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James Quarello - ASHI Certified CT Home Inspector

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Old Fashioned Protection, What Is It?

11-16-09
James Quarello - ASHI Certified CT Home Inspector

copper protectorIt can be funny to come across a product or component from "back in the day". Seeing something that was state of the art at the time and now it seems so ridiculous in the modern light. Time marches on, knowledge increases and therefore change is as inevitable as the sunrise.

Here is an old and silly component I find from time to time. It's the copper sheet at the top of the block wall in the photo. This sheet is installed along the entire perimeter of home over the top of the foundation walls.

Can you guess its purpose?

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.
Ansonia, Avon, Bantam, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bloomfield, Branford, Bridgeport, Bristol, Brookfield, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Cheshire, Colchester, Coventry, Cromwell, Danbury, Darien, Deep River, Derby, Durham, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Haven, East Norwalk, East Windsor, Easton, Essex, Fairfield, Farmington, Gales Ferry, Georgetown, Glastonbury, Granby, Greenwich, Guilford, Haddam, Hamden, Hartford, Huntington, Kensington, Killingly, Killingworth, Litchfield, Madison, Manchester, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, New Milford, Newington, Newtown, Norfolk, Northford, Norwalk, Oakdale, Oakville, Orange, Oxford, Plainville, Plantsville, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Redding, Redding Ridge, Ridgefield, Riverside, Rockville, Rocky Hill, Roxbury, Sandy Hook, Saugatuck, Seymour, Shelton, Simsbury, South Windham, South Windsor, Southbury, Southington, Southport, Stamford, Stepney, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Trumbull, Unionville, Wallingford, Washington, Waterbury, Waterford, Watertown, Wethersfield, West Hartford, West Haven, West Redding, Westbrook, Weston, Westport, Westville, Wethersfield, Wilton

13 Comments
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Going Down

11-15-09
James Quarello - ASHI Certified CT Home Inspector

Be asked to "go down there" can have either good or bad connotations. It really all depends on who you're with. In the context of a home inspection I can assure you it's never great and pleasurable fun, but an inspectors gotta do what an inspectors gotta do.

One place you have to get down with is the toilet. Oh yes not a pleasant thought, especially in a strange house. Yet this is an important item to be checked so down on my knees I must go.pee stains?

Mystery stains are never a pleasant discovery. You just don't know what they may be from. As the ladies are aware men sometimes have bad aim. Little boys are usually the worst offenders. This is due to the fact that their aim has not been perfected by years of writing their names in the snow.

I found some mystery stains around the base of the toilet above just recently. I was not too squeamish about this particular stain. The home was owned by a single older woman so I felt pretty safe getting close and personal with this toilet.

In truth this looked like a serious leak. The floor was wet particularly around the valve. So the next stop was down to the basement.

wet, wet, wetThe next photo is from beneath the toilet. The wood is black because it is saturated. Water was dripping from some boards with the stain extending out in several directions for many feet.

What has in all likelihood occurred is the wax toilet ring has failed. Just to add insult to injury the water supply pipe was leaking at the toilet connection. A double whammy. By the looks of the staining I would guess this has been going on for a looooog time.

So if you see stains around the base of a toilet you may have to go down to see what's up.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.
Ansonia, Avon, Bantam, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bloomfield, Branford, Bridgeport, Bristol, Brookfield, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Cheshire, Colchester, Coventry, Cromwell, Danbury, Darien, Deep River, Derby, Durham, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Haven, East Norwalk, East Windsor, Easton, Essex, Fairfield, Farmington, Gales Ferry, Georgetown, Glastonbury, Granby, Greenwich, Guilford, Haddam, Hamden, Hartford, Huntington, Kensington, Killingly, Killingworth, Litchfield, Madison, Manchester, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, New Milford, Newington, Newtown, Norfolk, Northford, Norwalk, Oakdale, Oakville, Orange, Oxford, Plainville, Plantsville, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Redding, Redding Ridge, Ridgefield, Riverside, Rockville, Rocky Hill, Roxbury, Sandy Hook, Saugatuck, Seymour, Shelton, Simsbury, South Windham, South Windsor, Southbury, Southington, Southport, Stamford, Stepney, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Trumbull, Unionville, Wallingford, Washington, Waterbury, Waterford, Watertown, Wethersfield, West Hartford, West Haven, West Redding, Westbrook, Weston, Westport, Westville, Wethersfield, Wilton

