check for loose, split boards," Payne said. A lot of the planks come loose because they're attached with nails rather than the proper screws.

Oh, and this Friday, just remember that wood burns, and Frank Burke of Burke Marine Construction in Lake Placid suggested that launching your bottle rockets and lighting Roman candles from your dock isn't a good idea.

"We had several burn down because of fireworks being used on them," Burke said.
Building One Yourself?

Payne said he gets a few "do it yourselfers" who come by looking for tips on building decks of their own.

If you're one of them, the first thing you'll need is a plan, as in a drawing, Payne said. You don't need a full architectural blueprint, but the drawing will be needed in order to get a building permit from the city or county.

Burke and Payne both emphasized that new decks should be put together with screws, not nails. Nails come loose over time as the boards bend back and forth in the elements.

Several contractors said that pilings are needed if the deck will be more than eight feet long, and they should be eight feet apart as a general rule.

"If it's a deck that's at least 8 feet off the ground, you need to put concrete around them," Burke added.

Other features Burke and Young suggested using included:
* Sand in the sealant to make the surface less slippery,
* Reflectors attached to the end of the dock so that passing boats can better see the dock at night to avoid collisions
* Hurricane clips attached to each cross brace to better anchor the deck or dock during severe weather
Beyond that, Payne suggested getting advice from a trusted contractor.

Information on deck-building is also available over the Internet that can describe step-by-step instructions with pointers.

Reporter Doug Carman can be reached at 386-5838 or dcarman@highlandstoday.com

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