According to the North American Deck and Railing Association, there’s been an increase in the number of decks that have collapsed, fallen apart, or otherwise failed. In most cases, simple upkeep could have prevented these incidents, which tend to happen (no surprise) when decks are packed with people. Make such an inspection an annual affair—it takes a few minutes—and fix any problems before inviting the gang over. An annual deck inspection will help keep yours safe for years to come.