Liability vs Customer Satisfaction: When is it No Longer Safe to Repair a Deck?
When you head out on a job and your client wants you to repair their deck, it may seem like an easy job at first. The truth though is that if their deck is in poor enough shape and you repair it, you may be facing liability issues. At Grove Hardware, we can provide you with the highest quality construction supplies and tools on the market but if you’re working with a frame that’s beyond repair, it’s simply not going to be safe no matter what you do.
Homeowners would often prefer you repair versus rebuild. This often means replacing the railings and deck boards. They don’t want to hear that may need to start from scratch. However, there may be no choice. Other things that are beyond real repair, such as failing windows or siding, can have results like leaking or simply looking bad, but a deck that’s beyond real repair can collapse – and that can lead to injuries and event deaths.
How to decide between repair and replacing
Many cities around the country now have legislation about deck construction and repair but many don’t. it’s common for a homeowner to want what’s known as a re-deck, in which the boards and rails are replaced on the structure that’s already there, but if the understructure isn’t safe – or even if you’re not 100% sure – then this isn’t worth it.
Of course, the truth is that repairing a deck is significantly less expensive than having one rebuilt. In some cases, it can cost three times as much to replace. As a result, you may have to do some convincing of the homeowner.
Use the five-point inspection specifications from the North American Deck and Rail Association
At Grove Hardware, we like to give homeowners evidence of why they need a new deck. As a result, we recommend using the six-page deck inspection form available from NADRA. It has five areas to be focused on, including three that deal with points of connection to the either the support post or the house itself. It also considers the connections at the stairs and guardrails. The purpose of this method is to determine if the deck is deteriorated and still sound, or if it is on verge of collapse.
We can help take off the pressure
This can be one of those conversations that’s hard for a homeowner to have. They don’t want to hear about replacement when they believe that the framework of their deck is fine. If you can’t convince them and you believe that the framework is failing or close to failing, then it’s wise to walk away from the project. This may mean another company getting the work but it also means protecting yourself from the potential liability of something going wrong.
At Grove Hardware, we can help to keep your costs as low as possible by offering fair prices on everything from nails to tie down systems. Stop by or call us at 909-544-4331 for more information.
