Pocono Home Inspections

PO Box 2179 
Pocono Pines PA 18350-2179

Sample Report

Client(s):	Mr & Mrs Sample
Property address:	PO. Box 2179 Pocono Pines, pa. 18350
Inspection date:	Thursday, September 14, 2006

This report published on Friday, July 5, 2024 3:43:45 PM EDT

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.

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How to Read this Report

This report is organized by the property's functional areas.  Within each functional area, descriptive information is listed first and is shown in bold type.  Items of concern follow descriptive information. Concerns are shown and sorted according to these types:

Safety	Poses a risk of injury or death
Repair/Replace	Recommend repairing or replacing
Repair/Maintain	Recommend repair and/or maintenance
Maintain	Recommend ongoing maintenance
Evaluate	Recommend evaluation by a specialist
Monitor	Recommend monitoring in the future
Comment	For your information

Click here for a glossary of building construction terms.Contact your inspector If there are terms that you do not understand, or visit the glossary of construction terms at https://www.reporthost.com/glossary.asp

Table of Contents

General information
Exterior
Roof
Electric service
Water heater
Heating and cooling
Plumbing and laundry
Fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys
Crawl space
Well
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Interior rooms

View summary

General information

Table of contents

Report number: P H I-06-185

Age of building: Year built 1988

Property owner's name: Mr & Mis Samples

Occupied: No, but furnishings and stored items are present

Weather conditions: Rain

Temperature: Warm

Ground condition: Wet

Front of structure faces: South

Main entrance faces: East

Foundation type: Crawlspace

The following items are excluded from this inspection: Security system, /Shed, /Low voltage outdoor lighting, /Electrical Snow/Ice melt on roof.

1) Comment - Many wall, floor and/or ceiling surfaces were obscured by large amounts of furniture and/or stored items. Many areas couldn't be evaluated.

Exterior

Table of contents

Footing material: Poured in place concrete

Foundation material: Concrete block

Apparent wall structure: Wood frame

Wall covering: Wood panels

Driveway material: Gravel

Sidewalk material: Gravel

Exterior door material: Solid core steel

2) Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more electric receptacles have reverse-polarity wiring, where the hot and neutral wires are reversed. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician should evaluate and make repairs as necessary.

3) Safety, Repair/Replace, Comment - Trip hazard(s) exist at stairs due to non-uniform riser heights. Standard building practices call for riser heights not to vary more than 3/8 inch on a flight of stairs. At a minimum, the client(s) should be aware of this hazard, especially when guests who are not familiar with the stairs are present. Ideally a qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace stairs so all riser heights are within 3/8 inch of each other.

4) Safety, Repair/Replace - One or more deck ledger boards are nailed to the structure rather than being attached by adequate fasteners. This poses a significant safety hazard since the ledger board(s) may separate from the structure, causing the deck(s) to collapse. A qualified contractor should install lag screws or bolts as per standard building practices to securely attach the ledger board(s) to the structure. For more information on installing deck ledger boards visit: http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/decks/deck_4.htm

And for more information on building safe decks in general, visit: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/exteriors/article/0,16417,212625,00.html

5) Safety, Repair/Replace - One or more flights of stairs with more than two risers have no handrail installed. This is a safety hazard. A qualified contractor should install graspable handrails that your hand can completely encircle at stairs where missing, and as per standard building practices.

6) Safety, Repair/Replace - One or more exterior electric receptacles aren't GFCI protectected or rated for use in wet areas. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock and fire. Repairs should be made as necessary, and by a qualified electrician if necessary, so all exterior receptacles are waterproof as per standard building practices.

7) Repair/Maintain - Vegetation such as trees, shrubs and/or vines are in contact with or less than one foot from the structure's exterior. Vegetation can serve as a conduit for wood destroying insects and may retain moisture against the exterior after it rains. Vegetation should be pruned and/or removed as necessary to maintain a one foot clearance between it and the structure's exterior.

8) Comment - One or more sections of foundation and/or exterior walls are excluded from this inspection due to lack of access from vegetation, debris and/or stored items.

9) Comment - The substructure of the deck is excluded from the inspection due to limited access because of the low height.

