San Francisco Chronicle & Los Angeles Times Utilize Our Expertise in Understanding the Berkeley Deck Failure

No one wants to see a headline like this, with 6 dead & 7 others seriously injured.
Both the LA Times & San Francisco Chronicle have used us as a source
on their investigative articles. 

DeckExpert.com provides consumers with information, videos articles and more for buyers to make informed decisions on deck systems. We also provide articles to major trade magazines for the HOA, Construction and Architectural industries. 

Now we are pleased to say our expertise is helping reporters understand the problems that caused the recent Berkeley deck tragedy where the a waterproofed balcony, only 7 years old, failed catastrophically and thirteen people plunged to the ground, killing six and seriously injuring the other seven survivors.

Both the the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle have interviewed us for their investigative articles into the how and why this tragedy occurred.

From the Chronicle  article-“This is all a vicious combination,” Leys said. “The penetrations, the drainage and lack of ventilation underneath — they all combined in a catastrophic failure.”
Read the SF Chronicle article by award winning reporter Jaxon Van Derberken here  http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Blueprints-show-Berkeley-balcony-was-designed-for-6336566.php

From the LA Times article- "Balconies just don't fall off a building like what we saw without having a few years of deterioration," said Bill Leys, a former deck waterproofing contractor who now inspects decks in San Luis Obispo for his company, DeckExpert.com.

Read the LA Times articles here. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-berkeley-balcony-collapse-20150623-story.html

NADRA Reminds All Deck Owners That May is Deck Safety Month! Check Your Decks, Save a Life!

Editors Note-

Check your decks should be an ongoing action item for all homeowners, whether they do it or best option, have a pro inspect 

the deck for you. 

Locally in SLO County I perform deck safety checks utilizing NADRA's checklist. Call for an inspection today 805-801-2380

 Editor Bill Leys

Check Your Deck® During Deck Safety Month® in May

QUAKERTOWN, PA – Your deck is the perfect place to enjoy warm weather with friends and loved ones. However, a poorly maintained or unsafe deck could possibly collapse, causing serious injuries to you and your guests. During Deck Safety Month^® in May, experts at the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) recommend homeowners Check Your Deck^® before starting to plan family activities.
“Our number one priority and message to the public is to ensure that the decks they use are safe,” says Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of NADRA. “Outdoor structures like decks are exposed to sun, rain, snow and extreme temperature changes over the years. The need to maintain and inspect them is critical for keeping decks strong and safe.”

NADRA has created campaigns and educational programs, along with certifications for home inspectors, deck builders, remodelers, builders, code officials, engineers, architects, distributors, lumberyards and manufacturers to improve proper installation practices. The organization has also developed checklists and safety awareness information for consumers to assure they have details available to them to evaluate their decks. The information can be found HERE.

With an estimated 40 million residential and 10 million commercial decks in the United States that are more than 20-30 years old, it’s important for homeowners to check their deck on a yearly basis.

Consumer Checklist

A key element to enjoying your deck for years to come is making sure it is safe and code compliant. NADRA’s “10-Point Consumer Safety Checklist” is an efficient way to take a good look at the different parts of your deck, with an eye to what might need maintenance, repair or replacement. The checklist can be found at http://bit.ly/NADRA10PointConsumerChecklist.

Homeowners should consider a professional deck inspection. “A professional inspector will thoroughly examine your deck, provide information on your deck’s capacity limits, identify any dangerous problem areas and give you some insight of what to keep your eye on in the future,” says Beaudry. “NADRA provides industry professionals with a Deck Evaluation Form that is available HERE.

Older decks require closer scrutiny and regular inspections. Many decks were built before code requirements were established to protect consumers. Some of these older decks may have deck-to-house attachments using only nails instead of the current recommended construction using deck tension hardware that greatly helps in the prevention of ledger failures.

