Homeowners can get free residential deck maintenance inspections throughout May as part of the county’s “Building Safety Month” campaign.
The theme for this year’s safety month campaign is “Mission Possible”, which aims to raise awareness about building safety and the importance of regularly updated building codes. There are also weekly themes addressing one aspect of safety, including connecting with the community and establishing plans in case of emergency.
The inspection will take about 20 to 25 minutes, which gives inspectors time to check the support structure of the deck, fastener conditions, ledger attachment and overall condition, DPS Director Rabbiah Sabbakhan said in a press release.
The county has provided more than 2,800 free deck inspections over the 15 years the program has run, County Executive Marc Elrich said in a press release.
The program is limited to 250 appointments and is offered through the county’s Department of permitting Services (DPS). It does not extend to the city limits of Gaithersburg and Rockville because they have their own permitting departments and protocols.
The request a deck maintenance, homeowners can call 240-777-0311 starting May 1. They can also schedule an inspection online by visiting the DPS website and submitting a service request. Residents should note they are requesting a deck maintenance inspection and include their address and contact information on the top of the form. Requests must be requested by homeowner.
DPS also offers resources about deck maintenance, including guides, videos and frequently asked questions. For more information, visit the DPS website.
“We encourage homeowners who have questions about the status of their deck to book an appointment for this free service and to review the educational resources that are available on the DPS website,” Elrich said.
