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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Capistrano Beach, CA
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    1,510

    Default Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    OPELIKA, AL (WTVM) -A family reunion was cut short Saturday when the floor literally fell out from underneath the party.
    About 15 people were on the back deck of a house on Pebbleshore Drive in Opelika Saturday afternoon when the deck gave way.....

    Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
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    3,747

    Default Re: Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    35 miles from me and I didn't even hear about it.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    263

    Default Re: Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    If anyone follows deck failure, it is the ledger attachment to the building that ALWAYS fails. It is NEVER at the support columns. When you inspect decks for major structural failure, it is the 3 L's. Ledger, ledger, ledger.

    Mike Lamb
    Inspection Connection, Inc.
    http://www.inspection2020.com/

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    Yeah the joists run parallel to the ledger and the thing was just tacked to the house, probably with nails only. Amateurs. Nobody was seriously hurt this time.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    St. George, UT
    Posts
    234

    Default Re: Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    Find (N) in this equation Where:
    C=Crash
    PT=Party
    DK=Deck
    P=People

    PT+DK+(PX15)+N=C
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    Answer: N= Chicken Dance


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Oregon, USA
    Posts
    333

    Default Re: Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    Don't ask where I read this (I think in some deck builder's publication or web site), but each year in this country approximately 150 decks collapse or partially-collapse. Occasionally with loss of life.

    Shouldn't ever happen if people just knew what they are supposed to be doing.


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
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    Default Re: Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    Quote Originally Posted by BridgeMan View Post
    Shouldn't ever happen if people just knew what they are supposed to be doing.
    People DO know what they are supposed to be doing. Get a qualified licensed contractor, get permits and have it inspected. But as long as people DIY to save a few bucks or use the CHEAPEST contractor, this will continue to happen.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Oregon, USA
    Posts
    333

    Default Re: Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
    People DO know what they are supposed to be doing. Get a qualified licensed contractor, get permits and have it inspected. But as long as people DIY to save a few bucks or use the CHEAPEST contractor, this will continue to happen.
    Like my former neighbor in SW Colorado: He had his deck designed and built by a professional contractor, definitely experienced from having built dozens of houses. Colorado didn't require any contractors to be licensed, so that wasn't an issue. Neighbor had the City inspect it and sign off on it. Sounds good so far, right? Even meets the requirements you listed above.

    But now for the bad news--Contractor used what appeared to be utility-grade 4 x 4s, untreated, and some having open knot holes at least an inch in diameter. The kind of stuff that qualifies for firewood, and not much more. Deck was around 12' off the ground, with absolutely no cross-bracing of any kind. It swayed and deflected so much in a moderate breeze that his wife was afraid to ever go out on it. Needless to say, they never used it until after making corrections, and then only sparingly.

    Which brings us back to my initial statement: Too many people out there who just don't know what they're supposed to be doing. Also, blaming DIY-ers for deck collapses is somewhat distorted thinking. I've seen more poorly-constructed, unsafe decks built by professional contractors than those built by DIY-ers.


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
    Posts
    3,747

    Default Re: Deck collapses at Opelika family reunion

    Quote Originally Posted by BridgeMan View Post
    Also, blaming DIY-ers for deck collapses is somewhat distorted thinking. I've seen more poorly-constructed, unsafe decks built by professional contractors than those built by DIY-ers.
    True
    But who can resist the beer keg deck building party.
    And for some reason, the higher the deck off the ground, the more beer you have to buy.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

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