Deck Rail and Moisture Intrusion-Wenatchee and Okanogan Home Inspection

Deck rails or what is referred to in the building trades as “Guards or Guardrails” play an important role in safety of the home.

The rules for guardrails are that they should be installed along any open-sided walking surfaces which include stairs, ramps and landings, porches, balconies or landings and decks that are more than 30 inches high measured vertically to the floor/grade below at any point within 36 inches horizontally from the edge of the open side.

The guardrails also need to be 36 inches high and withstand 200 lbs of pressure.

During home inspections I find that most guardrails fail to provide an adequate amount of safety. On a very low deck this may not be a huge deal but as the deck gains height this becomes very important.

During a recent inspection I found this guardrail did not meet several criteria for safety. But also due to the design of the deck and guardrail attachment it was causing moisture intrusion into the home.

Here is a short video I put together showing the effect of this poor attachment.

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…      

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service