Working Toward Safer Decks

Deck failure can be catastrophic, ending in injury or even death. And deck inspections are not something to be taken lightly, says ASHI President John Wessling. “We can help keep your families safe and help you maintain your deck in good condition for many years,” Wessling said.

A key contributor to that safety is making sure inspectors are up-to-date on deck code and safety. With more than 50 million residential decks in the US, it’s estimated that 30 million decks are past their useful life and need to be replaced or repaired, according to NADRA, the North American Deck and Railing Association.

What is NADRA?

NADRA works to provide a “unified source for the professional development, promotion, growth, and sustenance of the deck and railing building industry in North America so that members can exceed the expectations of their customers,” according to their mission statement. NADRA says it’s crucial for homeowners to have their decks inspected to verify the integrity of their deck to ensure user safety and help extend the deck’s life span, improve appearance, and increase livability.

Wessling calls NADRA the leader in the industry, and he said their expertise can be hugely beneficial to ASHI Home Inspector Members. “A building inspector ought to be looking at a deck with scrutinizing eyes,” he said. “NADRA has an inspection manual, and they’re working very closely with code officials—quickly becoming the go-to source for deck information. What we want to do for ASHI is become the go-to source for deck inspectors.”

He’s been involved with NADRA for more than a decade and has not only seen business from his involvement, he’s learned a lot. “It really does fill your knowledge base with deck-specific information. It gives you some of the ins and outs of how to look at a deck in a very critical manner to promote safety and longevity of the deck,” he said. “It does open your eyes.”

He said having the NADRA certification is beneficial for business, as it carries weight in the industry. He renews every three years as part of the ASHI partnership because he wants to keep up with the changing world of decks. When he was originally certified for NADRA, he said the code book didn’t have much to say about deck inspection, but that’s changing. What used to be just a few sentences is now more than 200 pages dedicated to decks, he said.

“The deck inspection world has grown up,” Wessling said. “ASHI’s relationship with NADRA can benefit ASHI members through knowledge and a potential revenue stream—especially in places like California, where they are going to require deck inspections routinely for homes.”

According to NADRA, California and Maryland already require deck inspections, and more states could follow suit soon.

Educational Opportunities

NADRA is currently offering all ASHI members a special membership rate. Join today as a new member and receive 25% off a one-year membership or a three-year membership plan. Just use promo code ashi2022.

NADRA provides three types of classes—in-person, live Zoom webinars, and ore-recorded on-demand. Among the on-demand courses, you’ll find “Master Deck Professional-CODE” and “How To Build a Freestanding Deck.”

A free deck-specific course is offered monthly to current members of NADRA.

You can register for all classes at: NADRA Educational Offerings