That bottom rail just falling apart is terrifying! Two stories up is no joke for a frame to fail like that. Good thing your partner was right there to grab you.

Dave's idea was GENIUS. My old shop had a guy who was the same way about cable management, saved our butts more than once.

What made you finally give it a shot?

Oh man, what about when someone skips checking their references? My friend tried to build a whole deck without pulling a single permit, just to save a couple weeks. City made him tear the whole thing down, fines and everything. Total nightmare. Sagestone is right, it's gospel because the hard way to learn sucks. I mean, he lost so much more time and money than if he'd just done it right the first time.

Ugh, that's why I check mine every spring.