Every spring I get calls about decks that were "fine last year" — and when I get out there, the ledger board is pulling away from the house, or the posts are rotted at the base, or the whole thing is held together by a coat of paint and optimism. Winter and wet weather are hard on outdoor wood, and Arkansas gets enough of both to do real damage in a single season.
Before you drag out the patio furniture and start having people over, take 20 minutes and walk through this checklist. Some things you'll find are cosmetic. A few of them mean you shouldn't put weight on the deck at all until it's fixed.
Start at the Ledger Board
The ledger is the board that attaches your deck to the house. It's the single most important structural connection, and it's also one of the most common failure points. Water gets trapped between the ledger and the house siding, sits there, and rots both the ledger and the rim joist behind it.
Look for: gaps between the ledger and the house, rust staining around the lag bolts, soft or discolored wood, or any visible separation. If you can see daylight between the ledger and the house wall, that's a problem that needs to be addressed before anyone uses the deck.
Check the Posts at Ground Level
Deck posts rot from the bottom up. The damage is usually hidden — either buried in a concrete footing or close enough to grade that you have to actually look. Probe the bottom of each post with a screwdriver or an awl. If it goes in more than a quarter inch without much resistance, the wood is compromised.
Posts that feel solid on the outside can be hollow inside. If a post sounds hollow when you knock on it, or if it has any visible cracks running lengthwise, it's worth a closer look before you trust it.
Walk the Decking Boards
Walk slowly and pay attention to how the deck feels underfoot. Soft spots, bounce, or boards that flex more than the rest can indicate rot in the decking itself or in the joists underneath. Find the soft spots and press on them — if the wood compresses, it's rotted.
Also check for: raised screws or nails (a trip hazard), cracked or splintered boards that need replacing, and significant warping that creates gaps wide enough for a heel to catch.
Look at the Joists and Beams
Get underneath the deck if you can and look at the joists and beams from below. You're looking for rot, cracks, or sagging. Joists that have been in contact with wet ground or debris are especially vulnerable. Check the joist hangers — metal connectors rust, and rusted joist hangers are weaker than they look.
Test the Railings
Grab each railing section and push on it hard — side to side and outward. A railing that wobbles significantly is a fall hazard. Post bases rot or pull loose, and balusters work their way free over time. The fix is usually straightforward, but it needs to happen before anyone leans on it.
Check the Stairs
Stairs take more abuse than the rest of the deck because they're in contact with the ground and they get heavy foot traffic. Look for rot at the bottom of the stringers (the diagonal boards on either side), loose handrails, and stair treads that move when you step on them. A stair that feels loose usually is.
What Actually Needs to Be Fixed Before You Use It
Not everything you find is urgent. Here's the rough breakdown:
Fix before using the deck: ledger separation, rotted posts, compromised beams or joists, railings that are significantly loose, stair stringers that are rotted through.
Fix soon, use with caution: soft spots in decking boards, individual boards that need replacing, wobbly balusters, surface cracks in posts.
Address this season but not an emergency: raised screws/nails, minor warping, surface weathering, staining.
When to Call
If you find anything in the first category — particularly ledger issues or rotted posts — call before you use the deck. A structural failure on a deck with people on it is a serious injury waiting to happen. Most of these repairs aren't complicated or expensive when caught early. They get complicated and expensive when they're ignored.
I do deck inspections, structural repairs, full board replacements, and railing work in Mountain Home and the Twin Lakes area. Call or text (870) 321-1072 if you want me to come out and take a look.