How to Design, Build, Inspect, and Maintain a Safer Deck (Black & Decker, 2nd Edition)

“Whether you are a homeowner, a builder, or inspector, [BLACK+DECKER Deck Codes and Standards] is for you...this excellent and valuable manual is highly ­recommended.”  —Library Journal, review of the first edition

National codes expert Bruce A. Barker accurately shows how to design and build decks right. Given that every year in the US more than 120,000 people are injured by deck collapses, and more than 50 die, following Barker’s careful and detailed advice is not only important for passing inspection, but to protect against potential disaster.

Using the same common-sense approach he used in his best-selling book BLACK+DECKER Codes for Homeowners, Barker isolates the aspects of deck building that are the most frequent sources of trouble and shows—with photos, illustrations, and commentary—exactly how to do it correctly.

This updated edition is not only for DIYers who are building a brand new deck. National deck building codes have changed significantly in the past five years. If your existing deck is more than two or three years old, you’ll want this detailed but accessible volume.