10) -

Roof

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Roof inspection method: Viewed from ground with binoculars

Roof inspection method: Viewed from eaves on ladder

Roof type: Gable

Roof covering: Asphalt or fiberglass composition shingles

Estimated age of roof: 18 years old

Gutter & downspout material: Aluminum

Roof ventilation: Unable to determine (no access to attic spaces)

11) Maintain - Trees are overhanging roof and are within 10 feet of roof vertically. This is a conducive condition for wood destroying insects and organisms since organic debris such as leaves or needles are more likely to accumulate on the roof surface. Accumulated debris may cause water to enter gaps in the roof surface and leak into attic and/or interior spaces. Trees should be pruned so they are at least 10 feet above roof, or don't overhang the roof.

Electric service

Table of contents

Primary service type: Overhead

Primary service overload protection type: Circuit breakers

Service amperage (amps): 200

Service voltage (volts): 120/240

Location of main disconnect: Breaker at top of main service panel

Service entrance conductor material: Aluminum

System ground: Ground rod(s) in soil

Main disconnect rating (amps): 200

Smoke detectors present: Yes

12) Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more overcurrent protection devices (circuit breakers) are "double tapped", where 2 or more wires are clamped in a terminal designed for only one wire. This is a safety hazard since the bolt or screw may tighten securely against one wire, but leave others loose. Arcing, sparks and fires may result. A qualified electrician should evaluate and repair as necessary.

13) Safety, Repair/Replace - The service drop wires are in contact with trees or vegetation. Recommend having a qualified tree service company or arborist prune or remove trees as necessary to prevent straining or abrading the service drop wires.

14) -

Water heater

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Estimated age: 4 years old

Type: Tank

Energy source: Electricity

Capacity (in gallons): 50

Manufacturer: General Electric Smart Water Heater

Model: SE50M12AA01

Water temperature (degrees Fahrenheit): 115/120 degree's

15) Comment - Stored items, furnishings and/or debris blocked access to the water heater. The inspector was unable to fully evaluate the water heater.

16) Comment -

Heating and cooling

Table of contents

Estimated age: 18 Years old

Primary heating system energy source: Electric

Primary heat system type: Baseboard

Primary A/C energy source: N/A

Primary Air conditioning type: N/A

17) -

Plumbing and laundry

Table of contents

Water service: Private

Service pipe material: Polyethelene

Supply pipe material: Copper

Vent pipe material: Plastic

Drain pipe material: Plastic

Waste pipe material: Plastic

18) Comment - Neither the clothes washer nor dryer were operated or evaluated. They are excluded from this inspection.

19) - The septic tank is located approximately 20 foot from the house off rear deck, and the dosing tank is located 10 foot effluent of the septic tank, and the drain field is located approximately 30 feet effluent of the dosing tank, at the rear of the property. (The septic system is working properly as it should)
For information on how to maintain your septic system click here: http://www.poconohomeinspection.com/?D=31

Fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys

Table of contents

Fireplace type: Metal prefabricated

Chimney type: Metal

20) Comment - Significant amounts of ashes, wood and/or debris are in the fireplace. The inspector was unable to fully evaluate it.

Crawl space

Table of contents

Inspection method: Traversed

Insulation material underneath floor above: Fiberglass roll or batt

Pier or support post material: Masonry

Beam material: Built up wood

Floor structure above: Solid wood joists

Vapor barrier present: Yes

21) Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Standing water was found in one or more sections of the crawl space. Accumulated water is a conducive condition for wood destroying insects and organisms and should not be present in the crawl space. 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, drains and/or sump pump(s) in the crawl space.

22) Repair/Replace - One or more crawl space vent screens are blocked by soil, debris, insulation, stored items or removable panels. This restricts ventilation in the crawl space and may result in increased levels of moisture inside. Materials or items blocking vents should be removed.
Recommend cutting styrofoam insulation away from the vents in the crawl space area so there is proper ventilation to help keep moisture levels down in crawl space area.

23) - I was not able to fully evaluate the under side of the floor from the crawl space area, the insulation in-between the floor joist blocked my view.
what was visible i could see that the crawlspace was redone as far as rotted
timber area's, (joist/beams) was replaced or by sistering pressure treated lumber along side of the rotted or deteriorated lumber to replace or for support.
In my opinion i recommend taking out the insulation in-between the floor joist, (There is also styrofoam insulation on the foundation walls and should only be on walls), for reasons that the insulation in-between the joist (harbors mice / rodents) and will wick (water / moisture) from the crawlspace area and will rot the lumber that it is in contact with.

