Rebuild the porch railing of a shotgun house on the 900 block of S Lauderdale St, South Memphis

Loose or rotted porch railings on this block's classic shotgun-house porches are a fall risk on the exact step every visitor and resident uses daily. Standard: Repair or rebuild of a loose, rotted or missing porch/stoop guardrail or handrail to a safe, secured condition. Proof: Before photo of the loose/rotted railing; After photo of the rebuilt, secured railing; Load-test photo/video Method (Repair or rebuild of a loose, rotted or missing porch/stoop guardrail or handrail to a safe, secured condition, ~60-120 min): 1. ASSESS: photograph and test every rail section and post for looseness, rot or missing balusters; measure the gap spacing and rail height against a basic safe-guardrail reference. 2. Remove only the failed/rotted sections; probe surrounding wood to confirm sound material remains to anchor into. 3. Fit and securely fasten the replacement rail/baluster/post section, matching height and spacing to the sound sections. 4. Test the rebuilt rail by hand for rigidity at multiple points and photograph the finished, secured railing. Equipment: screwdriver/drill + deck screws or carriage bolts, replacement rail/baluster stock matched to the existing profile where possible, level + tape measure, camera Done when: Every rail section tested by hand and confirmed rigid, no looseness; Baluster/gap spacing consistent with the sound sections (no new fall-through gaps); Before/after photos of each repaired section; Fasteners appropriate to exterior/wet exposure used

Where

900 block of S Lauderdale St, South Memphis, Memphis, TN 38126 (residential)

Pay

$95 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

Before photo of the loose/rotted railing; After photo of the rebuilt, secured railing; Load-test photo/video

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-08-17

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 60–120 minutes. Method of record: Repair or rebuild of a loose, rotted or missing porch/stoop guardrail or handrail to a safe, secured condition

Bring

• screwdriver/drill + deck screws or carriage bolts
• replacement rail/baluster stock matched to the existing profile where possible
• level + tape measure
• camera

Steps

1. 1. ASSESS: photograph and test every rail section and post for looseness, rot or missing balusters; measure the gap spacing and rail height against a basic safe-guardrail reference.
2. 2. Remove only the failed/rotted sections; probe surrounding wood to confirm sound material remains to anchor into.
3. 3. Fit and securely fasten the replacement rail/baluster/post section, matching height and spacing to the sound sections.
4. 4. Test the rebuilt rail by hand for rigidity at multiple points and photograph the finished, secured railing.

If it does not match the plan

• The post itself is rotted below grade or the structural connection to the stoop/porch is compromised -> STOP; route to a licensed contractor.
• Any section that cannot be made rigid by hand-testing -> mark not-done and flag rather than leave a false sense of security.

What counts as done

• Every rail section tested by hand and confirmed rigid, no looseness
• Baluster/gap spacing consistent with the sound sections (no new fall-through gaps)
• Before/after photos of each repaired section
• Fasteners appropriate to exterior/wet exposure used

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.