|
|
Stuctural Inspections and New Home Inspections in King County, Snohomoish County, Skagit County, and Pierce County
|
|
 |
Less than 10% of your home is visible on a walk through.
I don't need a home inspection, I'm buying new
|
Q. BUT I'M BUYING NEW CONSTRUCTION...
Many people question whether they need a home inspection when they are purchasing a brand new home. After all, the municipal inspectors have looked at the home during construction and the builder assures them that anything that is noted during the final walk-through will be addressed.
The facts are the municipal inspectors do not have time to do a complete inspection of each and every home that they are charged with and a full inspection is just not within the scope of what they do. Although most builders are willing to make corrections to defects that are brought to their attention, if the defects are not discovered, they cannot be remedied. Builders have numerous trades people and subcontractors working on each home. Given the labor market here in Washington State, it is not uncommon that inexperienced workers are employed, where a few years ago the construction was performed by people with years of experience.
There is a need for inspections of new construction. Defects can be discovered before they can create long-term problems. A main floor bathtub drain that is never connected can flood a crawl space and create collateral damages to the wood framing. Tile roofs installed by inexperienced workers or with lower quality material will reduce the lifespan of the roof system.
The purpose of the new home inspection is to inform the buyer regarding the condition of the home, whether brand new or turn of the century. This is accomplished by the performance of a thorough, comprehensive inspection by a trained home inspector.
| |
 |
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
|
Many of you have asked "What type of things do you find wrong in New Home Construction or 1 year warranties?" Well, see for yourself! This week we have a home that is not quite 1 year old.
If you spend any amount of time around builders, they will tell you how strict the local city code inspectors are. It doesn't matter if you live in King County or Peirce County. The builders love to tell prospective buyers "Oh, the city code inspectors make it very hard on us" followed by "Hey, we hire third party inspectors to look over your home also" or "You have nothing to worry about, you have a 1 year warranty!"
Here is a home that is almost a year old. They did hire their own inspector before moving in. He was cheaper so they thought all inspectors were the same and they'd save a few dollars. The client actually said "I thought after all, I still had a 1 year warranty if he missed anything." He missed something alright. So did the City inspector and the Builders "Third Party" Inspectors!
|
 |
|
For beginners, the builder failed to install a lintel to hold up all those bricks above the window (see red arrows) The City, the Builders Inspector and the Buyers cut rate inspector all missed this. |
There was so much water coming in above the window that this structural beam was rotting. This beam came apart like cotton candy.
|
 |
 |
Not only did the beam start rotting, so did other structural members such as the I-Joist and the 2nd story floor decking. |
The builder said there would be no reason to take out the sheetrock around the windows. The moisture meter showed almost total saturation of the sheetrock and the framing around the window. |
What happened here is what happens to a lot of other homes. The builder cut corners and no one caught it and held them accountable for it. This was a box out window in the Breakfast/Kitchen area that did not have a lintel above it holding up the tons of bricks plus the builder failed to flash the trim propely.
There were three other windows in this home that had high moisture levels around them. The builders response was that he'd send someone out to recaulk the windows in a day or two!!! Recaulk- they needed to be removed and reinstalled properly!
|
(425)985-3289
Jim Estrada |
|
| |
|
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
|
SQUARE D ARC FAULT CIRCUIT BREAKER RECALL |
Does Your New Home Builder Notify Your Clients About Recalls?
The Property Inspector Does |
 |
|
Our number one priority is the safety of our people, our customers and our products. Because of this, we are working in conjunction with the Consumer Products Safety Commission on a voluntary recall of our Square D arc fault interrupter (AFI) circuit breakers manufactured between March 1, 2004 and September 23, 2004.
Our tests indicate that the arc detection capability may become inoperable in these breakers due to the failure of an internal component in the electronic detection circuit. We have found that the circuit breaker will not properly detect or interrupt a high resistance low current arcing fault.
The short circuit and overload interruption capability of these breakers continues to function properly. This means that the circuit breakers will continue to provide the same level of protection offered by a standard circuit breaker, but will not provide the additional arcing fault protection required by local building codes in many municipalities.
