During an inspection of an attic, I saw a rafter that looked like it had been mechanically cut and was sagging.
The implications of this are weakened structure and possible structural movement. Also if someone walked on the roof in this spot, there is a chance that they could fall through and become injured.
Recommend hiring a qualified contractor to evaluate and repair.
My research essay is based on the topic “Inspection Reports: Present or Past Tense?”
In this article I learned that it is better to use past tense terminology instead of present tense.
The reason for this is that if you use past tense, it indicates that you observed the condition that existed at the time of inspection only and any future conditions that may arise cannot implicate you.
Also when an inspector uses present tense terminology like “the furnace is in good condition” it implies some kind of warranty to the consumer.
Significant deterioration of roof surface. There are missing shingles and major wear and tear on remaining shingles. Recommend repair and replacement of shingles by a qualified roofing contractor.
Pickets on the deck at rear of home are missing. The opening between pickets on the sides of stair treads should not allow the passage of a sphere 4-3/8 inches in diameter. This is a safety hazard and should be corrected. I recommend a licensed contractor inspect and correct as needed.
Vegetation should not come in contact with the roof and should be kept away from the siding. Although some vegetation does not cause damage to grow on or near a home, all vegetation holds water and invites bugs, which can cause damage. It is recommended that any vegetation in contact with the home be removed or cut back by a qualified person.
The light post located in the front yard (East side) had no top or cover installed. The electricity is “live”. Water can penetrate the opening and people can touch the live wires. This creates an electrical and safety hazard. We recommend that the light pole be evaluated and repaired by a qualified electrician.
Some defects you have to search for, and some are pretty obvious. These first two defects were obvious from the doorway:
I read an article on garage inspections. On of the main points of the article was improper alterations to trusses. It pointed out that trusses “cannot be altered in any way without the approval of a structural engineer”. The inspector observed that there were plywood gussets added at truss connections made of triangular pieces of plywood. This showed that an alteration of some sort had obviously been made. So,you have to recommend evaluation by a structural engineer in your report.
For my inspection report and picture I chose a drawer shown below. The drawer facing is missing. This can be considered a hazard not only for small children but also for people in general. Pulling to fast on a drawer with no facing could cause the items inside to slide and fall out, possibly injuring yourself and others.
Since it is Christmas I chose “Holiday Safety” from the library for my essay. It is very important to pay attention not only to what the decorations are made of , but where you place them. You should never place hanging decorations close to fireplaces or outlets. Watch all food that is being prepared since this is the most common reason for fires in the home during the holiday season. Keep your children and pets safe by keeping small ornament and other decorations higher up out of reach. Keep your tree well watered because a dry tree can catch fire fairly easily. Check all electric cords and bulbs before use in and outside your home. Just these few suggestions can help you have a safe and Merry Christmas.
Defect: Drain pipe at kitchen sink had water leak at time of inspection. Noticed bowl under drain pipe with water in it.
Recommendation: have licensed plumber inspect and repair leak.
How to Determine the Age of a Building
Very informative article. Learned a few easy ways to maybe tell a homes age. Not always perfectly accurate, but if ages seem to be the same on 2 or more checks, probably will give you a clue of the homes age. Water meters, inside of a toilet, sewer grates and aluminum spacers in thermal pane windows are often dated.
The electrical outlet in the bathroom appeared not to be GFCI protected. Outlets within 6 feet of a water source or above a counter should be GFCI protected for safety reasons. Recommend further evaluation and possible repairs be performed by a licensed, bonded electrical contractor.
The article, Proving Negligence, discusses the process by which a court could determine whether or not a home inspector was negligent and therefore responsible to make the client whole, or restore them to the position they were in prior to the alleged negligent act. This is a commonly misunderstood concept in all third-party claims. Even if the court rules against the home inspector, the plaintiff does not automatically get all they likely sought in their lawsuit, but rather typically would get the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of the damaged property, or a depreciated portion of the repair costs. Replacing the damaged property at the full cost of new materials and labor (Replacement Cost Value, or RCV) would not just restore the plaintiff to their position at the time of the alleged damages, but would cause them to be better off than they would have been. This makes many plaintiffs feel like they “got ripped off” but really they just don’t *want *to understand that a 10 year old roof, for example, does not have the same value as a brand new roof.
Inspection Reports - Engage Your Senses Article - A great way to explain or report a concern is to use your five senses when describing the condition. Sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. Think of these senses and use them to help describe the condition your observing.
The outlet near the sink was not GFCI protected. All outlets should be GFCI protected that are within 6 feet of a water source, in a garage, or located on the exterior of the house. Should be replaced with a GFCI protected outlet, or become GFCI protected.
Holiday Home Safety:
Making sure that you enjoy the holidays is just as important as being safe during those times. For instance, when setting up lights, make sure that you don’t overload the cords, attach staples through the cords, and make sure to remove any fire hazards that may be present. Also if you are traveling, do not discuss your plans with strangers and make sure someone is watching you home while you are away. Even inside you home, make sure your fire systems are working.
Defect: Paint wassagging in the upstairs shower roof next to the side wall. This was due to a leak from the shower nozzlepipe, causing it to spray water on the defected area while the shower wasrunning. This could cause the sagging tospread to surrounding areas and structural damage to the wood. Recommend wrapping the leaked piping areawith plumbing tape.
Acid Rain and Inspectors: Buildings at Risk
Great article. Acid rain can cause a lot of damage to houses and buildings, especially older structures. Most acid rain occurs from nearby factories and power plants that run on gas or coal. The nearby structures are hit the worst because the acid, dust, and smoke stick to the buildings causing erosion. Another damaging effect is the vegetation and underground irrigation. The acid sinks into the ground and deteriorates the roots as well as erode any piping. It’s almost impossible to control acid rain since it blows in the wind. There is material that can deflect some of the effects of acid rain, but there will still be some damage over a period of time. The article claimed that the only permanent solution to the problems of acid rain is to move away from fossil fuels and into more sustainable fuel.
Efflorescence is the white chalky powder that you may find on a surface of a concrete or brick wall. It can be a cosmetic issue, or it can be an indication of moisture intrusion that could lead to major structural and indoor air quality issues. Recommend contacting a Professional Structural Engineer to evaluate and repair a needed.
I found the tgarage/trusse article section very informative. Trusses cannot be altered in any way without the approval of a structural engineer. When you see plywood gussets added at truss connections like these triangular gussets, then an alteration of some sort has obviously been made and you have to recommend evaluation by a structural engineer. So, that condition went into the report
Trusses are designed to bear loads at very specific points. Typical roof trusses should not touch any interior walls and should bear only on the exterior walls. The two trusses at the left of the above photo are bearing on an offset portion of the garage wall.
A portion of the structural roof load was being transferred to the bottom chords of the trusses at a point at which they were not designed to support a load.