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Green Apple Home Inspections

gahikw@gmail.com
(208) 703-2947

Summary

Client(s):  Paul and CJ Mulgrew
Property address:  5950 S Tallowtree Way
Boise ID 83716-6964
Inspection date:  Tuesday, December 11, 2018

This report published on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 4:18:52 PM MST

This report is the exclusive property of this inspection company and the client(s) listed in the report title. Use of this report by any unauthorized persons is prohibited. This report is for only at the time of the inspection. Any defects found after this inspection cannot be accounted for.

Concerns are shown and sorted according to these types:
Concern typeSafetyPoses a risk of injury or death
Concern typeMajor DefectCorrection likely involves a significant expense
Concern typeRepair/ReplaceRecommend repairing or replacing
Concern typeRepair/MaintainRecommend repair and/or maintenance
Concern typeMaintainRecommend ongoing maintenance
Concern typeEvaluateRecommend evaluation by a specialist
Concern typeMonitorRecommend monitoring in the future
Concern typeCommentFor your information
Concern typeConducive conditionsConditions conducive for wood destroying insects or organisms (Wood-soil contact, shrubs in contact with siding, roof or plumbing leaks, etc.)


General information
1) Some wall, floor and/or ceiling surfaces were obscured by furniture and/or stored items. Some areas couldn't be evaluated.

Exterior
2) One or more hornet, bee and/or wasp nests were found. These can pose a safety hazard. Nest(s) should be removed as necessary.
3) Conducive conditionsThe perimeter grading slopes towards the structure in one or more areas. This can result in water accumulating around the structure's foundation, or in basements and crawl spaces if they exist. Accumulated water is a conducive condition to wood destroying insects and organisms. Wet soil may also cause the foundation to settle and possibly fail over time. Recommend grading soil so it slopes down and away from the structure with a slope of at least 5% (10% or better is optimal) for at least 6 feet.
4) Conducive conditionsOne or more downspouts are dented, damaged and/or crushed. This can restrict the water flow and result in clogging and overflowing gutters. Water may accumulate around the structure's foundation, or in basements and crawl spaces if they exist. Accumulated water is a conducive condition to wood destroying insects and organisms, and may also cause the foundation to settle and possibly fail over time. Damaged downspouts should be repaired or replaced as necessary, and by a qualified contractor if necessary. this was seen specifically in the back yard.
5) Conducive conditionsOne or more gutters were leaking during the inspection. This can result in water accumulating around the structure's foundation, or in basements and crawl spaces if they exist. Accumulated water is a conducive condition to wood destroying insects and organisms, and may also cause the foundation to settle and possibly fail over time. A qualified contractor should replace or repair gutters where necessary. this was seen in in the front entry area.
6) Conducive conditionsOne or more crawlspace vents are below or near grade with no well to prevent rainwater from entering. This can lead to water entering and accumulating in the crawl space, and is a conducive condition for wood destroying insects and organisms. A qualified contractor should install wells where necessary.
7) Conducive conditionsOne or more minor cracks (1/8 inch or less) were found in the foundation. These don't appear to be a structural concern, but recommend sealing them to prevent water infiltration and monitoring them in the future. Numerous products exist to seal such cracks including:

Roof
8) The roof was partially obscured by snow and couldn't be fully evaluated.

Garage
10) The interior perimeter of the garage is excluded from this inspection due to lack of access from stored items.
11) The garage was in good condition at the time of the inspection. However the inspection was limited by personal storage.

Attic
12) The attic was in good dry condition at the time of the inspection.

Electric service
13) This home has solid-strand branch circuit aluminum wiring. This type of aluminum wiring is a potential fire hazard. Problems due to expansion and contraction can cause overheating at connections between the wire and devices such as switches and receptacles, or at splices. The Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends either discontinuing use of circuits with aluminum wiring, or pigtailing copper wiring onto the ends of the aluminum wire. A qualified electrician should evaluate and repair or replace this wiring. For more information, visit: http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum.htm
14) The electrical panel was in good condition at the time of the inspection.