8 Comments
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Open to Interpretation?

11-13-09
James Quarello - ASHI Certified CT Home Inspector

arguingRules are always it seems open to interpretation. So much so that we have disinterested third parties, for example referees and judges, just to render decisions in an objective manner on subjective topics. There is no question when two parties disagree there will be some bias to each parties logic as to why they are right.

The business of inspecting homes and buildings is very much an interpretive occupation. Not just for home inspectors, but municipal inspectors and even engineers and architects. Codes, installation instructions and general building techniques must be constantly referred to and often interpreted. This can sometimes cloud the waters and be the beginning of a disagreement.

garage wallInspecting a newly constructed home is always a great challenge as a home inspector. Home inspectors are not municipal code officials. Yet when inspecting a new home the home inspector must be cognizant of building codes. In this instance they do have relevance to the home inspection.

Safety is always a first priority of any inspection. As such when interpreting safety guidelines it is always wise to err on the side of caution. Being loose in this area can result in someone being hurt or worse killed.

So when inspecting a new home recently I found wood framing members exposed in the garage I cited this as in need of repair. The three boards penetrate through the wall and ceiling. All walls must be covered in sheet rock as a fire break when the garage is built into the house, especially when there is a bedroom above as there was here.board

The builder did not interpret things as I did. He said the home was inspected, met code and has been issued a CO.

Could the garage door have been raised during the local building officials visit blocking his view? Could he have been distracted and missed those three boards? Why would every wall and the ceiling be covered except around the boards?

When you stop and ponder these questions and look at the issue logically, it would seem clear what the solution should be. As I said erring on the side of caution is always wise in matters of safety. Letting distractions cloud your judgment over a simple repair as in this instance is dangerous.

Hopefully good sense will prevail and this issue will be resolved.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.
Ansonia, Avon, Bantam, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bloomfield, Branford, Bridgeport, Bristol, Brookfield, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Cheshire, Colchester, Coventry, Cromwell, Danbury, Darien, Deep River, Derby, Durham, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Haven, East Norwalk, East Windsor, Easton, Essex, Fairfield, Farmington, Gales Ferry, Georgetown, Glastonbury, Granby, Greenwich, Guilford, Haddam, Hamden, Hartford, Huntington, Kensington, Killingly, Killingworth, Litchfield, Madison, Manchester, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, New Milford, Newington, Newtown, Norfolk, Northford, Norwalk, Oakdale, Oakville, Orange, Oxford, Plainville, Plantsville, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Redding, Redding Ridge, Ridgefield, Riverside, Rockville, Rocky Hill, Roxbury, Sandy Hook, Saugatuck, Seymour, Shelton, Simsbury, South Windham, South Windsor, Southbury, Southington, Southport, Stamford, Stepney, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Trumbull, Unionville, Wallingford, Washington, Waterbury, Waterford, Watertown, Wethersfield, West Hartford, West Haven, West Redding, Westbrook, Weston, Westport, Westville, Wethersfield, Wilton

14 Comments
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Permit Me to Inspect

11-12-09
James Quarello - ASHI Certified CT Home Inspector

A few weeks ago I wrote about inspecting a home where an addition had been built with a permit, but had not been inspected. Fast forward to this week and it was Deja Vue all over again.

The listing boasted of a total renovation in 2007. That immediately sent up my antennas. It wasn't long before I found something that told me this renovation project had probably not been inspected.

This side porch as any one can see is narrow. Not to mention the non existent handrail.

As an aside a handrail is not a 5/4 board or 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 set on top of the guard rail.

The stair treads measured just over 32 inches. With the addition of the guardrail there is less than 30 inches of width. A stair landing should be at minimum 36 inches as should be the stairs.

A storm door has not been installed on the doorway. I would suspect because a 32 inch door would not swing fully open on the narrow landing.

