Home inspection-- he's gonna FLIP!
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Home inspection-- he's gonna FLIP!
| Mon, 07-25-2005 - 6:13pm |
Well, I had my house inspected this afternoon, here's what happened:
He said that the deck is in very bad shape. The front posts holding the thing up don't have footings, and are rotted at the bottom, along with the heade, handrails, stairs, and there isn't any flashing to prevent rot from starting in the first place. Also no lagbolts holding the deck to the house, and where it is nailed into the foundation sill is rotted. It doesn't go through to the inside of the basement however.
The chimney needs to be cleaned out PROPERLY, NOT with a pine branch like STBX usually does.
On the driveway gable end, there is rot on the vent, and above the bedroom windows. On the other gable end, where STBX installed the new shingles... he neglected to put flashing above the trip at the botton where the 1st course started. He also neglected to put flashing above the trim above the windows. I was told that I was "crazy", and trying to pick a fight when I suggested to STBX that he put flashing up when he was doing the shingles.
He found a lot of decay and insect damage in the retaining walls and steps.
The outside of the roof is OK, and is was replaced in October 2001. On the inside of the roof, however... the trusses need blocking, and the sheathing needs clips, as it is damaged from poor ventilation. He urged me to have the bathroom fans vented to the outside, and to have more soffit vents installed. There is ALSO a live wire just sitting on the insulation from where STBX had torn down part of the kitchen wall in 1991 ( !!!! ), and needs to be taken care of ASAP.
Speaking of electricity... STBX took electrical in tech school in the late 70s. He fancies himself an electrician, and had done all the electrical work in the basement playroom. Evidently, there are loose wires all over the ceiling in there, as well as in the garage in the laundry room, and by the hot water heater and furnace. In the electrical box, STBX fashioned some sort of circuit to plug the generator into. He has it rigged so that we can use all the electricity in the house through the generator. The home inspector said that isn't good, it's too much, and should only be for a refigerator, heater, and a couple of outlets. It's overkill, and all the electrical wiring needs to be looked at by a LICENSED electrician. Even the new light by the front door, which was installed by one of STBX'S friends who is allegedly an electrician, the wires that he installed are just hanging there.
The shutoff valve that STBX recently installed from the outside spigot to underneath the kitchen sink is copper pipes and galvanized pipes touching each other, which isn't good. Even I know that from watching Ask This Old House, LOL!
He also said that if we take care of the attic ventilation, it should improve the ice dams that we had over the winter.
If I haven't mentioned the plastic vapor barrier that STBX tacked up over the basement insulation on the ceiling, that needs to be removed because it does more harm than good.
The inspector said that it seems like a lot, but it's not really pressing, except the electrical issues, and to get the steps fixed. Also to try to get some ventilation in the attic.
He said that the deck is in very bad shape. The front posts holding the thing up don't have footings, and are rotted at the bottom, along with the heade, handrails, stairs, and there isn't any flashing to prevent rot from starting in the first place. Also no lagbolts holding the deck to the house, and where it is nailed into the foundation sill is rotted. It doesn't go through to the inside of the basement however.
The chimney needs to be cleaned out PROPERLY, NOT with a pine branch like STBX usually does.
On the driveway gable end, there is rot on the vent, and above the bedroom windows. On the other gable end, where STBX installed the new shingles... he neglected to put flashing above the trip at the botton where the 1st course started. He also neglected to put flashing above the trim above the windows. I was told that I was "crazy", and trying to pick a fight when I suggested to STBX that he put flashing up when he was doing the shingles.
He found a lot of decay and insect damage in the retaining walls and steps.
The outside of the roof is OK, and is was replaced in October 2001. On the inside of the roof, however... the trusses need blocking, and the sheathing needs clips, as it is damaged from poor ventilation. He urged me to have the bathroom fans vented to the outside, and to have more soffit vents installed. There is ALSO a live wire just sitting on the insulation from where STBX had torn down part of the kitchen wall in 1991 ( !!!! ), and needs to be taken care of ASAP.
Speaking of electricity... STBX took electrical in tech school in the late 70s. He fancies himself an electrician, and had done all the electrical work in the basement playroom. Evidently, there are loose wires all over the ceiling in there, as well as in the garage in the laundry room, and by the hot water heater and furnace. In the electrical box, STBX fashioned some sort of circuit to plug the generator into. He has it rigged so that we can use all the electricity in the house through the generator. The home inspector said that isn't good, it's too much, and should only be for a refigerator, heater, and a couple of outlets. It's overkill, and all the electrical wiring needs to be looked at by a LICENSED electrician. Even the new light by the front door, which was installed by one of STBX'S friends who is allegedly an electrician, the wires that he installed are just hanging there.
The shutoff valve that STBX recently installed from the outside spigot to underneath the kitchen sink is copper pipes and galvanized pipes touching each other, which isn't good. Even I know that from watching Ask This Old House, LOL!
