Mushrooms in the attic

[mroberts21 (Mark Roberts)]

@bcawhern1

Try this: Write your report first, then have a conversation with the client and see if your narratives align with your verbal recommendations after the fact.

I think you’re reading too far into this. My reports have written recommendations all the time.

I’m talking specifically about something like in this case. Something that is old damage. Something that could probably be left out of the report and nothing would ever come from it. That said, it was something, it was probably fixed by the roof replacement, but we don’t know until we know. Should someone look at for 100% vigilance? Sure. Would I recommend a roofer pull off a square of shingles and replace the deck? No. It’s nuanced. The repair could make it worse if the shingle integrity is compromised. More information is required before I tell them what to do. Monitor it under certain conditions, see how it is. The cost is low, no one gets creamed by an expensive, potentially unnecessary repair.

[bcawhern1 (Brian Cawhern, CMI)]

@mroberts21

I think you’re reading too far into this.

Maybe, but you just concluded what I expect to happen instantaneously while writing a report.

1. What is the visible concern?
2. What is the consequence?
3. What is the recommendation?

Answer
1.

@mroberts21

Something that is old damage.

@mroberts21

More information is required

@mroberts21

Monitor it under certain conditions, see how it is.

(note: my answers for 1, 2, 3 are different than yours, but that is ok. It is subjective most times)

[bnesbitt (Bryce Nesbitt)]

@dmyhill

If anyone has some expertise they could share about this,

I see wood that’s compromised in strength by past fugal activity.
The “mushroom” is just the visible part of what grew eating the actual wood.

Call out what you see for your report.

But if there’s a new roof on top, maybe with new sheeting, it could be an issue not worth addressing for the owner. We need more context to be judges.