Egress Issues

Issue #1

A series of misguided repairs to this brick staircase lead to an injury. The steps have loose brick, improperly mortared joints, uneven stairs and an unstable walking surface. These stairs are in need of complete rebuilding. Based on the location and current skilled labor costs, repairs could be somewhere in the neighborhood of $4800.00

Issue #2

The new owners are moving in very soon. We were informed “just a few touch ups need to be done”. This staircase is the way out to the parking area for all of the units in a 4 story condominium. It is also the only place a moving truck can park. What do you suppose is going to happen when one of the bricks or wood blocks comes free . To jack the stairs, shore up, excavate and provide a frost free footing and properly secure the stair assembly to the footing could cost approximately $650.00.

Issue#3

The blue stone walkway and granite steps have compacted the soil below them creating a spring time tripping hazard. The sub-straight was never tamped sufficiently to retard the stonework from shifting. Maintenance of a walkway is commonly considered the owners responsibility. A skilled landscaper will need to be employed to correctly compact the soil and reset the walkway and granite steps to help prevent a trip or fall injury. A budgetary allowance of $750.00 to $800.00 would be advisable.

Issue #4

A lack of proper backyard drainage has undermined the common walkway at the back yard deck. The openings and protruding brick are injurious conditions which have failed to recognized or repaired by the homeowner. This is one of several areas this is taking place on the brick walkway. The repairs are not a simple “patch the bricks.” Grading adjustment of the backyard along with water dispersal prior to encountering the walkways is paramount. This project will cost over $5000.00 to correctly repair.

Issue #5

Our beach cottage deck in the flood plane is held up by loosely stacked concrete block. Under the deck the blocks have failed and fallen over. A series of excessively rusty nails hold the deck to the house. Fortunately these items were discovered at low tide. The occupants pointed out that at high tide the underside of the building has at least a foot of standing water. The recommendation with regards to the deck was to make it a “stand alone” unit of the cottage. Remove the existing and replace will be in the $1200 to $1400.00 range due to the required use of stainless steel hangers, screws and nails.

Issue #6

The owner of this house got more than they agreed to by the contractor. The completed work consisted of a warped floor, upside down flooring, unfastened floor joists, missing footings to hold the roof and floor in place. Along with that the railings are loose and the wood support columns are not secured. In an attempt to replicate the grand front veranda the contractor took the money and left the job a complete failure. To correct the work will be in excess of $25,000.00