Did you know that pooling water is a leading cause of foundation problems?
Maintaining clear gutters and proper grade around the foundation is a critical maintenance issue that can prevent costly water related issues. Standard Grading Guidelines: The ground near the structure should slope away from the foundation to keep water from ponding or pooling which could cause settlement problems over time. Standard guidelines for grading are a 1" drop per foot for 10’ from the foundation with a minimal clearance of 6-8" from the bottom of the siding. This helps ensure water is flowing away from the house while also preventing infiltration of the structure by water or insects. Trees and shrubs should be trimmed to provide a minimum of 12" clearance to siding to prevent damage, allow proper drying and prevent potential pest infiltration.
This overhead door has several issues with wood rot from lack of preventative maintenance. All of the bottom panels warped and delaminating, these panels are damaged beyond repair. All of the framing for door panels are weathered and there are several missing fasteners. This door is not safe to operate and will need total replacement.
Chinese Drywall. During the span from 2004 and 2007 Chinese drywall was used thru out southeast united states. The use of this product was due to the lack of American made gypsum board, because of high building construction at the time and two major hurricanes. Inspections on homes built in this time frame should watch for the signs of this defective material.
This older, natural gas F/A furnace in the garage was too close to the floor (among other things). It should be at least 18 inches above the floor. There were numerous concerns with this garage heating unit that were noted for the client.
The article “A Garage Inspection” by Kenton Shephard shows a variety of defects that one may encounter in a garage. The truss gussets, the metal hanger fasteners, and the gangnail were all found to be defective. Sadly, what he observed occurs too frequently.
I don,t know how to insert a picture . The computer won’t let me. I tried but to no success. I paid someone to help me over a year ago but have not done it again and don’t remember how there were too many steps. I guess I will not take any more courses as this costs me too much money to do each time I want to take a class. call me at 904-683-1235 if you have any suggestions like mailing you a picture and essay. But then I would still not be able to take the test as the course won’t let me proceed to the next step. I have inspected 5000 homes but cannot complete your course without hiring someone to put a picture in the software. There has to be a better way.
I am unable to insert a picture. The computer won’t let me. There must be a better way to complete the course. It cost me 75 dollars the last time to hire someone to insert the picture for me. I wrote down the steps but when I tried it later it did not work. I will be happy to mail you pictures. I have many different pictures over the last 15 years that are very good. Call me at 904-683-1235 if there is a way around me hiring someone to put in the picture. Or do I need to take courses from a different source?
Garage doors should not lift the door past where it is sprung. Many installers and homeowners will try to get a few extra inches clearance and set the opener past the point where the door would naturally rest when it is opened without the opener. When the inspector notices slack in the cable at the pulley (as pictured) then some adjustment is necessary. The concern is that the cable will come unwound from the pulley causing damage to the door or opener. The cable at the pulley should always be taught. If the door does not open high enough (without using the opener) then the door springs may need slight adjustment. Slackness at the pulley is the signal for action. Either adjust the opener or the door springs as needed.
Attic Stairways and Fire Safety- The current rules call for at least a 1/2" gypsum wall board installed on garage ceilings that have an attic used for storage. Unfortunately few manufactured attic stairways are 20 minute fire rated. Since it is unreasonable to ask homeowners to forsake their coveted storage space we recommend adding a 1/2 piece of sheetrock to the underside. It can be glued and screwed or maybe additionally it can be wrapped with metal. Until manufactures start offering an enhanced product this may be the best alternative.
This photo is of a trip hazard on a rear walkway running parallel to the home. The concrete is not only cracked but is raised significantly and can easily cause someone to trip and fall. This can also be an insurance concern. It is recommended that a licensed professional review the area noted and make necessary repairs prior to closing.
Wood decay in a crawlspace can be caused by a number of reasons. Some reasons are from supply water leaks, water heater leaks, drain line leaks, HVAC condensation leaks etc. One area that can be overlooked especially here in the south is leaking HVAC ducts. By this I mean ductwork that is installed in the crawlspace and the joints were not sealed properly or the insulation is missing or damaged. This causes condensation particularly in the hot humid summer months and therefore creates a moisture problem in the space that can lead to mold and wood decay.
Studied the garage door torsion spring by opening the garage door with remote control and observed the garage door going opening and closing smoothly. Torsion spring was in very good condition and no sign of any wear and tears and no sign of rust either.
Studied about Sediment Trap at Gas-Fired Water Heater Tank which are intentionally installed to help prevent the sediment in the gas piping from getting into the gas valve or burner area of an appliance and fouling things up. The image I studied was in good condition and was properly installed.
For safety reasons the inside of this Garage door has a General Warning Label attached to the back of the door. It also appeared that the door was not fully closed. Adjustments to the door may be necessary for proper operation of the door.
I chose to read the article entitled “Garage Doors and Openers” It was informative. I personally have found that most issues with doors and openers (aside from any factory defects or recalls issues) have been due to improper installation and/or a lack of routine maintenance.
Automatic garage door opener installed on the garage. They did not install the reinforcement bracket. The result is the opener arm tore through the mounting plate attached to the door, leaving the arm hanging and a tear in the garage door frame. Fortunately, it was a minor tear and was covered/fixed when the reinforcement bracket was installed.
The article I read was “Foreclosure Inspections: Trust your gut”. The article revolves around the sound advice of 'always get an inspection". It basically states that foreclosed homes were most likely neglected (in regards to maintenance items or repairs). Water damage, intentional damage/sabotage, or damage cause by being vacant (especially with no operational HVAC) may have numerous issues. Regardless of you being able to use the inspection as a bargaining chip, one should be performed.
I this picture it shows a broken garage door spring. This condition caused the door to be too heavy to open manually for the homeowner. It will also put undue weight on the door opener possibly causing it to fail prematurly.
In the article “Garage doors and openers” It stresses that homeowners or do-it-yourselfers should not attempt to adjust or replace the over the door type springs as they are under heavy tension and can cause injury if not handled correctly.
Cracks/torn metal noted in top panel of garage overhead door at the time of the inspection. Panel is cracked at top and bottom, which is causing this panel to sag and bend when opened. Suggest this panel be replaced to prevent continued damage.
