Warning on decks in Attleboro

ATTLEBORO - A rash of deck collapses locally and nationally has prompted Building Inspector Doug Semple to warn homeowners that older decks should be checked for safety - now.

"After looking at these things, I'm scared," he said of local decks and national news reports. "There are potentially a lot of deck collapses out there."

Semple said older decks, those at least 15 years old, were usually attached to homes with nails alone and are especially at risk.

"Our concern is that we know we have a lot of these open decks out there that are 15 or 20 years old," he said. "We really want people to take a close look underneath these decks and see if they are held to the house with nails or bolts."

The use of nails to attach decks was a standard practice years ago and met the code of the time. However, nails have proven unreliable, especially on decks without roofs.

Ordinary wear and tear and exposure to the elements weakens the wood and can rust the nails, leading to collapses, Semple said.

In addition, nails are smooth and pull out easily, he said.

Semple said he and other local inspectors are encountering more and more wobbly and dangerous decks.

"It's probably one of the most common things we're seeing out there right now," he said.

Semple pointed to a deck collapse in South Attleboro about two weeks ago in which an elderly woman was injured.

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Warning on decks in Attleboro