Hurricane Isaias came through on October 9, and a week later I'm getting calls from all over South Mobile County about wobbly railings and lifted boards. Before anyone leans on that railing, here are the seven things I check on a deck after a storm.
1. The railing posts. Grab the railing and push. If it moves, the posts have loosened at the connection. On a Protech deck the posts are through-bolted inside the rim joist with ½-inch galvanized carriage bolts, so they don't move — but on an older deck, a loose post is the first sign of trouble.
2. The stairs. Walk down them. If a stair feels spongy or bounces, the stringer may have pulled away from its hanger. Stairs fastened with toenails instead of structural hangers are the first thing to fail in a storm.
3. The ledger. Look where the deck meets the house. If there's a gap, the ledger has pulled away — and that's the connection holding the whole deck to your home.
4. The decking boards. Look for boards that have lifted, cupped or split. Lifted boards catch feet and hold water, which speeds rot.
5. The fasteners. Look at the screws and bolts. If they're rusted or backing out, the connections are weakening. Near salt air this happens faster than people think.
6. The framing under the deck. If you can get under it, look for cracks in the beams and joists, and check that the posts are still plumb on their footings.
7. The surface for rot. Press a screwdriver into any soft-looking spot. If it sinks in, the wood is rotting and needs replacing.
If any of these turn up something concerning, don't wait. The free Post-Isaias Deck Safety Check covers railings, stairs, ledger and fasteners, and I'll give you a photo report you can hand your insurer. We book it through November 30, 2026 — no countdown, just an honest, dated offer.