🚨 Safety Alert: Guardrail Issues

🔹 The top rail is not secure.

The horizontal board isn’t properly fastened, and it flexes easily. A guardrail must be able to resist a 200-lb load to prevent falls. This one won’t even come close.

🔹 No proper balusters / infill.

IRC requires guardrails to prevent a 4-inch sphere from passing through. This rail has wide open gaps that present a serious fall hazard—especially for children.

🔹 Missing mid-span support & structural integrity.

Guardrails must be continuous, stable, and properly anchored. Unsupported spans like this create weak points that can fail under pressure.

🔹 There is a section of this deck where there is no guardrail at all. SUPER DANGEROUS!!!

🔹 Trip and fall hazard at elevated walking surface.

Any walking surface 30 inches or more above grade requires a compliant guardrail. When the barrier itself is compromised, the deck becomes unsafe.

As a home inspector, it’s my job to call out anything that puts homeowners or guests at risk. This one is a simple repair—but an important one.

🏡 If you’re buying, selling, or maintaining a home, make sure your safety features are doing their job. A strong guardrail protects the people you love.