Hardware inspection
You are quite welcome. I am honored to have been asked. I wish I could give you an average life for deck compounds, but there are so many variables. A good caulking, applied well, should give you several years of headache free service. The best way to prevent leaks, however, is to physically closely inspect the installations, looking for any gaps between the hardware and the deck, for any deterioration of the caulk and for any corrosion of the fasteners. Generally, the caulking will fail from the outside edge in so you will see changes in the caulking and the adhesion prior to the leaking stage. I would recommend that you establish a routine inspection of these areas on a regular basis to head off any leakage before it starts.