You have associated the Square D brand with industry leadership, safety, quality, reliability and innovation for over 100 years now. You can be assured we will act quickly and appropriately to ensure you receive the quality products and services you have come to expect from us. Call our AFI Breakers Recall Center toll-free 1-877-202-9046 with questions or for more information. |
|
|
|
(425)985-3289
Jim Estrada |
| |
|
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
 |
| |
| This house closes in 12 hours |
| OOPS! |
They forgot the insulation in the attic!
|
| |
 |
| |
| OOPS! |
| They left the return heating duct drawing air from the crawlspace! |
 |
 |
|
THE CITY INSPECTOR WAS THERE AT THE SAME TIME AND DID NOT GO INTO THESE SAME AREAS |
|
|
|
(425)985-3289
Jim Estrada |
| |
|
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
|
|
|
OOPS! Forgot to pour the foundation long enough.
Result- Insufficient support of the main wall.
|
| |
|
OOPS! I have a ridge vent on the roof to the attic but forgot to cut it through the sheathing.
Result- no ventilation!
|
|
(425)985-3289
|
| |
|
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
|
|
|
|
 |
|
This guy was Supervising a work crew. He slept the entire time I did the inspection and the workers woke him up just before leaving. |
|
 |
Most anyone knows not to put an A/C compressor under your dining room window. Plus, any competent builder should know these things need air space. What was the builder's reaction when my client told them it didn't have proper air space around the unit? "Take it or leave it, we're not changing it." |
|
(425)985-3289 |
| |
|
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The Red "X" is a load bearing wall that is carrying the weight of the roof. The Yellow "X" is triple joist that were suppose to be under the load bearing wall to support it. The White circle indicates there is only one stud below the 3 joist where there should have been 3. How did the city inspector and the builders "Quality Assurance" inspector miss this? This is a structural nightmare waiting to happen. |
|
 |
I doubt seriously if the incompetent person who installed this furnace had a license. I also doubt the builder really cared. Where was the city inspector or the builders "Quality Assurance" inspector? They probably never went into the attic. |
|
(425)985-3289 |
| |
|
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
|
|
|
|
 |
|
This Hall of Shame goes to the City Inspector who green tagged the final electrical inspection of this home and failed to notice that the ground wire for the electrical system was not connected to the ground rod, which was directly below his feet when he put this green tag on the meter box! |
|
 |
Oh Crap! Unfortunately, these "Little Presents" are left at way to many new homes we inspect by unsupervised sub-contractors. As our motto says, "What's in Your Attic?" Or closet, or garage, or under the living room carpet... |
|
(425)985-3289 |
| |
|
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| I find about a dozen flues off of fireplaces each year. This is a one year warranty inspection where the homeowner had been using his gas log system quite a bit. I have no doubt if he'd been burning wood his home would have went up in flames. Why didn't the builders "Quality Assurance" inspectors or the city catch this? They would actually have to look up the flue! |
|
 |
| Undersized bracing for these rafters on a high end home in Kirkland. The builders response was "The city ok'd it, that's good enough for us". This roof will likely be sagging within a couple years if not corrected! The IRC code clearly states that purlins are required to be sized as rafters. |
|
|
| |
|
QUICK RESPONSE - QUALITY INSPECTION - 7 DAYS A WEEK
Jim Estrada
(425)985-3289
www.propertyinspectorllc.com
CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL PEST INSPECTOR |
NEW HOME BUILDER HALL OF SHAME
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| This breaker box had passed the City Inspector's final electrical inspection and the builders "Quality Assurance" inspection!! The main feeder had shorted out against the side of the panel box and burned a hole in the box itself. What was their solution? To put a piece of wood between the cable and the box!! I guess they figured it needed help to start a fire! |
|
 |
| Another example of a builder that did not install the windows correctly. Builders rarely install windows correctly. 30% to 40% of the new homes we inspect have at least one window that has signs of moisture intrusion. The builders solution? Apply more caulk to the outside!!! (that is the builders solution for most intrusion problems) |
|
| |
