Back when we moved into our home, code requirements did not require a stairwell or deck on a rear door. Just a solid means of blocking access. So we’ve had a lock on our rear door for years, and just sort of ignored the fact it was a door.
Well, now we’re seeking to refinance our home to help with the tight-money situation due to Christy being back in school to get her Master’s, and the underwriters are insisting that a rear stairway or deck is required before they will approve the loan. That’s fine, but we’re planning on closing this week, and we just learned about this requirement late yesterday.
So today, I get to figure out how to build a staircase, buy the supplies, and get building. It’s over six feet off the ground, so it’s not a trivial endeavor.
Wish me luck!
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No doorknob
Would they have allowed you to replace the doorknob with a plate, so that the door couldn’t be opened without tools?
Sliding glass…
It’s a sliding glass door, and is compliant with the county standards. This is just an underwriter requirement based on the assumption there used to be stairs there.
They don’t seem to be interested in changing our minds, and there was no way I could finish a set of stairs plus a landing by myself in 2 days… so the lumber is stacked in the back yard right now 🙂 Gotta get Christy to put a tarp over it, though, thunderstorms are expected for this afternoon…
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Matthew P. Barnson
Railing?
Our builder was able to put a railing with spindles that stretch across the doorway (on the outside). This was the requirement if there wasn’t stairs or deck on the other side of the door. – Just another idea.
Got the wood…
Already have all the wood for a landing and four-foot wide staircase out in the yard. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it covered and stacked for the arrival of yesterday’s severe thunderstorm…
Ahh, well. It will dry, and with luck the warping won’t be too bad…
They accepted our photo of the safety bar and lock installed on the door which prevent it from opening. It would have been nice to know they would accept that before I spent $1000 on lumber, hardware, and tools, though! At least I was able to score a DeWalt 36V reciprocating saw and drill which I’ve been drooling over for a long time… almost 50% off since Home Depot is dropping that line of pro tools!
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Matthew P. Barnson
Band the wood
If the wood is wet, band it together with some ratchet straps to help min. the warping. I would reccomend you stack it in as tight a package as you can get, prop it off the ground with some scrap wood (or anything that will enable air to get around the wood), and then strap it together with some ratchet straps. the dring will take a little longer, but there will be min. / no warping.
Best of luck – I love those kinds of projects.