Water heater
15) The water heater was in good working condition at the time of the inspection.

Heating and cooling
16) Because of the age and/or condition of this furnace, recommend that a qualified heating and cooling technician inspect the heat exchanger and perform a Carbon Monoxide test when it's serviced.
17) The last service date of this system appears to be more than one year ago, or the inspector was unable to determine the last service date. The client(s) should ask the property owner(s) when it was last serviced. If unable to determine the last service date, or if this system was serviced more than one year ago, a qualified heating and cooling contractor should inspect, clean, and service this system, and make repairs if necessary. For safety reasons, and because this system is fueled by gas or oil, this servicing should be performed annually in the future. For more information visit: http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml05/05017.html
18) The estimated useful life for air conditioning compressors is 8 to 15 years. This unit appears to have exceeded this age and may need replacing at any time. Recommend budgeting for a replacement in the near future.
19) Air handler filter(s) should be checked monthly in the future and replaced or washed as necessary.
20) The outdoor air temperature was below 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the inspection. Because of this, the inspector was unable to operate and fully evaluate the cooling system.
21) The HVAC was in good working condition at the time of the inspection.

Plumbing and laundry
22) Conducive conditionsOne or more active leaks were found in drain and/or waste pipes or fittings. A qualified plumber should evaluate and repair as necessary. This was seen specifically the master shower drain pipe.
23) The plumbing was in good working condition at the time of the inspection.

Fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys
24) The fireplace was in good working condition at the time of the inspection.

Crawl space
25) Conducive conditionsEvidence of prior water intrusion was found in one or more sections of the crawl space. For example, sediment stains on the vapor barrier or foundation, and/or efflorescence on the foundation. Accumulated water is a conducive condition for wood destroying insects and organisms and should not be present in the crawl space. The client(s) should review any disclosure statements available and ask the property owner(s) about past accumulation of water in the crawl space. The crawl space should be monitored in the future for accumulated water, especially after heavy and/or prolonged periods of rain. If water is found to accumulate, a qualified contractor who specializes in drainage issues should evaluate and repair as necessary. Typical repairs for preventing water from accumulating in crawl spaces include:
  • Repairing, installing or improving rain run-off systems (gutters, downspouts and extensions or drain lines)
  • Improving perimeter grading
  • Repairing, installing or improving underground footing and/or curtain drains

Ideally, water should not enter crawl spaces, but if water must be controlled after it enters the crawl space, then typical repairs include installing trenches, gravity drains and/or sump pump(s) in the crawl space.
26) The crawl space was in good dry condition at the time of the inspection.

Kitchen
27) All kitchen appliances were in good working condition at the time of the inspection.

Bathrooms
28) The bathroom(s) and all the water sources were in good working condition at the time of the inspection.

Interior rooms
29) Squeaking or creaking noises occur when walking on one or more sections of flooring. This is usually caused by substandard construction practices where the subfloor decking is not adequately fastened to the framing below. For example, not enough glue was used and/or nails were used rather than screws. In most cases, this is only an annoyance rather than a structural problem. Various solutions such as Squeeeeek No More and Counter Snap fasteners exist to correct this. Repairs to eliminate the squeaks or creaks may be more or less difficult depending on the floor covering, and the access to the underside of the subfloor. Recommend having a qualified contractor evaluate and repair as necessary.
30) Lock mechanisms on one or more windows are damaged so that they are difficult to operate. Repairs should be made by a qualified contractor or service technician so that windows lock and unlock easily. This was seen specifically at the dining room sliding window.
31) One or more light switches appear to be inoperable. Recommend further evaluation by consulting with the property owner(s). Repairs or replacement of light switch(s) by a qualified electrician may be necessary. This was seen specifically at the living room and the master bedroom.
32) Minor cracks were found in ceilings in one or more areas. They do not appear to be a structural concern, but the client(s) may wish to repair these for aesthetic reasons.
33) Minor cracks were found in walls in one or more areas. They do not appear to be a structural concern, but the client(s) may wish to repair these for aesthetic reasons.