Do you call out the absence of stair toe kicks on outside stairs? I live in Florida and 99% of the homes I inspect do not have toe kicks on the outdoor stairs. I have been calling it out and had an agent call and question why I call it out. Her husband is a builder and She states that the County/City does not require them. I call it out as a possible trip hazard and recommend further evaluation and correction by a qualified professional. Any suggestions on how to find a happy medium without leaving it un-reported.
I have several items like that, it should be called out but local practices are generally non-compliant.
If I call it out, I include a statement that this is a common observation and that local practices observed very often do not have the toe kick. Then other times, I don’t call it out. Depends on my mood and the situation of the observation…very high stairs, vacation rental, and I’ll call it out. Cabin in the woods, maybe not.
I’m inspecting in an area where code inspections do not occur.
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Open risers over 30” high shouldn’t have an opening larger than 4”, not as a trip hazard, but more of a fall hazard.
I would report, “at a minimum, be aware of this hazard especially for small children.”
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Thank you for the quick responses and thoughtful responses. I will consider all of these to add to my reporting language.
Agree. Usually the local authorities do not act on open risers.
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Open risers were not always prohibited…so many older homes will have open risers. I just tell people that the modern rules prohibit open risers and they should consider improving. You have to at least mention anything about the stairs that could be a potential issue because should an accident happen it wouldn’t even take a good lawyer to look at the pictures in your report and grill you mercilessly…
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Yep yep…
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Are you referring to the stair riser?
Richard has it for current standards. 
Pretty soon they’ll make it so safe that stairs won’t exist 
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