Deck Repair and Renovation in Edmonton
As a premier patio installer, Sharp Building Solutions has successfully completed many unique decks and patios of all shapes, sizes, and styles in Edmonton & the surrounding areas. Patio additions & renovations are open on three sides, extending from your home to deliver complete cover from the sun while allowing you to fully enjoy the warm weather outdoors. From deck installation, construction & renovation to patio covers for existing patio spaces, Sharp Building Solutions expert general contractors offer a comprehensive range of patio services to fit the needs of all households and their budgets. Our patios are made from the highest-quality materials to ensure that little maintenance is needed. If you enjoy barbecues and outdoor dining, a patio or deck installation in Edmonton might be the answer you’re looking for.
Learn more about the benefits of owning one of our patios or decks:
- No deterioration or rot
- Resistance to weather exposure
- No need for yearly maintenance
- Strength that goes beyond roll-formed aluminum, wood or vinyl products
- Fully customizable designs and layouts
Patios in the Edmonton and Surrounding Areas
Sharp Building Solutions Edmonton patios have pushed the standards of the industry higher and higher due to our complete dedication to our customers’ satisfaction. This is one of the reasons why we offer a money-back guarantee as well as a lifetime warranty on both parts and labor. Our award-winning experts will work personally with you to ensure you get the custom-built patio that fits your household’s needs and complements your home’s style and design. Whether it be a new build or a renovation to an exisiting deck / patio - Sharp Building Soltions has got you covered.
Top Reasons Decks Collapse
Decks can make for some long-lasting memories, but can quickly become nightmares if they aren’t properly maintained. Deck collapses are a real concern that homeowners should not take lightly. They can cause severe injuries, and in some cases fatalities, so it’s important to know how to prevent this from ever happening.
Most homeowners don’t ever consider the possibility of a deck collapse, or check it regularly for structural deficiencies. But the truth is deck collapses do happen, and unfortunately more often than they should because they are preventable.
The following are some of the top reasons why decks collapse:
1. No Regular Deck Inspections
Homeowners often neglect to get their deck inspected by a certified professional and instead opt to focus on the interior of the house where they spend most of their time. But quality inspections pinpoint the potential risks for injury and can provide you with important insight and information to fix any problem areas. Although it isn’t necessarily required, it is definitely safe practice to get your deck inspected annually because a wood deck will never be as strong or as safe as the first day it was built.
2. Weather Damage
Strong winds and heavy snow can cause your deck to look unrecognizable and eventually fail. Nails can loosen, boards may shift, and the overall structure can be compromised, risking the safety of your deck. After every major or minor storm, do a quick scan of your deck to spot any hazards.
3. Bad or Missing Flashing
Flashing is a waterproof material—usually copper, stainless steel or vinyl—which protects the area where the deck ledger attaches to the home. It helps keep water from penetrating through and causing damage and decay to the home’s exterior siding and structure, which could compromise the structural integrity of the deck. Flashing is often installed over the ledger board, as well as below exterior siding adjacent to the ledger. If the flashing has been compromised, or the deck ledger isn’t protected by flashing, there is a higher risk of the ledger rotting and eventually failing. Unfortunately, dry rot is difficult to visually identify, which can lead to deck catastrophes if not checked on a regular and ongoing basis.
4. Overloading and Overcrowding
A heavy load can cause your deck to snap under pressure. Make sure your deck is not overcrowded or exceeds its load capacity. It’s a good idea to keep a sign handy that shows the maximum weight your deck can safely support at any given time. A good rule of thumb is 40 lbs per square foot. If you’re installing something as heavy as a hot tub, the deck should be able to support approximately 50-100 lbs per square foot. The age of the deck also plays a big factor. If the deck is old and its structure is suspect, even the accepted load capacity might be too much. This is when most deck-related collapses occur; people assume that because they had 8 people on their deck last year that having 8 people on their deck this year shouldn’t be an issue, but the truth is decks degrade and must be re-assessed every year.
5. Poorly Secured Ledger
The deck ledger board is the board that runs parallel to the side of the house, and affixes the deck to the home. It undergoes the most stress of all deck components. Decks tend to fail or collapse in the greatest number when the ledger board has been compromised. Unfortunately, it can be installed improperly or become loose.
There are strict rules with respect to how many fasteners and what type should be used to attach the ledger board; however, a staggered bolt pattern used to secure the ledger firmly to the home can help prevent cracks across the ledger, as well as prevent deck ledger board failure. Using the wrong type of fastener can also cause the deck to pull away from the house, usually resulting in catastrophic accidents. If the fasteners are not galvanized or designed to be compatible with the chemicals in pressure-treated lumber, they can corrode, become loose and allow the deck to pull away from the house.
6. Rot
Improperly protected foundational posts can rot to a point where they can no longer safely support the deck’s weight or load. This can also happen to deck boards constantly exposed to moisture due to inadequate water filtration and drainage. Many homeowners assume that because pressure or preservative-treated lumber has a 20-year warranty from rotting, that it will always be safe. The fact is that wood exposed to weather will decompose. Look for spots of discolouration or anything growing out of the wood. Test for rot by stabbing or poking wood components with a sharp object. If it goes in more than one-quarter of an inch or feels soft, it means the wood is rotting. Replace all rotting deck boards, because leaving them next to new deck boards can help spread the decay.
7. Railing Failure
Although not as extreme as a complete deck collapse where the entire deck falls away from the house, railing failures occur every year and numerous people are injured seriously. Railing failures typically fail due to a compromised connection where the railing and deck surface meet. Even if the deck railing is made from aluminum it is attached to a wood deck surface. The connection area where the railing and deck surface meet can rot, causing the railing to become unstable. Fasteners can also corrode and work their way loose, resulting in an unsafe railing that could fold over with any type of outward pressure.
8. Built With Materials that Deteriorate Over Time
It’s often difficult for homeowners to know when their wood deck’s strength and integrity has been compromised, or when it requires significant repairs to ensure its safety. Deck failures could be dramatically reduced if they were built with longer-lasting materials, such as steel or aluminum. There are a number of manufacturers on the market today that have recognized deck safety as something that needs to be addressed.