If there is anything that makes the lives of inspectors difficult, it is house defects that have somehow “stood the test of time.” Every inspector has heard from sellers and agents on both sides of the deal say, “But it has been that way for………” The only thing I can equate this to is the recent collapse of one of the great arches in Arches National Monument-----Wall Arch----which had stood there perfectly content for more than 10 thousand years. One night, with no one to watch, it decided it had had enough of obnoxious sightseers, petroglyph carvers and sport climbers and just disintegrated under its own weight. Inspectors often use the term “stood the test of time” to describe conditions of homes that may not be “proper” by current “standards” yet they appear to be functioning just fine. We have to be VERY careful using this term because of the “Wall Arch Effect.” Another thing that works against most man-made and natural made features is that things rarely get better with age----so sooner or later there is bound to be a mighty roar and cloud of dust and it won’t be the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Take this stair stringer attachment for example. You know a stringer don’t you? It is the long diagonal white board in this first picture that supports all the stair treads. It has likely been just the way you see it---except for perhaps the nice white paint---for at least 103 years. This certainly qualifies it as having “stood the test of time” and it will not likely “spontaneously” collapse like Wall Arch. However, all bets are off when a couple of guys too big for their clothes try to wrestle a refrigerator up or down the stairs. As an inspector I can not afford to pass these stairs off as safe with so little supporting the top end of the stringer as shows in this next picture. There are just a couple of toe-nails driven up into the joist and very small amounts of the top tread bucking against the joist. That the stairs have “stood the test of time” is not an excuse or a reason to let the issue slide----they still need to be fixed----especially when adding proper support will be so easy. Charles Buell
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PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
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I make it a point not to comment until Nutsy has but this is a prime endorsement for heavy weight agents as myself. We find these time tested stair cases =)
Your friend in Washington State,
Paul
Mr Paul,
Thank you for showing me the respect that is so deserved but has been so lacking.
Mr Charles, is that an old tube from knob and tube wiring in the background there? Perhaps that will work as a lag bolt....just an idea. Enough epoxy and all.
Nutsy
Paul, you would be, I suspect, just fine on the stairs---just don't bring the refrigerator along
Nutsy, I have to say that is the most sense you have made in quite a while:)----you are almost up to "none"
That is an accident just waiting to happen.
Supports will be an easy fix.
I hope the sellers of this home are making that repair before someone gets hurt.
I can agree, although it is admirable that those stairs are still standing, how long they will be standing depends on who is going to be standing, jumping on them. Thanks for sharing.
as always you 'see' and 'say'- bet the sellers were thrilled that they could now secure the stairs for the future owners.- cw
Wow! I wouldn't want to be the one standing at the top of those stairs when they collasp! YIKES!
I suspect Nutsy will soon collapse under the heavy weight of his grammatical ignorance passed down by his boss. I offered assistance (at a price of course) but am doubtful of interest.
As I saw the first photo, I thought, don't pull a fridge up those stairs! You beat me...
Those knob and tube pedestals have stood the test of time too...
That's one messy looking cellar? basement? and the stairs don't look safe at all.
Charlie - Yup, I'd say it stood the test of time. Because, back in the day when those steps were built 103 years ago people were were shorter and not so overweight. Just the thought of two beefy guys moving a fridge ....I get the picture even if you weren't there to take it, you painted the not so pretty picture.
Craig the fix is not nearly as big a deal as a collapse would be
Brenda---for sure
Cheryl---yup
Jan---or at the bottom:)
Kate, I am sure you are right
Jay, yup----all the knob and tube had been abandoned---just the tubes and knobs left
Barbara---are you calling Steve's house messy?:)
Carol---too true. There is always the straw that breaks the camels back
So were you going up the down staircase.
I'm sure you've seen alot of stuff covered over with a new coat of paint!
Steve----pretty much
Leslie----very often
Charles - I cringed when I read your title. I hear that phrase so much...
Reuben, when you think about it, the statement is really quite amazing. Doesn't the statement imply that things get better with age?
Hi Charles - looks like someone thought that stringers were just decorative...
Margaret---well they did paint them all up nice:)