Every spring, I see the same scene in Cary: families dragging furniture onto their deck, firing up the grill, and assuming the structure under their feet is safe because it looked fine last year. But here is the uncomfortable truth that deck builders know and most homeowners don't: the average deck in McHenry County that fails does so not because of one dramatic event, but because of a slow, invisible breakdown that started two or three seasons earlier. In 2026, with the wild temperature swings we have had this past winter between freeze and thaw, the risk is higher than usual. A five minute walk around your deck right now could save you thousands in repairs and prevent an injury that no one sees coming.
Why Summer 2026 Deck Safety Matters for Cary, IL Homes
Your deck goes through a beating that the rest of your house does not. It sits outside in direct sun, freezing rain, heavy snow, and the kind of humidity that makes Chicago summers feel like a steam room. The freeze thaw cycle in Cary is particularly brutal on wood. Water seeps into tiny cracks, freezes, expands, and makes those cracks bigger. Repeat that twenty or thirty times over a winter and even a well built deck starts showing stress.
The North American Deck and Railing Association estimates that roughly 40 million decks in the United States are past their safe lifespan or have structural issues. In Cary, many homes were built in the 1990s and early 2000s, which means their original decks are hitting the twenty to twenty five year mark where problems become serious. If your deck is older than fifteen years and has never had a professional inspection, this summer is the time to change that.
I am not trying to scare you. I am trying to give you the same information that Andy Burns and his crew use when they walk onto a property for a Deck Repairs consultation. A quick check now can turn a small fix into a weekend project instead of a full rebuild.
Check #1: Inspect for Rot, Cracks, and Loose Fasteners
Start with the ledger board, which is the piece of wood bolted directly to your house. This is the most critical connection on the entire deck because it carries the majority of the load. If the ledger board is rotting or if the fasteners have pulled loose, your deck is essentially leaning against your house hoping nothing bad happens. Look for gaps between the ledger board and the siding. If you can slide a quarter into that gap, you have a problem. Also check the flashing above the ledger board. If it is missing or damaged, water has been running behind the board for years, and rot is almost guaranteed.
Next, examine the deck boards themselves. Pay close attention to areas around screw heads and knots. These are the weak points where water gets in. If you see dark, soft spots, push a screwdriver into them. If it sinks in more than an eighth of an inch, that board needs to be replaced. Do not just ignore it because the rest of the board looks fine. Rot spreads from the inside out, so what looks like a small dark spot on the surface can be a completely hollowed out section underneath.
Finally, check every visible fastener. Walk the entire deck and look for screws that have popped up, nails that have backed out, or bolts that have loosened. A deck with popped fasteners is a deck that is actively coming apart. In Cary, the humidity cycles cause wood to expand and contract, which works fasteners loose over time. If you find more than three or four loose fasteners on a deck that is less than ten years old, it may indicate that the original installation used the wrong type of fastener for this climate. Burns Carpentry uses only high grade, corrosion resistant fasteners for all their Wood Decks projects specifically because they have seen what happens when builders cut corners on hardware.
Check #2: Ensure Railings and Balusters Are Secure
Railings are the second most common point of failure on residential decks, and they are the part most likely to cause an injury. A railing that feels solid when you lean on it can still fail if the connection to the deck frame has rotted or if the balusters have loosened. Grab the top rail at several points along the deck and give it a firm push away from the deck. It should not move more than a fraction of an inch. If you feel any give, trace the connection points and look for rot or corrosion at the base of each post.
Balusters, the vertical spindles between the top rail and the bottom rail, need to be spaced no more than four inches apart per modern building codes. That is the standard in McHenry County. If your balusters are spaced wider than that, a small child can slip through, and the railing itself may not have been built to current code. Even if the balusters are spaced correctly, check each one individually. Grab each baluster and give it a gentle shake. If it moves, the fasteners are failing, and the whole railing section is compromised.
I have seen decks where the railing looked perfect from the driveway but the posts were rotted through at the base because the deck builder had set them directly into the ground without a metal bracket to keep them dry. If your deck has wood posts that touch the ground or sit in concrete without a bracket, that is a red flag. Burns Carpentry addresses this in every Deck Building project by using elevated post bases that keep wood off the soil and allow air circulation around the connection point.