He also said that if we take care of the attic ventilation, it should improve the ice dams that we had over the winter.
If I haven't mentioned the plastic vapor barrier that STBX tacked up over the basement insulation on the ceiling, that needs to be removed because it does more harm than good.
The inspector said that it seems like a lot, but it's not really pressing, except the electrical issues, and to get the steps fixed. Also to try to get some ventilation in the attic.

ALL of those things seem like urgent things to me...... well, things that can potentially create larger, more costly problems.
Arrange your list in order of importance.... and check them off one by one!
Sheesh..... I've been doing some MUCH needed repairs around my house... and it can really add up in a hurry.
Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~
Hi Karen,
Last night I spoke with a good friend, whose husband is a licensed electrician, and she said that he'll come out over the weekend to check things out for me, and give me an estimate. I'm going over her house Thursday, and I'm sure the subject will come up.
I have an estimate to replace the driveway steps and retaining walls- 4K, which includes everything-- hauling away the old wood, labor, materials, AND my STBX won't do the work, which is BEST OF ALL! LOL
We don't use our deck that much, and I've known for years that it's a problem, so I haven't had too many people on it, although I did have people on it for DS's gradparty. NO MORE, though!
I don't think I mentioned the furnace exhaust hood which is on the outside foundation, and the gasline going from the outside tank to the inside. A few years ago, oldest DS used to practice pitching there, and he killed the dryer vent (which we had him replace). WELL, he also dented the furnace exhaust and gas line. I told him REPEATEDLY NOT to pitch towards the house, to pitch the other way. He just pooh-poohed, and said, "What do YOU know mom?" Even STBX got on him about pitching at the house, and he pitched the other way. ANYway, the home inspector said that the exhaust is restricted, and COULD potentially cause a problem with carbon monoxide if there was snow built up around the exhaust area (A family died in a town near us this past winter from exactly that situation, with 3 feet of snow after the January Blizzard). It needs to be replaced, and the gasline needs to be replaced, as well. I think I'll make HIM pay for it, since HE did the damage. Also, the inspector noted (and I saw too) there were several charred leaves around the furnace exhaust. DS and I are going to have a LOOONG talk tomorrow. GRRRR! I TOLD him, and he didn't listen, and now we have this problem.
I will send copies of this to my lawyer, and get the estimate from the electrician, and call the gas company tomorrow.
I'll keep you all posted! I feel a LOT better knowing that I've been right about the house issues, and SHOULD have listened to my gut. Now these things can be fixed. PLUS I'm going to buy a carbon monoxide detector. :-)
Susie
Yes!
Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~
We have a woodstove as well, and oil heat. Before the snow flies, I will get the CM detector. Gotta call the propane company this morning, and get that taken care of. So much to do! I have a list, including having the woodstove chimney pipe cleaned. Aye yai yai!
EDIT: I did call the propane company, and they will send a technician out to look at my gasline. I told DS about the gasline, and the exhaust hood, but he said, "Dad has to pay for that". Mmmm hmmm. I also called a chimney sweep to get the creosote psoblem taken care of.
AND
I made copies of the inspectr's repoat to send to my lawyer. I called her this morning to let her know about it.
Edited 7/27/2005 11:14 am ET ET by susieyippin
LOL! It's actually a pretty good house. It did get neglected for maybe a year as we were starting a new business. But the business is going fine, so there was no excuse for him to avoid fixing things. BUT STBX doesn't like to even ENTERTAIN fixing things, or planning a project until the things breaks, or is so dangerous to people that he's forced to do something. Our driveway steps, for example. They're made from landscape timbers/railroad ties, and are abutted by retaining walls. The wood has been in the ground for 20 years, and the steps get used a lot, so they are in seriously bad shape. 10 years ago, I told him, "Let's plan for some new steps, so we know what we want to do." I was told how I wanted to control everything, and I just wanted to spend HIS hard-earned $$$$, etc. Fast forward to about 3 years ago. My dad, who had undiagnosed colon cancer at the time, stumbled down the steps. I've sfallen down the steps 4 or 5 times since then, and my cousin's wife stumbled down the steps recently. Good thing she wasn't carrying their newborn at the time.
I run a chair caning business from my home, so I have people coming up the steps to drop off their furniture. It's just a matter of time before someone breaks and ankle on the steps-- the UPS guy, a visiting relative, one of our friends, a customer... It'll be cheaper for us to redo the steps than it is to pay for someone's injury and pain and suffering. But he keeps saying that I control things, so that's why he doesn't want to repair anything. I've ALWAYS said to him, "Is this ok with you, I'd like your input, etc." He would say, "No, you pick out the drapes/carpet/towels/sheets/paint", then complain that I'm a control freak. Stupid passive-aggressive nitwit.