“We recommend ASHI-certified home inspectors or a knowledgeable deck builder for inspections of older decks,” says Beaudry. “Our NADRA member deck builders are required to adhere to a code of ethics and comply with state licensing and insurance requirements. This brings peace of mind to homeowners using our NADRA members.”

Deck inspection requires special knowledge, expertise and experience. NADRA offers training and certification for its members along with ASHI home inspectors and others interested in professional deck inspection. For additional information on NADRA certification classes, click HERE.

The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the necessity for regular inspection and maintenance of existing decks and proper installation of new decks. For more information visit www.NADRA.org 

Bill Leys Presents Seminar at JLC Live in Providence RI

The room filling up before the start. 

Our seminar is scheduled and ready to start!

Over 30 east coast contractors from New Jersey, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts New Hampshire and New York filled the room at the Rhode Island Convention Center on Thursday March 20 to hear me present a 3 hour seminar on Best Construction Practices in Building and Waterproofing Decks.

Attendees learned about the various Division Seven Pedestrian Traffic Coatings available, their differences, pro's and con's and how to select the proper system for the job at hand.

The Powerpoint based seminar also reviewed construction methods for building a decks framing and substrates for tile and pedestrian coatings.

Several editors from Hanley Wood's JLC magazine also sat in on the presentation.

The presentation at JLC coincided nicely with the publication of the new issue of JLC, which featured our new article on deck drains and scuppers.

I received a nice round of applause  at the end of the session. I thank the attendees and JLC Live staff, especially Julie Clifford and Olivia Espinosa for having me at JLC in Providence! I hope to see you at JLC in Portland again next year.

Contact us for scheduling a seminar on building and waterproofing decks. Custom seminars based on the audience-architects, builders, homeowner association managers and more are available. Call Bill at 805-801-2380

Oops! May is (was) National Deck Safety Month

Direct from NADRA, North American Deck & Railing Association's web page on deck safety...this applies to wood and waterproof decks-check 'em for safety and life issues!


The number of deck failures and resulting injuries has been increasing at an alarming rate. Between 2000 and 2006, there have been at least 30 deaths reported as a direct result of deck collapses and more than 75 percent of people on a deck when it collapses are injured or killed, illuminating just how important it is for homeowners to check their deck. There are 40 million decks in the U.S. that are over 20 years old. At a conservative 1 percent, that means 40,000 decks are currently in need of repair or replacement. Taking that estimate to 10 percent brings the total number of unsafe decks to 4 million.

Its time to Check Your Deck! Homeowners should visit NADRA�s website at www.NADRA.org for the Check Your Deck - 10-Point safety checklist. �May is a great time to make your deck-check,� Beaudry says. �In parts of the country where there�s a lot of snow and ice, your deck could have developed a trouble spot over the winter.� Beaudry adds, �If you�ve never had your deck professionally inspected, make that appointment. A professional inspection will examine every inch of your deck, educate you on your deck�s capacity limits, identify any problem areas, and give you a map of what to keep your eye on in the future. If your deck is older, this might include a regular deck inspection schedule.�

If you find your deck is not safe to enjoy, NADRA advises taking immediate action to have it repaired or rebuilt as necessary and recommends the following tips to choose a deck builder.

* Ask friends and family members for referrals and contact state and local licensing authorities and trade associations such as NADRA.
* Meet with and carefully evaluate all potential deck builders. Ask to see a portfolio and some samples of the decking and railing materials they prefer to use. Good builders take pride in their work and will be enthusiastic about the possibility of creating a relationship.
* Pay attention to the deck builder�s experience, licensing, insurance coverage and professional references.

A key element of enjoying your deck for years to come is making sure it is safe and code compliant. When hiring a deck builder, there is more to consider than just price. In addition to the tips above, NADRA recommends homeowners contact their city or county building department to speak with an inspector with knowledge in deck construction.

For more information on Deck Safety Month, the Check Your Deck program and finding a reputable deck builder, visit www.nadra.org.