Check #3: Look for Signs of Pest Damage or Water Pooling
Termites and carpenter ants love Illinois summers, and they love damp wood even more. In Cary, where many homes back up to wooded areas or green spaces, pest pressure is real. Look for mud tubes climbing up the foundation of your house near the deck. Check the underside of the deck for small piles of sawdust or frass, which looks like coarse sawdust mixed with tiny pellets. Tap on the bottom of the joists with a screwdriver. If the wood sounds hollow or crumbles easily, you have active pest damage that needs immediate attention.
Water pooling is a slower but equally destructive problem. After a heavy rain, go out and look at your deck. Are there areas where water sits for more than a few hours? Standing water accelerates rot, attracts insects, and can cause the decking material to warp and split. Proper drainage is a design choice, not an accident. A well built deck slopes away from the house at a rate of about one eighth inch per foot. If your deck has puddles that last all day, the slope is wrong, and the deck structure is slowly soaking up moisture every time it rains.
If you have a Composite Decks installation, you are less likely to see rot in the decking material itself, but the substructure can still suffer. Composite boards trap moisture against the joists underneath, which can accelerate rot in the wood frame. Burns Carpentry builds composite decks with proper ventilation gaps and uses joist tape on top of every joist to create a moisture barrier between the composite board and the wood frame. If your composite deck is more than five years old and you have never checked the substructure, it is worth a look.
When to Call Burns Carpentry for a Professional Deck Inspection
You can handle the three checks above yourself in about thirty minutes with a screwdriver and a flashlight. That covers the vast majority of visible problems. But there are situations where you need a professional set of eyes. If you found rot on the ledger board, if multiple balusters are loose, if you see any signs of pest damage, or if your deck is more than twenty years old and has never been inspected, call someone who does this for a living.
Burns Carpentry offers free estimates for Deck Repairs in Cary and the surrounding areas including Arlington Heights, Aurora, Elgin, Schaumburg, and Palatine. Andy Burns and his team will walk your deck, check every connection, test the ledger board attachment, inspect the footings, and give you a written summary of what needs attention. They do not upsell you on work you do not need. If your deck is solid, they will tell you that. If a few boards need replacing or a railing needs reinforcement, they will explain exactly why and give you a straightforward price.
One thing I appreciate about Burns Carpentry is that they handle permits for every job. If your deck needs structural repairs, the work has to meet current building codes in Cary. Burns Carpentry manages the permit application with the village offices so you do not have to worry about whether the work is legal or whether it will cause problems when you sell your home. Their workmanship is guaranteed for two years, and the materials carry their own manufacturer warranties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I inspect my deck in Cary, IL?
You should do a basic visual inspection at the start of spring and again in late fall, especially after a harsh winter. A professional inspection every three to five years is a good rule for decks under fifteen years old. For older decks, consider an annual professional check.
What is the most common cause of deck failure in Illinois?
The most common cause is a failed ledger board connection, where the board that attaches the deck to the house rots or pulls loose from the structure. This is almost always caused by missing or damaged flashing that allows water to run behind the ledger board. It is entirely preventable with proper installation.
Do I need a permit to repair my deck in Cary?
Yes, most structural repairs and any replacement of a significant portion of the deck require a permit from the Village of Cary. Replacing a few deck boards or a single railing section typically does not, but if you are replacing the ledger board, footings, or more than twenty five percent of the deck surface, you need a permit. Burns Carpentry handles this for you.
Is composite decking worth the extra cost for Cary homes?
For most homeowners, yes. Composite decking costs roughly two to three times more than pressure treated wood upfront, but it eliminates the need for staining and sealing every two to three years. Over a fifteen year period, the total cost of ownership is often lower for composite. It also handles the freeze thaw cycle better because it does not absorb water the way wood does.
If your deck failed any of the three checks above, or if you just want a professional opinion from someone who has seen hundreds of decks in Cary and the surrounding towns, give Burns Carpentry a call. They will come out, give you a straight answer, and if there is work to be done, they will handle the permit, the materials, and the build. If there is not, they will tell you that too. That is the kind of contractor you want working on your home.
