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Wing wall? And it needs a railing?
"Wing walls need railing," was on the FHA appraisal, and the client was mystified.
Since it was an FHA appraisal and it involved a railing, I knew the appraiser was talking about a wall or ledge off of which someone could fall. I had never heard the term "wing wall." The house did not have an open stairwell, so I asked the client if there were any photos. "Only of the outside of the house," she said.

That was the clue I needed, as I realized the appraiser was talking about the retaining walls on either side of the walk-out basement.
A retaining wall at the corner of the house is a wing wall. While remembering that term is not important for homeowners, knowing that those walls can be cited as a safety hazard is important.
A retaining wall anywhere on the property may be a target for an FHA predication, even those retaining walls that separate yard from driveway when a raised ranch or split foyer house has a basement level garage. Sellers need to know that they may be asked to erect railings in those areas.
 
 
 
 
The photo at right shows the same house as the ... more

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