Safety First

Vacations are in full swing, and summer home activities are on the upswing.  Gold Star Finance believes that Safety First around your home or business is a must. As we push forward deeper into the summer, many of you may be planning to invite friends and family over to party, swim, or grill and relax on an outdoor pool and deck areas. Birthdays, anniversarys, pool parties, and sleep overs will continue all summer long. Now is the time to get ready to accept guests.

Gold Star wants to have you consider an important question. When was the last time that you inspected your pool and deck? And in conjunction with that how long ago was it installed? According to the North American Deck and Railing Association, over 40 million decks in the US are over 20 years old. If this is the case for you, then we have put together a list of things you may need to think about before you send out invitations for your next patio event.

Inspect First & Repair

To avoid serious potential hazards a regular inspection of your glass door entry areas, deck, pool areas, exterior pool furniture, grill, propane tanks and electrical GFI boxes will keep your friends and family safe. Entertaining with peace of mind is always a great idea. Here are some additional items to think about:

• All Deck inspections should start on bottom of your deck.  Loose boards, a drop or sagging in any location, boards that have come up from the stringers, or missing planks.
• Inspect the connection between your deck and the building to ensure that it is secure. Make sure adequate metal fittings are in place and haven't come loose.
• Ensure that railing on the deck and stairways are properly supported and stable.
• Check for water sources near your deck that could contribute to accelerated wood decay.  
• Lawn sprinklers that regularly come into contact with your deck can cause drying and moisture to mold and decay.
• Indentations around your deck’s support beams where water may pool, especially in newly installed decks.
• Downspouts from gutter systems that exit near your deck may shorten the lifespan of the entire deck.
• Narrow gaps in the deck’s floor boards that don’t allow water to pass through mean algae and mold can creep in and dry rot the wood.
• Make sure that none of the deck’s wood has decayed.  Keep in mind that layers of paint can hide decay.
• Visually inspect the beams below your deck for signs of sagging.
• After nailing and securing problem areas, a good waterproof stain and paint is a great idea to extend the life of the wood and keep it beautiful.
• Check out the grill, give it a good cleaning and check the connections if gas. Make sure propane tanks are new and in good condition. If questionable simply return at your nearest grocery and get new ones.
• Check out all GFI boxes, make sure no dark patches exist in the plug holes and test to make sure it trips properly at the breaker box.
• Pool furniture does wear and tear with normal use. Be sure to expand the search for damage to include the entire chair, chaisse, or table.
• Insure that all chemicals for cleaning, pool water and filter treatments are in a locked area and fully ventilated. Do not store gas for a mower with other chemicals.
• Make sure all glass patio doors have brightly colored decals highly visable at all heights for both kids and adults so they see the glass door before they get there to open it.

If you have any other concerns about the safety of your deck, pool area, outside furniture, grill or propane tanks, right away make a call to contact a licensed home inspector to perform a complete inspection on your behalf. Gold Star understands that a deck should be an area where you and your family can have relaxing, entertaining, and wonderful experience. If you follow these tips we believe that it will help ensure that everyone using participating will have a safe and enjoyable time.

At Gold Star Finance, we have several different loan options for you to choose from, starting at $100.00 up to $1,300 for whatever your need may be. If you find that after inspection some minor repairs are needed, or you just want a quick patio accessary upgrade on the fly, then consider completing the application here on our website.

** Remember to always consult your homeowners’ insurance policy and make sure you have the protection you need in the event of an accident.  If you have any questions, contact