Few questions - one of my first inspections

[mbell14 (Matthew Bell)]

Hi everyone, just finishing up my third inspection and have a couple of questions with this house I was hoping to pick your brains on.

Thoughts on these boards used to shim the top of a concrete block pier?

Does anyone normally advise for the metal threshold at exterior doors to be caulked? I don’t see it done very often but at my home it wasn’t done and caused some significant subfloor damage with heavy rain.

Do y’all advise for new untreated decks to be sealed or stained or is that not necessary?

Is this dormer window missing flashing?

Thanks!

[lkage (Larry Kage, CMI)]

@jbell28

Thoughts on these boards used to shim the top of a concrete block pier?

Sloppy workmanship…but at least the used PT wood. It is hard to tell what some pieces are doing at that angle of picture.

@jbell28

Does anyone normally advise for the metal threshold at exterior doors to be caulked? I don’t see it done very often but at my home it wasn’t done and caused some significant subfloor damage with heavy rain.

I recommended it as a maintenance item.

@jbell28

Do y’all advise for new untreated decks to be sealed or stained or is that not necessary?

Typically, not necessary.

@jbell28

Is this dormer window missing flashing?

I can’t see it so make sure that you narrate that you can not see it in your report.

And, welcome to our forum, John!..Enjoy!

[escanlan (Emmanuel Scanlan, TREC# 7593)]

@jbell28

Thoughts on these boards used to shim the top of a concrete block pier?

What is important is what are your thoughts and what do you base them on?

@jbell28

Does anyone normally advise for the metal threshold at exterior doors to be caulked? I don’t see it done very often but at my home it wasn’t done and caused some significant subfloor damage with heavy rain.

It would depend on the threshold manufacturer and if they followed instructions for its installation. One requirement is to place a bead of caulk under the sill pan before installation which is there to help seal it. Having said that you can bet most if not almost all are not installed per the manufacturer requirements. And since we can’t see if they did it right I do report it and recommend that it be sealed to prevent issues.

@jbell28

Do y’all advise for new untreated decks to be sealed or stained or is that not necessary?

I do report it and recommend sealing them to help extend their life.

@jbell28

Is this dormer window missing flashing?

Hard to tell from your picture but there are indications they might have covered the flashing with a shingle(s) for aesthetic purposes. Were there others like this?

[bcawhern1 (Brian Cawhern, CMI)]

@jbell28

my home it wasn’t done and caused some significant subfloor damage with heavy rain

That is called experience. You were paid for that experience regardless if it happened on your home or someone else’s. If you think a bead of caulk should go there, call it out with confidence based on your experience.