🚫 The “Code? What Code?”: How to Spot a Bad Deck Contractor

Cole Davis
Apr 11
2 min read

If you’ve ever stepped out onto your deck and felt a little wobble—or worse, noticed sagging, rot, or loose railings—there’s a chance your deck might not just be old. It might be illegally built. And sadly, here in Colorado, we see this all the time.

At Stone Peak Landscape, we’ve inspected dozens of decks across Denver, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Castle Rock, and surrounding areas—and the pattern is clear: shady contractors cut corners, and homeowners are left with unsafe structures that don't meet local building codes.

So, how do you know if your deck is one of them?

🔍 Common Code Violations We Find During Deck Inspections

Here are the most frequent—and dangerous—deck code violations we uncover:

1. Improper Footings

Deck footings in Colorado must typically be at least 12"x12" and below frost line (30"+ deep in most areas). We constantly see shallow or missing footings, causing sagging and instability.

2. Missing or Loose Ledger Boards

The ledger board is what connects your deck to your home. If it's only nailed (not bolted) or missing flashing, water damage and structural failure are just a matter of time.

3. Unsafe Railings

Local code requires railings to be at least 36" high with balusters spaced no more than 4" apart. Loose, rotting, or missing railings are huge safety red flags.

4. Wobbly or Improperly Built Stairs

We regularly find deck stairs that aren’t anchored, use the wrong rise/run ratio, improper stiar stringer installation, or lack handrails—putting your family and guests at risk.

5. Non-Compliant Hardware

Using interior nails instead of galvanized fasteners, or poorly installed joist hangers, is more common than you’d think—and totally against code.

🎯 Why It Matters

A non-code-compliant deck isn’t just a risk—it’s a huge liability. Homeowners can be held responsible for injuries, insurance claims can be denied, and home resale value takes a serious hit when inspection time comes around.

🛠️ How Stone Peak Landscape Does It Differently

We don’t just “build decks”—we build safe, standardized, and lasting outdoor spaces. When we inspect your deck or take on a new project, we follow all ICC building codes, local Denver-area regulations, and best practices for structural longevity.

📍 Serving Denver, Broomfield, Parker, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch & Beyond

Whether you’re in Broomfield, Centennial, or Lone Tree, our team provides free deck inspections and detailed reports outlining all issues—code-related or otherwise.