Is Your Deck Safe?

With 40 million decks in the United States that are more than 20 years old, there are plenty of families whose outdoor fun is resting on a shaky foundation. At least 30 people died as a direct result of deck collapses between 2000 and 2008, according to the North American Deck and Railing Association, and every year, many more are injured in deck-related accidents, many of which could be prevented.

An annual deck inspection takes less than an hour and could head off a catastrophe. This interactive graphic helps you keep track of what to look for