"After a big storm last summer, I found a couple loose fasteners that weren't obvious before."
Yeah, storms definitely have a way of revealing hidden issues. Curious though, do you guys also check underneath your deck regularly? I ask because last spring I crawled under mine and found some rot starting on a support beam—totally invisible from above. Made me wonder if seasonal checks alone are enough, or if we should be doing a deeper inspection more often...
I get the logic behind frequent checks, but honestly, crawling under my deck more than once a year sounds like a special kind of torture. My house is over 100 years old, and if I went hunting for hidden issues every season, I'd never see daylight again... Instead, I just do one thorough inspection each spring and keep an eye out after big storms. Hasn't failed me yet—knock on (hopefully not rotten) wood.
I totally get the dread of crawling under there more than necessary... but honestly, waiting a whole year between checks feels a bit risky to me. I found a middle ground that works pretty well: every spring, I do a full-on inspection like you mentioned. Then mid-season, I just do a quick visual check from above—no crawling required! It takes maybe 10 minutes, and I've caught small issues before they turned into expensive repairs. Might be worth trying if you're looking to save a few bucks down the road.
I hear ya on the quick mid-season check, but honestly, I've found that if you build it right and use quality materials from the get-go, once a year is usually plenty. My deck's pushing 8 years now, and aside from one loose railing I caught early on, it's been smooth sailing... knock on wood.
Yeah, once a year sounds about right to me too. But do you ever give it a quick look after a big storm or heavy snowfall? I've noticed sometimes weather can loosen things up unexpectedly. Last winter, after a particularly nasty ice storm, I found a couple of deck boards had shifted slightly—nothing major, but glad I caught it early. Curious if anyone else has had similar experiences...?
