The back-door landings are too shallow to let the doors swing open safely
What we found
The landings at the entry doors were undersized — not deep enough to allow the doors to swing fully open while a person stands on them. To open either door, you have to step back and down before the door clears you.
Why it happens here
A landing is the platform directly outside a door; its job is to give you a stable, level place to stand while you work the door. When a door swings outward, the door itself moves toward you as it opens. A landing that is too shallow forces you off the platform before the door is fully open, which means you are managing a moving door from a lower or narrower surface rather than from a firm, level stance.
What it means for you
Having to step back and down while pulling a door open shifts your balance at the worst possible moment. That risk goes up when the surface is wet or when you are carrying something.
What to do
A qualified general contractor or carpentry contractor can evaluate both landings and enlarge them to a depth that works safely with the outswing doors. Building standards call for a minimum landing depth of 36 inches on each side of an exterior door, at or close to the same height as the door threshold — that's a useful benchmark to bring to the conversation.
How common is this
Landing depth at exterior doors is a standard item inspectors check and report, and enlarging or rebuilding a landing is a routine carpentry repair.
Add this to your contractor walk-through list so you can get a scope and a number before closing.
Curious what's on record for a specific address?
Look it up on PermitSearch → (opens in a new tab)Ready to book your own inspection?
Schedule an inspection →