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Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- Attractive Trip Hazards

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

Especially outside, many people are more into eye-appeal than practicality or safety. People like all types of different creative or natural steps and stairs and walkways. Some are made of rocks with risers of greatly varying heights. Sometimes they use rocks that are loose and might actually dislodge out of the soil when you walk on them. Other times they have railroad ties or masonry that is uneven or otherwise not safe.

People like their ornamental stepping stones and steps but, in the photo below, how much better off they would have been with simply the gravel surface. This arrangement has built-in trip hazards. Good news is, at least it is not high, a person would just full straight forward. That is better than off a cliff!

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

Posted by

Steven L. Smith

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Comments (6)

Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

a natural walk way can be attractive, but the one you have pictured, not so much!

Aug 10, 2009 05:06 AM
Kate Kate
San Diego, CA

Those pretty little copper solar lights along a walk-way look like a trip waiting to happen. Which might be why they are usually tipped over and half-broken. The again it may have been due to Nutsy's installation. Kate

Aug 10, 2009 05:23 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

At least it is serviceable in case of a rain storm.  I hate new houses where mud is all around it and you can't get in to see what it looks like.  A

Aug 10, 2009 02:19 PM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Creative walkways are one of the most common trip hazards I find during an inspection.

Aug 10, 2009 02:27 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

H-m-m-m, Reminds me of the old adage, "How was your trip? See you next Fall."...

Helping you live your American dream...

Aug 10, 2009 09:55 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Fall forward and break their neck on the door?

Aug 13, 2009 01:03 AM