10 Critical Deck Connections

Decks continue to be a popular addition to homes. In 2017, nearly 24 percent of the single-family homes started that year included a deck. The same year, 25 percent of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) remodelers reported adding a deck as one of their most common projects. Those numbers have remained pretty constant for the last decade, steadily swelling the number of decks in the United States.

According to the North American Deck and Railing Association, there are more than 50 million decks in the United States. The organization estimates that close to half that number “are past their useful life and need to be replaced or repaired.”

A cursory internet search for “deck collapse” quickly generates dozens of recent news reports of decks failing. The most recent numbers from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (published in 2010) found there were more than 20,000 injuries due to deck structural failure or collapse between 2003 and 2007 alone.

There are several structural connections that are essential to building a safe, code-compliant deck. Simpson Strong-Tie offers a complete line of connectors and fasteners to make those critical connections. To help homeowners and deck builders determine the right product for each of these connections, we’ve also created a video, “10 Critical Deck Connections.” Below the video, you’ll find a list of the connections, with links to the products we’ve designed for keeping your friends and families safe throughout deck season — this year and for years to come.