A shaky porch or a deck in disrepair can pose a major health and safety risk for you and anyone else who uses it. When you keep your deck or porch in good condition, you're doing a lot to remove the potential for major safety issues in the future. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that you will generally need to hire a contractor who is licensed with the state. Anything that involves the repair or construction of actual structures attached to your home will generally fall under the jurisdiction of local zoning laws. This means that you'll have to be sure that some very strict standards are followed when the deck is being repaired. Some states require you to have a zoning inspector come out and look over the deck, but this generally only applies to decks that are above a certain height. Also, you should make sure that the contractor you hire for this is bonded and insured. The bonding means that you will be financially protected if you provide a deposit and the contractor just never gets around to your deck. The insurance will protect you if something goes wrong during the repair work.