Looking at the stairs they were pretty, I could give them that.
Even with wood stairs, beauty can only be skin deep.
Sure, there's no handrail, but that's just decoration, right?
So I walked down the staircase. Spongy!
Especially that lowest stair, well supported as it is and all.
They deserved some further investigation.
Going around to the side I had a peek.
Prettiness is only skin deep!
The new wood is merely veneering the old wood!
And the old wood is pretty old!
That might be why the new wood is so spongy!
Gee, it seems ALL of the old wood is just as chewed up and, well, chewed up!
At least the termites are happy!
So, while standing at the bottom of the stairs, and admiring their logic, artistic placement and firm nailing, I looked to the left.
And what did I spy with my little eye?
A spongy retaining wall!
Which, in addition to this fine repair, is leaning delightfully.
Oh well, it's freshly painted!
My recommendation: sometimes on home inspections the beauty of new stuff might only be skin deep. But, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So, be sure to spy with your little eye and see what you can see.
I may have had a little fun with this post. Hopefully my client's agent, an AR Guy himself (who introduced and recruited me to ActiveRain) won't be upset with it...
Well, at least he gets some AR points out of the deal.
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
Morning Jay Uncle Bob was hoping you would not be the inspector looking at his handiwork. He has moved on to another job and is almost finished with it. I'm sure you'll find it eventually it won't be hard for you. :~)
Those steps should have a WARNING! DANGEROUS STEPS AHEAD!! sign at the top and maybe at the bottom too.
All things considered, I believe I'd prefer to climb the hill.
Good Morning, Jay. Sometimes folks take the easy, cheap fix over doing it right. Why not? They are not going to get the long-lasting benefits out of the improvements...
Clever paint job on the wall...if the wall is decorative...have at it...a retaining wall..yicks !
"Spongy". .not a word it should be used to describe stairs. . another good one Jay
Clever disguise. Great post, Jay - I always learn something from you!
James - even the nails were made for indoors!
I started at the top Lenn, and knew I was in for some fun!
Michael - we have to seel the house honey. I have to fix the stairs!
S&D - so, did the house pass the inspection? ;>)
'Twas spongy Fernando! As are Twinkies.
Thanks W&J! But the disguise is only skin deep!
Those new boards are indeed window dressing. Well, there is no window involved but you know what I mean :-) They even left the tags on to prove it is new! Are those base boards 6X6's or railroad ties? Too bad that one day someone will step on one and it will collapse because they have rotted out or the termites stop holding hands to keep it together!
The wall is a whole different aminal!
Those are 4x4s Fred! Very sturdy, even when new. It was collapsing now in the middle! What's there is rotting everywhere.
Wood near dirt can only invite problems. I do see a lot of homeowners covering up problems with wood or vinyl siding.
Edward - on this house there was a "repair" of a missing piece of aluminum siding with just a piece of sheet metal!
Gee Jay, Those 2 items where only on the outside. Probably time to pack it in because the inside of that house could have been much worse!
There was a hair more Sara. Well, kind of lots more.
I take it that the buyers backed out of the deal???
Jay, Well at least they can add another layer of wood to the stairs when the new layer starts to decay :)
No my call Sara. I haven't heard.
Bliz - a wondrous plan. I will have to suggest that! I'll look like a genius. And thanks!
I've seen this happen more than once in houses. Looks great on the surface, but poke it and you've got some problems to deal with.
Those are the things flippers dream up at night Nina!
Jay, this is a good example where cosmetic repairs aren't what they appear to be when investigated further.
This was a little bit of a trampoline Mike! But fun!
This is kind of like make up...can hide an awful lot underneath that might not be safe!
Just had retaining wall issues on the last transaction I had. They didn't try the paint repair, thank goodness....
I am bothered by the lack of some sort of hand rail...a slip and fall can ruin your day..good post Jay
Slick.... but what I want to know is.... do people (including the listing agent) really think no one is going to notice? Seriously?
Isn't the tensile stregth of paint on oders of magnitude to concrete? That fresh paint should add a lot of strength to the wall! ;-)
Right Gary. And don't get it into your eyes!
With or without paint, Scott, it is inherited.
Richie - yes, true, but that's only part of the story!
Andrea - it's hard to know what people are thinking, but, I am willing to bet they aren't shocked by the report.
It's the new structural paint Than. Very new.
A good practice Ann, but also smart.
Glad we don't have termites. But weather happens, like you and me, things, parts wear out.
Interesting way of makign old look new...interesting but not correct! Unfortunately this happens way to often and I'm glad there are quality home inspectors to find this kind of stuff!
I hope the buyer, just ran and did not look back!
The mutual release addendum would be sent to the selling agent while looking at the stairs.
Jay, some of the things you come upon is mind boggling. Those stairs aren't even safe!! Thanks for your post today,
Jay, That is some excellent bug habitat. Got to think of them also they need homes too.
Jay, I'm sure Brian appreciates the points. Seems like with unprotected wood-framed exterior stairs the question is not just "are they rotted?", but when will they rot, because eventually they will. Out here essentially all the fourplexes built in the 1950s and 60s had wooden framed exterior stairs, but they've been replaced with solid concrete steps mounted on big, heavy steel pipe. Enclosed wood framing with no ventilation rots fast when gotten wet, and that's how a lot of them were originally built. The weight of refrigerators being moved in and out on appliance dollys with all the weight on two small wheels eventually cracks even semi-flexible surface coatings. Staircase replacement ain't cheap.
This is why each Buyer should have a proper home inspection! Inspectors are trained to notice these inefficiencies.
Another great post from Jay. Those stairs look a lot like an accident (and a lawsuit) just waiting to happen.
That's a good one. Just keep adding layers of wood as the old stuff rots away.
Jay, I hate finding that people have taken short cuts like this.
Andrew - these wore out a long time ago! The new covering does very little!
Marc - right, not correct by any measure. But cute!
Lori - there was lipstick all over this house.
Matt - I don't know what has happened since the inspection, but certain I will hear sooner or later.
No Pamela, they are not. But what fun to walk on!
Don - these stairs are providing a huge city of inhabitants!
Lloyd - it's all rotten now. And there are more issues that just that playful bounce!
Sajy - and I had some fun playing on them as I was finding out!
Jon - well, maybe not for a little while...
William - that is probably the ultimate result!
Rob - and these babies will last forever then!
Connie - this is no short cut! I think the sellers think this is a serious repair!
Jay depth of everything is so important and your story with the stairs reminded me of cheap cars from yesteryear with that shiny paint job that would only last a year. Get the real story. Great advice.
Gary - "I'm Earl Shieb and I'll paint any car for $99.99!" I remember that!
Seems like a lot of work to hide something that can't really be hidden. Besides you'd think they would have at least covered up the sides of the steps and made it just a little harder to figure out the problem.
Nobody is going to look at the sides Sue!
You see this with people, too - all veneer and no substance.
Oooooh Jill! So we have a metaphor post here! Maybe the sellers lack substance and this is them communicating that?
Hey, what's the problem. It looks like they used PT wood. That makes it ok, right?
They did Jim! And that's okay! The rest may be a hair lacking...