General • Inspections

Deck Maintenance: Inspection Checklist

Maintenance and inspection of deck is important for structural corrosion protection, and also for maintaining the appearance of the vessels and providing a safe environment for passengers and crew.

MaintainX

09/08/2022

Deck Maintenance: Inspection Checklist

Maintenance and inspection of deck is important for structural corrosion protection, and also for maintaining the appearance of the vessels and providing a safe environment for passengers and crew.

Part of maintaining your wood deck is to inspect it yearly. Before you begin, clear the deck of any furniture or toys and sweep away larger debris.

Deck Inspection Checklist

Inspect the ledger:

Using your flashlight, check the underside of your deck. Make sure to pay attention to the metal flashing that attaches your deck to your home. Look for signs of water damage where your deck connects to your house. You may need to replace if you spot any standing water or deterioration.

Check all joists, posts and beams:

While you’re down there, check the structural parts of your deck. Look for signs of rot on posts and joists and study all the hardware, making note of what’s seriously rusted and needs to be replaced.

Search for cracks, rotting deck boards or protruding nails:

Walk around the deck to listen for squeaks. Feel for soft spots or sagging areas and make note of any cracks or loose nails that need repair.

Examine the railing and stairs:

Give your railing a good shake to make sure posts aren’t loose or damaged. Check for cracks that may have developed around nails or screws.

Look for signs of rot:

Examine structural boards with a flat-blade screwdriver. Start by checking the stairs, especially where the stringers – the saw-tooth notched pieces that support the steps – meet the ground. Check each perimeter post. If you can push the screwdriver a quarter-inch or more into an area, it probably has rot.

Source: MaintainX (Community Member)