Common Deck Failures Seen in Michigan and What Green Shield Does About Them
- Adam Rought
- Aug 14
- 5 min read
Bad Deck Tour with Adam, CEO & Founder at Green Shield
Why a Safety Inspection is Important
Every year over 8,000 people are seriously injured due to deck failures. Decay on your deck can happen slowly over time. As a NADRA Safety Ambassador, Green Shield is committed to raising awareness about the risks bad decks pose to homeowners. That’s why our Deck Designers are trained to conduct a 20-Point NADRA Safety Inspection during your Deck Designer visit.
Green Shield Deck Inspection FAQs
How long will my deck inspection take?
The length of your deck inspection depends on the size, age, and material of your current deck. Our Deck Designers are trained to spot early signs of rot, mold, and mildew. Inspections may require our Deck Designers to access framing under your deck or to move and look under furniture. It is recommended that you have 90 minutes available for the appointment.
What does it mean to be NADRA certified?
Green Shield’s NADRA certification is part of our commitment to year-round deck safety. As a NADRA Safety Ambassador, Green Shield Deck Builders helps to raise awareness of the risks bad decks pose and provides options to homeowners. Our deck inspections are free of charge and we encourage homeowners to have their deck inspected annually.
Who will be conducting my inspection?
Your 20-point NADRA deck inspection will be conducted by your Green Shield Deck Designer. They will visit your home to look at your current deck and surrounding structures. As employees of Green Shield, our Deck Designers are trained and trusted to provide expert decking advice to homeowners.
Why do you offer free deck inspections?
Green Shield Deck Builders offers free deck inspections because it is important to raise awareness around deck safety. Every year 8,000 people are injured on decks. Green Shield wants to make sure you, your family, and friends can enjoy quality time on the deck. Faulty railings, loose deck boards, and hidden moisture are all risks to your family and friends. Don’t hesitate to have a Green Shield Deck Designer inspect your deck.
Do I have to purchase a deck after my inspection?
Nope! Our Deck Designers will show you the Green Shield Difference after your inspection, but there is no obligation to purchase a deck from us. The goal of our free inspection is to make sure you have all the information needed to make an informed decision. If you do decide to consider a Green Shield deck, our Deck Designer will give you a price locked in for 30-Days.
Traditional Deck Boards vs. Green Shield Deck Boards
Moisture Threatens Your Deck
“The last thing we want at any construction site is moisture and water. It’s the enemy of a well built home, deck, or any construction project” - Adam Rought, CEO and Founder of Green Shield Deck Builders
Moisture is the enemy of a deck. Rain, snow, and even sprinklers can cause decks to fail over time. Traditional wood deck boards require yearly maintenance to keep moisture from rotting out your deck. Regular staining, painting, and/or sanding can cost both time and up to $3,000 per year. Most composites on the market today rely on wood-filler, allowing moisture to infiltrate the deck board causing it to swell and degrade over time. Off-the-shelf composite boards might look good for a while, but eventually will fail increasing your risk of injury.
See What Moisture Can Do to a Deck
Over the years traditional decks both wood and composite will begin to show signs of moisture damage. Moisture damage can begin even before installation of your traditional deck and grow with time. New decks aren't the only ones under threat. It is estimated that 30 million decks have exceeded their useful lifespan.
What are the Moisture Resistant Advantages of Green Shield Deck Boards?
Green Shield composite deck boards are designed to resist moisture, rot, and mildew. Our deck boards are wood-free, so you don’t have to worry about wood-filler decaying over time. A Green Shield deck board uses the natural characteristics of rice hulls to repel moisture. For added moisture protection our rice hull composite deck boards are “capped” on all sides. This means the board is sealed with a resin layer even in the grooves and on the underside.
Because our rice hull composite deck boards are moisture resistant, Green Shield is able to offer a Lifetime Warranty on every deck. Our deck boards will hold up to Michigan’s rain and snow continuing to look good year after year.
Instead of staining your deck next year, enjoy more time and elegance in your space by upgrading to a Green Shield deck.
Why the Framing Material Makes a Difference
Risks of Traditional “Wet” Wood Deck Framing
Not all deck framing materials are made equal. Most products used by contractors today try to save money by using standard grade 2 “wet” wood that you might find at a local Lowe’s or Home Depot store. When these products are treated, they are soaked with chemicals and continue to dry and warp over time. As “wet” wood products warp your deck’s frame, you may begin to see waves in your wood or composite deck boards. A wavy deck looks bad, can create trip hazards, and also trap water.
Why Green Shield Chose KDAT Deck Framing
Since Green Shield warranties your deck for life, we can’t afford to use “wet” wood that might warp your deck. That’s why we have carefully chosen to go with a Kiln Dried After Treatment or KADAT approach. Using this method our deck framing materials are grade 1 southern yellow pine carefully selected by the lumber yard, treated for preservation, and then “pre-shrunk.” The results speak for themselves, Green Shield frames won’t warp over time meaning your deck will keep looking good for years to come.
Watch Out for Post Rot!
One of the common factors that contributes to deck failure in Michigan is rotting posts and supports for your deck’s frame. Over time deck posts that come into contact with the ground will begin to rot due to moisture, insects, and standing water. Even with treated wood and composite products, decomposers will set to work immediately. Depending on the conditions it can take only a few years for a new deck to be at risk of collapse.
Green Shield Upgrades your Deck Posts and Protects them with RotBloc
A 225% Upgrade to Your Deck Posts
Green Shield doesn’t just build decks like everyone else. Where typical deck builders use 4x4s to support decks, Green Shield upgrades your posts to 6x6 posts. Our standard 6x6 posts increase the surface area that your deck rests on by 225%! By increasing the surface area and better distributing the load, 6x6 posts can resist twisting, bending, and warping much better than traditional 4x4s.
Deck Posts Protected by RotBloc
All decay on Earth is right in that top layer, so that’s where we focus” - Adam, CEO and Founder of Green Shield Deck Builders
Our deck building crews professionally install RotBloc on every single post, no exceptions! Here at Green Shield, making sure your deck lasts a lifetime is important to us. That starts from the base of your deck’s foundation. RotBoc is a protective barrier that covers the critical “rot-zone” in the soil where insects will try to eat your deck. Invented to help protect grape vines in vineyards from decay due to moisture, the technology now protects your deck extending its life by up to 25 years!
Is Your Deck Showing its Age?
Don’t risk injury or code violations! Green Shield Deck Builders can send out a Deck Designer for a free 20-point inspection and free estimate. Dream about all your deck can be. Get a lifetime deck from Green Shield.
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