CR's Guide to Deck Maintenance and Safety

Over time, your deck takes a beating from the weather. So check that everything is secure and sound. Deck and stair railings that are now wobbly could mean trouble; tighten fasteners or replace them if they’re rusty. Nail or screw down any nails or screws that you see popping up.

If you’re shopping for new decking boards, consider their slip factor. You don’t want to fall if you’re out on your deck after rain or a water-gun duel. CR’s decking tests show that in wet and dry conditions, wood is the best material for resisting a slip, followed by aluminum decking. Some composite materials and plastic decking don’t perform as well.

Another way to reduce slips is to add outdoor area rugs. Look for rugs made from solution-dyed acrylic, says Tracy Morris, an interior designer in Washington, D.C. Because the dye is mixed into the acrylic solution before it’s spun into fiber, the resulting material is colorfast and water- and stain-resistant. "It’s a high-quality material," she says.

Pro cleaning tip: Pull up the rug periodically to check for moss or algae, which—unlike mold—can grow on synthetics. Scrub affected areas with diluted vinegar. Press a towel over the wet spot where you’ve scrubbed to soak up moisture, then air-dry over the deck railing.

You might not think to look under your deck, but it’s important to make sure the ledger board, which attaches the deck to your home, is secure. A ledger that’s not well attached can break away from your home and cause a deck collapse. The safest ledger connection goes all the way through the wall to attach the ledger to your home’s interior floor supports.

Decks built within the past five years are likely to have strong, new fastener designs. But if your house is older, consider having a contractor or professional deck inspector check out your deck’s attachments. (This specialized task isn’t part of a standard home inspection, so it may not have been checked before.) 

If you need new attachments, it could run you from around $600 for a small, low deck connected to a house with wood floor supports to $2,000 for a large, high deck attached to floor supports that aren’t wood.

"It’s expensive," says Andy Happ, president of Happ Contractors in Doylestown, Pa., "but it’s better than a bunch of people pitching off the side of a house when the deck fails."

You may also need a contractor to replace or add flashing to deflect water from the ledger board and joist attachments. Otherwise, the ledger board can weaken from moisture damage and sag or collapse.

To prevent fire and smoke damage to siding, decking, and deck furniture, place your grill 2 feet away from railings, siding, and any wires, awnings, or other overhangs.

"You don’t want smoke and fumes to get into the house to damage items or sicken anyone inside," says Larry Ciufo, who has tested grills for more than a decade at Consumer Reports. 

Place the grill on a nonflammable grill mat (most we found online cost $20 to $90). Make sure any storage boxes—such as for lighter fluid, cleaners, and other hazardous materials—have childproof latches. 

Also, trim any branches hanging above your grill. They can dry out over time and become a fire hazard.

See our advice on safe grilling.

To ensure safety and visibility, municipalities usually mandate lighting around deck areas such as steps and landings, says Patrick Harders, a landscape lighting designer and co-owner of Sterling Lighting, an outdoor lighting maker in Danville, Va. But avoid wall-mounted security floodlights. "You don’t need that ‘prison breakout’ look to make things safe," Harders says.

Instead, choose softer lighting for a warm, inviting feel. Place uplights at the bottom of deck posts and staple strings of LEDs under railings, says Teris Pantazes, co-founder of Settle Rite Home Services, a home-staging company based in Baltimore. You can illuminate steps the same way. Each activity area—seating, grilling, eating—should get its own lighting as well. Just be sure to check the UL, ETL, or IP rating of all your lighting to confirm that it has been tested and approved for outdoor and wet environments.

Some last pieces of advice: Keep in mind that town or other municipal codes might be more stringent—but often are more lax—than what we discuss here, Dream Home Consultants’ Barker says. And if you’re uncomfortable assessing your deck yourself, consider having a qualified deck inspector do it; it typically costs $200 to $250, Barker says. 

Decks that are 10 years old or more should be inspected at least every five years. If you live within a mile or two of the ocean, increase that to every year to ensure that the salt water hasn’t corroded your deck’s fasteners. 

Your deck can benefit from the same design principles used indoors, says interior designer Morris. If there’s room, create discrete living areas—say, one place for lounging and another for dining—defined by area rugs and large potted plants.

Neutral colors work best for deck furniture and cushions because they blend into your deck’s natural surroundings, Morris says. But be sure to create some contrast with throw pillows and accessories.

"Some of my favorite contrast colors are navy, hunter green, or deep purples," she says. "They work with almost any home." 

Daryl Beyers, gardening program coordinator for the New York Botanical Garden and author of "The New Gardener’s Handbook" (Timber Press, 2020), prefers tall plant containers on a deck because they bring plants to eye level when you’re seated.

"It can make you feel like you’re sitting with the plants, not hovering above them," he says. "Even on a small deck, a 3-foot-tall planter can have a small footprint. It’s the height that matters."

These four products are the top-performing decking materials in their categories. See our review of decking materials for more information as well as our decking ratings and buying guide.