At Franca Services, we offer our potential customers a free decking consultation to discuss the parameters of a project and all of the available options before signing any contracts. This practice gives us the opportunity to see a good number of decks that are in serious trouble. When we saw what this homeowner was contending with, we knew that their misfortune could serve as a learning opportunity for others who may be seeking a reliable deck contractor.
This deck was in such bad shape, it's a wonder it didn't collapse on the unsuspecting homeowner. The ledger board was completely rotted and pulled away from the house. Some of the decking boards were also rotting, and the entire structure was sagging. The stairs were in danger of collapsing, and the whole thing just looked ready to fall apart.
In this particular case, it seems as if the entire deck was constructed without any thought as to how it would be properly secured to the house. As a result, the entire structure has now slumped over to one side and looks like it could easily collapse at any moment. This is obviously a very dangerous situation and one that you want to avoid at all costs.
As you can see, the deck in the photograph has completely fallen off the side of the home, which is not what anyone wants to arrive home to discover. Unfortunately, the deck builders who constructed this project seemingly missed at least one detrimental detail – they did not attach the deck to the house.
At Franca Services, we always make sure that our decks are properly anchored to the ledger board with ½-inch lag screws. We never cut corners when it comes to safety and we believe that every detail matters when it comes to building a safe and stable deck.
The ledger works in conjunction with the beams, joists, and post system to support your decking. When one component fails, as did the ledger in this particular case, problems follow. Over time, this deck began to sag and eventually it simply collapsed. Fortunately, no one was on the deck when this occurred, but if they had been, injuries would have been likely –after all, it’s almost as if the ground is falling out from under you!😲 An improper deck installation is certainly not something you want to take any chances with.
That is why homeowners like you have been counting on Franca Services’ expert deck builders for over a decade. When you schedule your free consultation with us, one of our knowledgeable project managers will walk you through the process and answer any questions you might have. Don't get bamboozled by a contractor that doesn't know what they are doing it and take chances when it comes to your safety!
If you have any concerns about your deck or would like to schedule a free consultation, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
