Danger Underfoot
Is Your Deck on the Verge of Collapse?
Picture the perfect summer cookout: You’re out on your deck, burgers are sizzling on the grill, there’s a cold drink in your hand, and the kids are running around, playing tag in the yard. The weather is perfect, and it’s the kind of day that makes you happy to be alive. Then you hear a sickening creak. The wood beneath your feet jerks violently, and suddenly you’re falling as the deck gives way. Deck collapses are horrific events. This past December, a deck collapse in Atlanta sent six people to the hospital, including two with exposed-bone injuries who had to be
Other common reasons for a deck collapse include:
• • • • • •
Ledger board spitting
Board rot
Post and beam failures
Joist failures
Bad foundation
Hanger/toe nail failure
There are often many warning signs before a deck collapse, but most people aren’t trained to spot them. The best way to avoid a catastrophic
airlifted out. Deck collapses can happen any time of year, though we often see them in the spring and summer, when people are spending more time outside. One of the biggest reasons decks collapse is due to shoddy construction that’s not up to code. If the ledger board is nailed into the side of the house instead of bolted down at is should be, the deck can pull away from the house and collapse. If you have a deck, we urge you to check it right away and make sure a handful of nails aren’t the only thing standing between you and disaster.
collapse is to have your deck inspected regularly. If you suspected there’s any sort of problem, be sure to have it repaired by a certified contractor right away. If you’re planning the first big cookout of the year and expect to have a lot of people on your deck, take some time to inspect your deck before you start using it. A couple extra minutes could save you and your loved ones from tragedy.
WORD SEARCH May
SHRIMP SAUSAGE SKEWERS
Ingredients • 1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined • 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Creole Seasoning Ingredients • 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder • 1/2 tablespoon onion powder • 1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder • 1/4 tablespoon dried oregano • 1/4 tablespoon dried thyme
Directions 1. Heat your grill to medium-high. 2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning. 3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover them with the olive oil. 4. Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered. 5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. 6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well-cooked (6–8 minutes). Inspired by PaleoLeap.com
GARDEN BLOOMING MAY DAY GEMINI MOTHER
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