Other deficiencies were found inside the home during the course of the inspection. I advised the client to check on the permits for the work. He informed that he had done so already and found records of permits for the renovation.

I asked if they had been closed. I got "the look" from him and his agent.

What does closed mean he asked. I told him that would mean the town inspector had inspected the property and issued a CO.

I got a call later that afternoon from the customer's agent to let me know that the permits were still open. All I can say is I wasn't in the least bit surprised.

If you're a real estate agent and you are going to take on a new listing with renovations to the home, make sure the clients have pulled and closed all permits. It can save a whole lot of trouble later on.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.
Ansonia, Avon, Bantam, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bloomfield, Branford, Bridgeport, Bristol, Brookfield, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Cheshire, Colchester, Coventry, Cromwell, Danbury, Darien, Deep River, Derby, Durham, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Haven, East Norwalk, East Windsor, Easton, Essex, Fairfield, Farmington, Gales Ferry, Georgetown, Glastonbury, Granby, Greenwich, Guilford, Haddam, Hamden, Hartford, Huntington, Kensington, Killingly, Killingworth, Litchfield, Madison, Manchester, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, New Milford, Newington, Newtown, Norfolk, Northford, Norwalk, Oakdale, Oakville, Orange, Oxford, Plainville, Plantsville, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Redding, Redding Ridge, Ridgefield, Riverside, Rockville, Rocky Hill, Roxbury, Sandy Hook, Saugatuck, Seymour, Shelton, Simsbury, South Windham, South Windsor, Southbury, Southington, Southport, Stamford, Stepney, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Trumbull, Unionville, Wallingford, Washington, Waterbury, Waterford, Watertown, Wethersfield, West Hartford, West Haven, West Redding, Westbrook, Weston, Westport, Westville, Wethersfield, Wilton

10 Comments
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Chasing Your Tail

10-31-09
James Quarello - ASHI Certified CT Home Inspector

It is funny to watch a cat or dog go round in circles chasing their tail. They are just playing and having fun. I bet if children had tails they would do the same.

tarry stackThe thing with tail chasing is it is an exercise in futility. The goal can never be accomplished. Even a dog or cat seems to understand this and gives up in a short time.

I sure looks like the person who has continually tried to seal this plumbing vent is chasing his tail. Clearly there is a copious amount of roofing tar that has been repeatedly glopped around this stack. By the color it was re-sealed fairly recently.

When checking the wood around the stack in the attic it was wet. Really no surprise.

What's that old saying about insanity; doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Sounds like just another way of saying; you're chasing your tail.

Applying roofing tar around this stack again and again will never accomplish the goal of sealing out water.

Why? Because who ever put the roof on this house never put a plumbing vent flashing around the stack. Which brings up another cliché;

A man has to know his limitations. (Clint Eastwood)

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.
Ansonia, Avon, Bantam, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bloomfield, Branford, Bridgeport, Bristol, Brookfield, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Cheshire, Colchester, Coventry, Cromwell, Danbury, Darien, Deep River, Derby, Durham, East Hampton, East Hartford, East Haven, East Norwalk, East Windsor, Easton, Essex, Fairfield, Farmington, Gales Ferry, Georgetown, Glastonbury, Granby, Greenwich, Guilford, Haddam, Hamden, Hartford, Huntington, Kensington, Killingly, Killingworth, Litchfield, Madison, Manchester, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, New Milford, Newington, Newtown, Norfolk, Northford, Norwalk, Oakdale, Oakville, Orange, Oxford, Plainville, Plantsville, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Redding, Redding Ridge, Ridgefield, Riverside, Rockville, Rocky Hill, Roxbury, Sandy Hook, Saugatuck, Seymour, Shelton, Simsbury, South Windham, South Windsor, Southbury, Southington, Southport, Stamford, Stepney, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Trumbull, Unionville, Wallingford, Washington, Waterbury, Waterford, Watertown, Wethersfield, West Hartford, West Haven, West Redding, Westbrook, Weston, Westport, Westville, Wethersfield, Wilton

18 Comments