Manual for the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies

This manual is a comprehensive, informative resource for home inspectors, renovation contractors, consulting engineers, homebuilders, and building code officials. Published in cooperation with the International Code Council (ICC), the manual also provides helpful information regarding the proper maintenance of wood decks. A sample report includes sample calculations with details on where to find the necessary information.

The various topics covered in this manual include:

• Preparation for Inspection - information that should be gathered, the inspection plan, and recommended equipment for an inspection.
• What to Look For - covering all aspects of the inspection, including proper installation of lumber and connections, National Design Specification® (NDS) requirements, the quality of the elements, decay hazard based on location, and how to provide protection against decay and insects.
• Inspection - provides users with a systematic inspection approach that covers preparation of plans and elevations, and also provides recommendations for inspection procedures for all structural elements and the connection system at the house.
• Analysis - descriptions of structural calculations and available resources.
• Report - Recommendations and a suggested format for the content of a complete deck inspection report.
• The appendix contains additional information on the "pick test" for detecting early surface decay, information on deck attachment issues, a sample report of a comprehensive deck inspection, and lists of accredited grading and lumber treating agencies.