Check Your Deck
How Easily Someone Can Die or Be Seriously Injured in a Home Deck Collapse
In November 2008, in the posh Brisbane suburb of Ascot where there are a lot of old, renovated homes, Annette Lee Stanley lost her life when the deck of a newly renovated Queenslander-style home holding about 30 women gave way. The group were celebrating the end of Year 12 for their sons - all students at the Brisbane Anglican Church Grammar School.
A Brisbane Magistrates Court heard an outdated construction technique on the 1930's-era house had been a factor in the collapse. State Coroner John Lock warned all Queensland owners of decks and balconies to inspect their home structures and add support if required. He is still considering his findings and is expected to make public recommendations at a date to be fixed.
Nothing will bring back Annette Lee Stanley, a wife, mother, friend and respected citizen. Everyone who has a deck attached to their home should check the stability of the structure to ensure anyone who is on their property is safe from harm.
The incident today is a timely reminder for anyone who owns a property to make sure they have adequate public liability and personal injury insurance to cover accidents. The loss of a life on your property, no matter where you live, is a very serious issue worthy of immediate consideration.
With the festive season approaching, many people entertain family and friends. Make sure your home is safe so you don't have to deal with the type of tragedy that happened to Annette Lee Stanley and her loved ones or the people who are dealing with today's deck fiasco.
Check your deck.
Sources:
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26271971-952,00.html
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,24683031-3102,00.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/20/2425552.htm
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/gallery/0,23816,5035906-17382,00.html
Published by Susan Jane
I am an Australian professional writer with with 28 years of commercial experience. In 2003, I became full-time carer for my mother (now 91) who has a form of dementia. I was recently appointed as a Featured... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentSage advice! It follows for any wood structures in the house.
Good advice. When we built our house in 1996, we just told the builder, a good friend, to build us a deck and went about our business. He built a large deck behind the house and then put one about the same size above it by the upstairs door. My husband always worried that the 4"x 4" supports weren't strong enough. So later we went under the deck and added a number of 8"x 8" supports and then added more 4 x 4's next to the ones supporting the upper deck, and bolted them together. It really made a difference in how solid it feels.
Wonderful advice!
VERY good point, I think this is a part of the house that alot of people forget about!
Oh My, how horrible, this is a great article, thanks... :o()
We just spent last weekend treating our deck to protect it! Good article
Great article on something people do not ordinarily think about. Excellent job at highlighting the problem, Excellent way to get out the warning!