Stairs, decks and the timber that ages fastest
Outdoor timber is the first thing on a house to go, and the last thing anyone budgets for.
In short: Deteriorated stairs and loose deck boards are safety items before they are maintenance items.
What we recorded
Timber stairs deteriorated across several Craigieburn properties, loose deck boards, and structures noted as unstable or out of straight.
Why outdoor timber goes first
It takes the weather, it often sits close to the ground, and it is usually the part of a house that gets the least attention.
Safety before maintenance
A deteriorated stair tread or a loose balustrade is reported as a safety hazard, because the consequence of failure is different to a cosmetic item.
The permit question
Decks, pergolas and carports added over the years may never have been approved, and that is a council records question worth asking.
What keeps it alive
Keeping soil and mulch off the timber, keeping the structure drained, and refixing as things loosen rather than after they fail.
Written by the Owner Inspections team from inspections carried out in Craigieburn. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
