Service · Services
Staircase inspection: compliance, safety and guardrail
Independent diagnosis of your staircase: compliance with current standards, safety, dimensions (riser height, tread, headroom), guardrail, fixings and non-slip. Enforceable report within 7 days to activate ten-year liability, perfect completion or recourse against the carpenter or metalworker.
280 €
from · VAT incl.
1 h
on site
7 days
report delivered
Wallonia
+ Brussels
expert measuring riser height and tread depth of an interior staircase
For whom
A staircase inspection tailored to four situations.
01
New-build owner
Staircase delivered non-compliant or with a safety defect (uneven steps, fragile guardrail, insufficient headroom). Ten-year or perfect-completion qualification.
02
Renovation owner
Renovated or replaced staircase causing trouble (creaks, play, cosmetic defect). Workmanship diagnosis and independent technical arbitration.
03
Pre-purchase buyer
Suspect or out-of-standard staircase during a viewing. Opinion to estimate compliance upgrade cost, negotiate the price or set a suspensive condition.
04
Owner in dispute
Disagreement with carpenter or metalworker after faulty installation. Drafting of an enforceable report, basis for amicable or judicial proceedings.
Our method
Five steps from survey to enforceable report.
Comprehensive audit methodology: precise geometric survey (height, tread, headroom, walking line), guardrail check, fixing and non-slip control. Compared to current NIT-CSTC standards.
- 01Phone briefingPreliminary exchange: installation date, material (wood, metal, concrete), complaints (creaks, play, feeling unsafe). Submission of plans and invoices.
- 02On-site inspection1-hour visit with millimetre-precise geometric survey: riser height, tread, headroom, walking line. Check of guardrail, fixings and non-slip.
- 03Differential diagnosisQualification: dimensional non-compliance, fixing defect, unsafe guardrail, workmanship defect or simple finish to rework. Risk ranking.
- 04Report drafting15-25 page document with HD photos, detailed measurements, legal qualification, NIT-CSTC references and quantified rework recommendations.
- 05Recourse follow-up if neededLetter templates to the carpenter, metalworker, home insurer or ten-year liability insurer. Coordination with partner lawyer if legal action.
Deliverables
What you walk away with, concretely.
15-25 p. enforceable report
Structured document with HD photos, measurements and legal qualification. Enforceable in insurance, conciliation or first-instance court.
Dimensional survey
Table of actual measurements compared with regulatory requirements (height, tread, headroom, guardrail). Centrepiece of the recourse file.
HD geolocated photos
Detailed photo report of steps, guardrail, fixings and watch-out points. Annexed to the report and usable in proceedings.
Quantified estimate
Estimated cost of rework: step adjustment, guardrail compliance upgrade, fixing rework. Costing basis for insurance or recourse.
Letter templates
Tailored template letters: carpenter, metalworker, home insurance, ten-year liability or syndic depending on the origin identified.
30-min briefing included
Half-hour call to review the report, prioritise actions and lock in the rework or recourse strategy.
Pricing · VAT incl., all-inclusive
Three packages for your need.
Flash diagnosis
From 280 €
Visit + written opinion · 1h on site
- 1h inspection
- 3-5 page written opinion
- Compliance qualification
Le + demandé
Full inspection
From 480 €
Diagnosis + enforceable report
- Everything in 'Flash diagnosis'
- 15-25 p. enforceable report
- Full dimensional survey
- Quantified estimate
Inspection + recourse
From 780 €
Inspection + legal file
- Everything in 'Full inspection'
- Legal file preparation
- Partner lawyer coordination
- On-site rework follow-up
Testimonials
They entrusted us with their staircase diagnosis.
★★★★★
« Staircase delivered with uneven steps. The contractor swore it was within tolerance. The report demonstrated non-compliance. Full rework obtained. »
photo client
Quentin Lefèvre
New-build owner · Mons
★★★★★
« Guardrail moving from installation. Clear diagnosis: undersized fixings. Quick rework by the metalworker after the report. Safety finally restored. »
photo client
Sabine Dujardin
Renovation owner · Liège
★★★★★
« Old house visited before purchase. Steep, narrow staircase. Flash report: compliance upgrade at €8,500. Purchase price adjusted accordingly. »
photo client
Florian Toussaint
Pre-purchase buyer · Charleroi
FAQ
Your questions about the staircase inspection.
What is the maximum allowed riser height?
For a residential staircase, the riser height must be between 17 and 19 cm and the tread between 23 and 27 cm. Beyond that, the staircase is deemed non-compliant with NIT-CSTC and unsafe for daily use.
How tall should a guardrail be?
At least 90 cm in homes and 100 cm if the fall is greater than 12 m. The gap between vertical bars must be under 11 cm to prevent a child's head from passing through.
Does a non-compliant staircase fall under ten-year liability?
Yes if the non-compliance compromises the safety or destination of the property and appears within 10 years of reception. The expert report qualifying the non-compliance is the centrepiece of the ten-year liability recourse.
My staircase creaks a lot — is that serious?
Not necessarily, but excessive creaking often reveals a fixing defect or faulty joint. On a new staircase, it is a workmanship defect falling under the perfect-completion warranty.
How much does an existing staircase compliance upgrade cost?
From €1,500 for a simple guardrail rework to €12,000 for a full replacement. Our report provides a precise quantified estimate, usable in insurance or before a court.
Are you independent from carpenters and metalworkers?
Strictly. We refuse any case where we have a commercial relationship with the contractor, supplier or opposing expert. Our mandate comes exclusively from the owner.
Prefer email? contact@reception-provisoire.be