Check your decks, handrails and posts for rotting

Spring is a good time to check your deck, porches and stoops hand railings, posts and other wood items around the exterior.  Face it your deck, porch, steps take a weather beating.  Dry rot can occur and weaken the structure which can lead to collapse.  Anytime wood is in direct contact with cement, flagstone or soil it can rot, since the wood will absorb water, like a sponge, through all of those surfaces.   The local hardware store( such as Lowes, Home Depot or Menards etc) has all the necessary brackets to keep the post from having direct contact with cement, dirt, rock etc. The brackets provide about a 1" gap for the wood to drip dry, whereas direct contact with ground does not. This can help prevent slips, falls, trips from stairs or rotted railings.  

Another item to check is the stairs, stairs are often sitting on stringer.  The stringer's bottom rests on the concrete, flagstone or dirt will rot over time even if pressure treated wood is used.  Placing a waterproof on the botton can help extend the life or attaching a piece of composite deck to sit on flagstone,concrete or dirt allows the stringer to set off the concrete which acts as a barrier so water will not seep into the wood.  If replacing rotted board use Pressure Treated(PT) wood instead of regular wood.  

Researching on Youtube is another wonderful option for the Do It Yourself(DIY) person, like myself.  Simply typein what is best way to set a post or need advice on water proofing steps etc.

Almost all homeowner policies provide liability and medical payments to an injured guests should they fall, trip or slip at your residence; however, only up to your home policy limits. 

Any further questions feel free to contact Flanigan Insurance Agency @ 314-727-6000 or visit your local hardware,  lumber yard or Youtube.