You are legally responsible for the safety of guests on your property, so inspect your deck regularly as part of your yard maintenance routine. Make sure the deck is well secured to the foundation of your home and that proper flashing is installed around the ledger board.

The diagram shows how to check for other common deck hazards (shown in red) and what safety features (blue) to consider adding. If you spot a problem, take action right away. Do-it-yourselfers can handle simple repairs, but call in an expert (a carpenter or exterminator) if you spot the warning signs of more serious structural defects.

1. Make sure balusters are no more than four inches apart. To further protect children, install deck netting and place safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.

2. Check for mud trails on beams, a sign of termites. Carpenter ants will nest in moist, rotting wood; look for the piles of sawdust they leave behind.

3. Tap down protruding nails and make sure boards aren’t loose.

4. Look for cracks, warps, and splinters in supports. If you can poke a screwdriver into the wood, you have rot.

5. To pinpoint structural problems, walk over the entire surface of the deck, noting cracking sounds and feelings of vibration.

6. To deter termites, elevate wood posts slightly by fitting metal footings between the foundation and deck.

7. Screen the area under the deck to keep bees, skunks, raccoons, and other pests from making homes there.

8. Use hurricane clips to fit joints precisely so the deck can support more weight.

9. To prevent falls, install risers, so feet won’t slip between stairs. Steps should have railings, preferably on both sides.

10. Illuminate areas where people will walk, especially stairs.

This article was reprinted with permission from Liberty Mutual Group. For more information, please call at 860-659-4111 ext 539 or toll free 800-245-5558 ext 539.