Agree that twice a year might be a bit much for the average deck, but I'd still lean towards an annual check rather than pushing it to two years. Wood—especially untreated or naturally weathered—can deteriorate faster than you'd expect, especially if you're in a damp climate or near lots of trees. I've seen decks that looked perfectly fine at first glance, but once you start poking around the joists or ledger boards, you find soft spots or hidden rot.
Here's my usual quick rundown: once a year, pick a dry day and do a walk-around. Check under the deck for discoloration or mold (a flashlight helps), test railings by giving them a firm shake, and poke suspect areas gently with a screwdriver to see if the wood feels soft or crumbly. Takes maybe half an hour tops, and it can save you from bigger headaches later on. Plus, catching minor issues early means less waste and fewer materials used overall—bonus points for sustainability.
Once a year sounds reasonable, but honestly, I've stretched it to two years without any major issues. Decks can be sneaky though—I once found some nasty rot near the ledger board that looked totally fine from above. Learned my lesson there. Now I do a quick poke-around every spring, nothing fancy, just a screwdriver test and railing shake. Better safe than sorry, and definitely cheaper than replacing whole sections later...
- Once a year might be fine for newer decks, but older homes (like mine) can hide issues longer.
- Ledger boards especially—rot sets in silently behind flashing. I'd say twice a year minimum inspection.
- Quick screwdriver pokes are good, but occasionally removing a board or two gives better peace of mind.
Twice a year is solid advice, especially for older decks—though honestly, I think how exposed your deck is to weather matters a lot too. Mine gets hammered by rain and sun constantly, so I actually do a quick visual check every couple months. Ledger boards are sneaky for sure. Last summer I pulled a board off "just to check," and found rot creeping behind the flashing... glad I caught it early. Better safe than sorry when it comes to decks.
"Ledger boards are sneaky for sure. Last summer I pulled a board off 'just to check,' and found rot creeping behind the flashing... glad I caught it early."
Yeah, ledger boards are definitely a weak spot—good catch. Curious, did you notice if your flashing was aluminum or vinyl? I've seen aluminum flashing corrode surprisingly fast when in contact with treated lumber. Personally, I also check railings and stairs pretty often; they're easy to overlook but can fail suddenly if moisture gets trapped. Anyone else found unexpected issues in those areas?
