Deck inspections found a majority with code or safety issues [Video]

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — A month-long free deck inspection program in Montgomery County revealed a majority of the 140 structures checked by inspectors had code or safety concerns.

“They trusted a contractor, or they trusted a friend of a friend and thought it was done correctly,” said Montgomery County inspector Jeremy Shupp.

Shupp noted some residents bought homes without knowing who a previous owner may have hired to construct a deck, and whether the builders obtained required permits and inspections.

One glaring sign of trouble are decks that are merely nailed into the side of a home, bolted improperly, or attached to a structurally weak point in the house such as a cantilever. Other problems can include loose railings and weather-weakened wood.

Deck collapses are of particular concern as warmer weather, graduations and summer holidays bring large outdoor gatherings onto decks.

A five-year …