Poolside on the deck on the Fourth of July.

"I enjoy it. Have people over here. We barbeque, cook out, swim and everything," says homeowner Randy Shunnarah.

And if he does invite friends over Friday night...

"I just try to keep it small, just a few people."

An overloaded deck can spell disaster. Back in 2003 in Chicago, a deck collapsed killing 12 and injuring another 50.

"They was up about three floors, and they were having a party. There was a lot of them up there dancing, and the deck collapsed."

Local home inspector Bobby Monk says decks can add value to your home, but you want to make sure they are safe. for example...

"These rails are very sturdy. The spacing on the rails would be impossible for a child to fall of it, and the deck will not move. So it's a very stable deck."

Builders should properly secure decks to the home with carriage bolts that go all the way through the wall.

"So that makes the deck impossible for it to pull away. Usually what happens, you get 10 or 12 people dancing around. The deck gets shaken, and if it's not secured, it pulls away from the house and dumps them out in the yard."

The flooring also needs to be well-supported, and a sway bracing is key.

"That keeps the deck from swaying from side to side. It braces it to where it won't move. So this deck is just very well done."

Shunnarah will take one more precaution on the Fourth.

"Make sure it's lit up good at night while we're out here."

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