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On The Edge (A Home Inspection Blog)

This is one of the more interesting items I've found during a home inspection. Take a close look... can you see the problem? And no, I'm not talking about the dust on the lens that caused some spots.

A cliff by the stairs. By Pillar To Post a Chino Hills home inspection company.

It's not the guard rails or hand rails. Those are fine...

Look at the little "walkway" the builder made. At the top of the stairs all the way to the left and it ends at the top of the guard rails on the left. The builder essentially made a little "walkway" that a small child could walk on and then fall over 3-ft below into the stairway.

I was quite shocked when I first saw it. I've never seen anything like it before and this was a newer house. But this is obviously a major safety issue.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Posted by Joseph Lang - Southern California Home Inspector on 01/12/2009 09:13 AM

Comments (12)

rails, safety, rancho cucamonga home inspections, chino hills home inspections, upland home inspections, fontana home inspections, la verne home inspections

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12 Comments on On The Edge (A Home Inspection Blog)

JAN

What came of this when you presented that to the buyer? how was the reaction of the seller? how about the builder? what was he /she thinking? when that was built?

Sonny, the buyer was concerned. The seller did not review the report with us, so I don't know their reaction. The house was built in 2003 so I don't think they went after the builder. Thanks for stopping by.

That falls into the category of "it seemed like a good idea at the time". If the house was purchased by someone with older or no children, it wouldn't have been an issue. The problem lies with the draftsman. The builder takes the plan and builds what's on the plan. He might not have had any choice.

Take care.

Joseph great post. That is why it is always a great idea to have a professional inspector such as yourself to do a home inspection when you are buying a home.

If you report it, do you think the buyer will fix it after they move in?

Joseph it would seem as though it would have been easier to have just continued the handrailing all the way up thus eliminating the need for a handrail on the other side.

Cindy, great point, I agree.

Richard, thanks for stopping by.

Richard, that's the interesting part about my job, I rarely know what happens after I do the report...

Charles, I agree... if only we could answer why builders do the things they do sometimes...

Joseph: That ledge is where you stick your glass and ceramic knick-nacks and of course a few lit candles to knock down the stairs!

Jim it could also be a cat launching pad for when someone is coming up the stairs:)

Jim, I like your idea.

Charles, I like your idea better, meeoooowwwwww, rrrggghhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I am sure the builder thought it was a great idea at the time and it was probably decorated with plants and such.

Gene, I think you're right, it was probably for plants and the like.

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