Earlier this summer a deck collapsed in Montana at a golf course. Numerous people fell to the ground and were injured.

From KTVQ “Through a public records request filed with the City of Billings, MTN News obtained a copy of a permit application filed by The Briarwood in June 2021 to remodel and replace its existing deck, but the project was not completed.

The permit application includes an inspection report from a Billings engineering firm that labeled six of the deck beams as deteriorating and in need of replacement, another six beams as deteriorating, and only two of the existing beams as acceptable.”

So here is a Board of Directors with a report that says their deck is structurally compromised and they apparently failed to fix the deck, opting to replace some deck boards and paint over the damaged beams. With up to 50 injured people, there is a huge liability exposure to the association. In the series of photos following I highlighted the claims… Read them carefully and understand that if your Association fails to inspect, maintain and repair its decks, they risk a lawsuit that is tough to defend against.

As a Board member, you have an obligation to protect the Associations assets and ensure that your decks are safe to use. We here at William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC take your balcony inspections very seriously and we are experts on decks and their potential problems. That’s why we offer SB 326 inspections to HOAs, to ensure your EEEs are safe. We guarantee that a structural engineer inspects the decks and signs and stamps your reports.

While inspections can be expensive, lawsuits are more “expensiver”… Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish.

Contact us today to avoid potential liability. We carry full General Liability, Workers Compensation and Errors and Omissions insurance for your protection. We name your association as an additional insured.