24) -

Well

Table of contents

Location of well equipment: Crawl space.

25) - The well head is located approximately 40 foot from the house on the right front side of the drive way.
The well depth is 380 feet, and the well pumps 5 gallons of water per-minute.

Kitchen

Table of contents

26) Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more electric receptacles that serve countertop surfaces within six feet of a sink appear to have no ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician should evaluate to determine if GFCI protection exists, and if not, repairs should be made so that all receptacles that serve countertop surfaces within six feet of sinks have GFCI protection. For example, install GFCI receptacles or circuit breaker(s) as needed.

27) Repair/Maintain - Caulk is missing and/or deteriorated where countertops meet backsplashes in wet areas, such as around sinks. Caulk should be replaced where deteriorated and/or applied where missing to prevent water damage.

Bathrooms

Table of contents

28) Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more exhaust fans are noisy or vibrate excessively. A qualified contractor should evaluate and replace the fan(s) or make repairs as necessary.

29) Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more toilets are loose. A qualified contractor should remove the toilet(s) for further evaluation and repairs if necessary. A new wax ring should be installed and toilet(s) should be securely anchored to the floor to prevent movement and leaking.

30) Repair/Maintain - Caulk is missing and/or deteriorated at one or more showers. For example, where the shower base meets the floor below and/or around the shower surround. Caulk should be replaced where deteriorated and/or applied where missing to prevent water intrusion and damage to wall and floor structures.

31) -

Interior rooms

Table of contents

32) Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Evidence of "light to moderate" rodent infestation was found in one or more areas. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines this as less than 20 feces per square foot. Rodent infestation may be a safety hazard due to the risk of contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). HPS is a rare (only 20-50 cases per year in the United states) but deadly (40% mortality rate) disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus. For example, from sweeping up rodent droppings.

Recommend following guidelines in the CDC's Clean Up, Trap Up, Seal Up article for eradicating rodents, cleaning up their waste and nesting materials, and preventing future infestations. While Hanta virus is believed to survive less than one week in droppings and urine, specific precautions should be taken during clean up. The client(s) may wish to consult with a qualified, licensed pest control operator for eliminating the infestation. A qualified licensed abatement contractor or industrial hygenist could be contacted for clean up. If the infestation was minimal, clean up of rodent waste and nesting materials in non-living spaces (crawl spaces and attics) may not be necessary, or may be performed for aesthetic reasons only (odor and appearance).

33) Repair/Replace - One or more doors will not latch when closed. and bottom of door drags on the floor or carpet, Repairs should be made as necessary, and by a qualified contractor if necessary. For example, aligning strike plates with latch bolts and/or replacing locksets.

34) Monitor - Stains were found in one or more ceiling areas. However, no elevated levels of moisture were found. The stain(s) may be due to past roof and/or plumbing leaks. Recommend asking the property owner(s) about this, and monitoring the stained area(s) in the future, especially after heavy or prolonged rain. If elevated moisture is found in the future, a qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary.

35) Comment - 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.

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Home inspectors are not required to report on the following: Life expectancy of any component or system; The causes of the need for a repair; The methods, materials, and costs of corrections; The suitability of the property for any specialized use; Compliance or non-compliance with codes, ordinances, statutes, regulatory requirements or restrictions; The market value of the property or its marketability; The advisability or inadvisability of purchase of the property; Any component or system that was not observed; The presence or absence of pests such as wood damaging organisms, rodents, or insects; or Cosmetic items, underground items, or items not permanently installed. Home inspectors are not required to: Offer warranties or guarantees of any kind; Calculate the strength, adequacy, or efficiency of any system or component; Enter any area or perform any procedure that may damage the property or its components or be dangerous to the home inspector or other persons; Operate any system or component that is shut down or otherwise inoperable; Operate any system or component that does not respond to normal operating controls; Disturb insulation, move personal items, panels, furniture, equipment, plant life, soil, snow, ice, or debris that obstructs access or visibility; Determine the presence or absence of any suspected adverse environmental condition or hazardous substance, including but not limited to mold, toxins, carcinogens, noise, contaminants in the building or in soil, water, and air; Determine the effectiveness of any system installed to control or remove suspected hazardous substances; Predict future condition, including but not limited to failure of components

By excepting this report, Pocono Home Inspections is not liable for any unseen damage or any future damage that may accrue to the property.