spacing between balusters in railings

[a guest]

Are we concerned about spacing between balusters in railings?

[Michael]

No – we are not concerned if a property was built in such a time and under such codes that the balusters were spaced more than 4 inches apart… or such that a spherical object of 4 inches diameter could pass between them… whatever local code says… but we are concerned that what was there is still there.

So, if I can tell that there’s a baluster missing, I’m going to cite it as missing, and I will do so without regard to whether it does or does not result in a given width of space between the remaining balusters.