Inspector: Thousands of metro Atlanta decks may be unsafe

A deck collapse in DeKalb County that sent four people to the hospital Sunday is raising questions about deck safety.

According to DeKalb Fire-Rescue, the deck was roughly 23 years old and folded, causing the victims to fall to the ground from the second floor.

On Monday, Michael Collins-Smythe, president of the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors, said there are key points to consider.

"Typically, a wood deck will last 10-15 years," Collins-Smythe said. "I think a lot of decks in the city and the area are much older than that and people don't realize that the wood itself does rot."

Channel 2 reporter Carl Willis went along with Collins-Smythe as he inspected a 7-year-old deck in northwest Atlanta.

He noted that the deck had adequate bolting to the house. He said a lack of bolting is the most common cause of deck failure and may have been the case in the accident over the weekend.

"When a deck falls from the inside like that, it is almost always an attachment problem," said Collins-Smythe, who estimates that thousands of decks in the metro Atlanta area may be unsafe.

He also suggested that deck owners check posts and beams for rot, check all fasteners, bolts and joist hangers for rust and corrosion, and make sure all guards and rails are sturdy and secured.

Collins-Smythe said if you have any doubts, have a private inspector come out to take a look at the deck.

He said an inspection costs between $200 and $250.