I have no problem with "inventiveness." My ancestors invaded Connecticut in 1632, so Yankee ingenuity, for better or worse, is in my blood.
However, I have learned----for the most part----to channel that inventiveness "within" the confines of the building codes. There really is no place for pure "creativity" when it comes to construction----that is better left to Art.
I can already feel the hair on the back of my neck rising up as someone is about to pounce on me for defining creativity so narrowly, and----it is my blog so I can define it any way I want
---call it Buellipedia if you will. Anyway, this post is about where someone has crossed that line --------------------. And while this tree branch barrier is "very cool" looking, and one might say "creative," it is totally inappropriate as a barrier against falls from the deck and/or stairs. Since the deck is relatively new it can be assumed that the structure was not done under permit or inspected by any ruling jurisdictional inspector.
For starters, there should be no openings greater than 4"----and the barrier should be able to withstand the efforts of small children to ride magic carpets through them (not exactly a quote from the code----but you get the idea).
In construction, just because something is "attractive" or "cool" doesn't mean that it is going to be satisfactory.
Charles Buell
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My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
book-em Buell! (after you get a good picture, looks neat doesn't it?) cw
Yes Cheryl----I thought it looked very cool. When I see something like that the first question I ask my buyer is, "Got any kids?" The second question I ask is, "Any of your friends got kids?"
Wow your right I never would of seen that. I like your colorful info and the suns all around your blog.
Thanks Krista----glad you liked it.
I'll say! Wow, what were they thinking? Why bother with a railing at all?
As Fernando Lamas (and then Billy Crystal) said, "It is better to look good than feel good." (I think there is an analogy in there somewhere:)
Hey Charles,
The "branches" are these real tree branches or cut iron or some other metal designed to look like branches? It may be attractive, but it isn't very functional. I would venture to guess that the current home owner does not have any small children.
On a side note, I can remember as a kid getting my head stuck between the metal rods on a railing. My friends father had to come out of the house and pull the rods apart in order for me to slip my head out from between them. I would venture to say that they were more than 4 inches apart..... either that or I had a pretty small head as a 5 or 6 year old.
Sean Allen
I have a questions ..... Is an Oxymoron similar to Oxyfresh? You know "Oxyfresh" cleans teeth, pet oders and other cleaning surfaces..... does that me an "Oxymoron" is a clean moron?
Just a thought to think about.
Sean Allen
Are you telling us those are tree branches instead of creative sheet metal? If so, this must be your house since you are the creative one! Perfect spot for animal assistants to feel at home. : )
Sean----might have just been a plain old regular type moron:) Yes they were real tree branches----as in not metal.
Barbara-----nice try, but not my house:) and yes, real tree branches.
hhhmm, I could see someone using sculpted metal to look like tree branches, but to use REAL branches just doesn't make sence. Them skinny tree branches sure wouldn't hold much weight.
Sean Allen
Sean, I kind of came to the same conclusion:)
I love it. Hmmm after I have my CO on my dream house I'm going to build that. Maybe on a ground level patio where there is no down to fall down, but it's gorgeous and I love it. ( and this time I'm not kidding)
Dear Mr Charles,
Since so many turkeys hang around your blog, any chance of getting a free turkey for Thanksgiving. Respectfully, your buddy Nutsy.
Tammy, make sure you use them where they aren't necessary:)
Nutsy, if you come on here and start calling my subscribers "Turkeys" you could easily end up being the one that gets stuffed on Thanksgiving.
It really does look COOL, even if it isn't built to code!
Charlie - I wonder if that deck will present issues for an FHA mortgage! I have a deal pending with a similar deck and we are waiting to see what the bank appraiser says.
Cheryl, It is a bumber when the buyers fall in love with a house because of some of these artsy-fartsy details and I have rain on their parade in the name of safety:)
Carol, good question-----didn't get by me is all I know:)
Charles, It is amazing what weekend carpenters will do without even thinking of the ramifications...
Gotta wonder how many kids have fallen through things like this. Not cool.
Michael---good job security
Kevin, can't think of any code requirements that didn't get put in place for a reason:)
I really like the way it looks... very creative... but as you point out... it wouldn't withstand the child leaning on the branches, let along them really trying to break through.
It seems it could easily have been replicated in wrought iron, though it surely would have been pricier, and designed to have no large openings.
Good call!
Alan, for sure----very expensive properly done in metal
Fortunately, there is clear plexiglass, plastic, or even tempered glass that can be installed over those so that the "cool" effect is basically the same.
Aren't we the jaded bunch. Instead of looking at the natural bueaty of the deck first, like me, we think about structure and clearances. I usually don't see how attractive something is until I get the pictures home and go over them for extra issues. Then I find myself looking at whatever it was and saying "I'd like to go back there sometime and see that".
Too true Russel---but then it would loose the "how-cheap-it-was" factor:)
Jack, unfortunately, in our profession we can't really afford to be anything but "jaded" in that sense. But you are right---I too have said to myself I would like to go back and see things when I wasn't "on-the-job."
YEah it does look pretty cool, i suppose that is one way to be eco friendly.
Kenneth, I think it is possible to be green and safe:)
Charlie, I refer to it as creative construction. It's funny, but I would have been struck first by how cool it is and then, Houston we have a problem.
James, that begs the question, "Can something be so cool, so awesome, that we miss what its actual problems are?"
Charlie, I would be inclined to think not. No matter what, we are inspectors and our training our minds are keyed to look for problems. Remember people try and hide things from us all the time.
James, so true. As long as whenever we play "hide and seek" we can rememeber where we are---we are good to go:)
Charles,
The spaces make it so much easier if I plan to jump off....;-)
Ann
Ann, NO, Stop, DON'T JUMP!!! Stop!!
Charles,
Surely there is water down there somewhere....
Ann
You must be located in CA, as the rule for railings are "no more than 4" space between" railings. (my husband owns a wrought iron railing co.) and in this instance would have had them sign off on some sort of "waiver" because of CA state laws. He even had my own sister sign a waiver when he installed a hand railing down to her wine cellar when it wasn't 2" thick.