John H. Hart

(October 13, 2004, Richmond, VA) - New EPA regulations are changing the way homeowners build decks according to John Hart, a structural design consultant with Archadeck.

In a move intended to keep arsenic and chromium from leaching into back yards and playgrounds, the Environmental Protection Agency banned chromated copper arsenate (CCA) as a preservative for most wood intended for residential use.According to Hart, replacement products use more copper, which makes the new lumber more expensive and more corrosive.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," says Hart.
...
"Unfortunately, fastener grades are not always marked on the product boxes," points out Hart."That makes it difficult for the do-it-yourselfer.It's a little easier for us, because we have been using high-grade, hot-dipped products all along."

The confusion over product compatibility is only one of the factors that brings homeowners to Archadeck."These days, desires surpass capabilities for many homeowners," Hart says."Not many people want a square box tacked to the side of their house."

Hart says that more and more customers want multiple levels and multiple features, but few of them understand local building codes, and most don't know where the utility lines are located.The most complicated and worrisome part, Hart says, is attaching the ledger board to the house."Homeowners are rightly concerned about drilling holes into the framework of their house.That is why so many people are hiring professionals to build new decks."

Homeowners with existing decks made from old CCA lumber need not worry about hiring a professional to replace them, however."The old products leached arsenic and chromium at very low levels, and the EPA says they're perfectly safe.Anyone concerned about their existing deck or swing set can coat it with an oil-based, penetrating stain every couple of years to make it safer," Hart explains.

After reading an article about a deck collapse in the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee and a porch in Seneca, SC., it seemed like a good time to call in the experts, so I asked our Structural Design Consultant, John Hart, to give me some information about deck safety.

New EPA regulations are changing the way homeowners build decks according to John Hart, Structural Design Consultant with Archadeck.

In a move intended to keep arsenic and chromium from leaching into back yards and playgrounds, the Environmental Protection Agency banned chromated copper arsenate (CCA) as a preservative for most wood intended for residential use.According to Hart, replacement products use more copper, which makes the new lumber more expensive and more corrosive.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," says Hart.
...
"Unfortunately, fastener grades are not always marked on the product boxes," points out Hart.
...
Hart says that more and more customers want multiple levels and multiple features, but few of them understand local building codes, and most don't know where the utility lines are located.The most complicated and worrisome part, he says, is attaching the ledger board to the house.

"Vinyl-coated steel is probably the newest thing I've seen on the market," comments John H. Hart, structural design consultant for U.S. Structures, Inc./Archadeck, which designs and installs all kinds of decks.