how often do you actually check your deck for safety?

"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...?