Amateur electric work. This handy man used extension cords to wire this house.
Amateur electric work. This handy man used extension cords to wire this house.
Usually, a deck should sit on the pier that is supposed to support it. This one had 2" of air space between the beam and pier.
Usually, a deck should sit on the pier that is supposed to support it. This one had 2" of air space between the beam and pier.
A corroded water line.
A corroded water line.
A creative approach to supporting a deck. Too bad it's not going to stand the test of time.
A creative approach to supporting a deck. Too bad it's not going to stand the test of time.
I found rotten beams & shims on top of an old log used for floor structure.
I found rotten beams & shims on top of an old log used for floor structure.
The tile in the corner of this shower is sloped towards the wall, not the drain. This can lead to water intrusion and mold.
The tile in the corner of this shower is sloped towards the wall, not the drain. This can lead to water intrusion and mold.
This is a photo showing two neutral wires landing on one terminal. This is the work of an amateur electrician and a dangerous situation that should be rectified. The fact that one of the wires is solid strand aluminum is even worse!
This is a photo showing two neutral wires landing on one terminal. This is the work of an amateur electrician and a dangerous situation that should be rectified. The fact that one of the wires is solid strand aluminum is even worse!
Oops! Someone forgot to insulate this house. Seriously, this home had NO insulation under it. This can lead to not only poor energy efficiency, but water & mold damage as well.
Oops! Someone forgot to insulate this house. Seriously, this home had NO insulation under it. This can lead to not only poor energy efficiency, but water & mold damage as well.
More creative deck work that won't last very long.
More creative deck work that won't last very long.
This home is missing a very important but often forgotten piece called kick out flashing. Kick out flashing keeps the water from running down the roof and entering behind the siding.
This home is missing a very important but often forgotten piece called kick out flashing. Kick out flashing keeps the water from running down the roof and entering behind the siding.
Here's some plastic being used on a hot water heat pipe. This is a serious danger for fire or carbon monoxide.
Here's some plastic being used on a hot water heat pipe. This is a serious danger for fire or carbon monoxide.
I found this caulking job in a shower today, and I'm kind of speechless...
I found this caulking job in a shower today, and I'm kind of speechless...
This deck is going to go south....very soon.
This deck is going to go south....very soon.
Here's an old log stuck into the ground (it will rot) with a few pieces of firewood being used to support the floor.
Here's an old log stuck into the ground (it will rot) with a few pieces of firewood being used to support the floor.
Stucco improperly terminated at grade with no weep screed to allow for moisture management. This is Efis Stucco as well so this can lead to the walls rotting from the inside out.
Stucco improperly terminated at grade with no weep screed to allow for moisture management. This is Efis Stucco as well so this can lead to the walls rotting from the inside out.
A very “creative” gutter system to get the water out of a roof after it has already leaked into the attic.
A very “creative” gutter system to get the water out of a roof after it has already leaked into the attic.
How not to take care of a home. Snow must be moved from time to time as needed. This large block of ice is crushing the wall below it. The door would not operate under it, the wall was bowed and the window one story down was being damaged as well.
How not to take care of a home. Snow must be moved from time to time as needed. This large block of ice is crushing the wall below it. The door would not operate under it, the wall was bowed and the window one story down was being damaged as well.
This is a type of solar heating system from the late 70's. Sometimes as inspectors we find things that we just can't inspect!The seller told his realtor that the system is a forced air system with a large room full of stones in the basement where the hot air, which is heated up in the solar panels, is blown. The stones heat up in the daytime and are used as a source of heat at night.
This is a type of solar heating system from the late 70's. Sometimes as inspectors we find things that we just can't inspect!The seller told his realtor that the system is a forced air system with a large room full of stones in the basement where the hot air, which is heated up in the solar panels, is blown. The stones heat up in the daytime and are used as a source of heat at night.
More creative plumbing, by a plumber who does not understand gravity.
More creative plumbing, by a plumber who does not understand gravity.
Black mold & rotten windows. Had they simply closed and latched their windows, this problem would not have occurred. Many items I find are simply caused by people not taking care of their homes. House are kind of like cars: you have to maintain them. Kind of like changing the oil once in a while.
Black mold & rotten windows. Had they simply closed and latched their windows, this problem would not have occurred. Many items I find are simply caused by people not taking care of their homes. House are kind of like cars: you have to maintain them. Kind of like changing the oil once in a while.
This is a sewer vent. It should go through the roof, not vent into the laundry room...right?
This is a sewer vent. It should go through the roof, not vent into the laundry room...right?
This week's find was a plumber who doesn't understand that water flows downhill...
This week's find was a plumber who doesn't understand that water flows downhill...
Rotting structural posts. Wood should never be in contact with soil. This was found in a crawlspace, and left unchecked, will cause structural failure in a home.
Rotting structural posts. Wood should never be in contact with soil. This was found in a crawlspace, and left unchecked, will cause structural failure in a home.
Look closely...that's a rock and a stick being used to shore up a settling floor.
Look closely...that's a rock and a stick being used to shore up a settling floor.
White ash on a boiler is evidence that it's time for a service.
White ash on a boiler is evidence that it's time for a service.
This is a water heater temperature and pressure relief valve. In other words, it will shoot hot steam and water out of it! Personally, I would prefer not to have it pointed directly at me. This is a defect as it is corroded and not piped to the floor for safety.
This is a water heater temperature and pressure relief valve. In other words, it will shoot hot steam and water out of it! Personally, I would prefer not to have it pointed directly at me. This is a defect as it is corroded and not piped to the floor for safety.
This is solid strand aluminum wiring. Widely used in the 60-70s but is now know to be a fire hazard if certain changes are not made to make it safer.
This is solid strand aluminum wiring. Widely used in the 60-70s but is now know to be a fire hazard if certain changes are not made to make it safer.
A makeshift gutter system to prevent water from dripping on the front door: a very creative design with poor execution. Poor builder trying to solve a bad architecture detail.
A makeshift gutter system to prevent water from dripping on the front door: a very creative design with poor execution. Poor builder trying to solve a bad architecture detail.
A leaky furnace flue pipe.
A leaky furnace flue pipe.