View as PDF

View report

Logo

Sound to Mountain Home Inspections

http://stmhomeinspections.com
stmhomeinspections@yahoo.com
(425) 239-6393
Inspector: Caleb Posey
WA State Home Inspector #1682

Summary

Client(s):  EXAMPLE
Property address:  EXAMPLE Dr
Bellingham WA 98229
Inspection date:  Tuesday, May 24, 2016

This report published on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 9:51:04 AM PST

Thank you for using SOUND TO MOUNTAIN HOME INSPECTIONS, LLC for your home inspection. Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make. I understand how important your home inspection is to you and your family. Your business is very important to me and my family. If there is anyway I can help you after your home inspection, please do not hesitate to contact Caleb at the phone number or email provided on this report. If you find this report useful and informative please refer SOUND TO MOUNTAIN HOME INSPECTIONS, LLC to your friends, your realtor and anyone you believe could benefit from my services. SOUND TO MOUNTAIN HOME INSPECTIONS, LLC not only performs inspections for purchasers, but also for people planning to sell a home who wish to estimate the amount of work that needs to be completed before listing the house.

A home inspection is a visual, and not an exhaustive or invasive, inspection of a home by a trained and impartial inspector. The inspector role in a home inspection is to find issues and deficiencies in the home and property. As a result, this report may seem negative in content. Unfortunately, the best features of a home may go unmentioned in this report. Please read the full report, not just the summary.There is very valuable information included within the full report text.

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.

Concerns are shown and sorted according to these types:
Concern typeSafetyPoses a safety hazard
Concern typeRepair/ReplaceRecommend repairing or replacing
Concern typeRepair/MaintainRecommend repair and/or maintenance
Concern typeMinor DefectCorrection likely involves only a minor expense
Concern typeMaintainRecommend ongoing maintenance
Concern typeEvaluateRecommend evaluation by a specialist
Concern typeMonitorRecommend monitoring in the future
Concern typeCommentFor your information


Grounds
2) All deck guardrails were unstable and/or wobbly. A qualified contractor should repair as necessary. For example, by installing additional bracing or supports.
5) Fungal rot was found in decking boards at back of house deck. Conducive conditions for this such as wood-soil contact should be corrected. Recommend that a qualified contractor evaluate and repair as necessary. All rotten wood should be replaced.

Crawl Space
13) Fungal rot is starting to appear at the northeast corner section of floor sheathing. This could be due to most of the crawl space vents being covered. Recommend qualified contractor to uncover all the vents and evaluate/repair as necessary.
14) Crawl space access hatch is earth to wood contact. Substandard access, no well at door. Water can enter the crawl space. Recommend that a qualified person install a well.

Garage or Carport
26) Some gaps, holes and/or areas with missing or substandard surface materials were found in the attached garage walls or ceilings. Current standard building practices call for wooden-framed ceilings and walls that divide the house and garage to provide limited fire-resistance rating to prevent the spread of fire from the garage to the house. Recommend that a qualified person repair per standard building practices. For example, by patching openings or holes, firestopping holes or gaps with fire-resistant caulking, and/or installing fire-resistant wall covering (e.g. Type X drywall). For more information, visit:
http://www.reporthost.com/?AGFR
27) The pull-down attic stairs installed in the attached garage ceiling had no visible fire-resistance rating. Current standard building practices call for wooden-framed ceilings that divide the house and garage to have a fire-resistance rating. Installing pull-down attic stairs intended for interior spaces compromises the ceiling's fire resistance. Recommend that a qualified person repair as necessary to restore the ceiling's fire resistance. For example, by modifying, replacing or removing the stairs. Note that commercially made, fire resistance-rated stairs are available. For more information, visit:
http://www.reporthost.com/?FIREATTSTR

Electric
30) Some electric receptacles at the laundry area, garage and/or exterior had no visible ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection, or the inspector was unable to determine if GFCI protection was present. If not GFCI-protected, receptacles in wet areas pose a shock hazard. Recommend that a qualified electrician evaluate and install GFCI protection if necessary and per standard building practices. General guidelines for GFCI-protected receptacles include the following locations:
  • Outdoors (since 1973)
  • Bathrooms (since 1975)
  • Garages (since 1978)
  • Kitchens (since 1987)
  • Crawl spaces and unfinished basements (since 1990)
  • Wet bar sinks (since 1993)
  • Laundry and utility sinks (since 2005)
For more information, visit:
http://www.reporthost.com/?GFCI
31) Electric receptacles at the bedrooms had no visible arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection, or the inspector was unable to determine if AFCI protection was present. This is a potential safety hazard. Recommend that a qualified electrician evaluate and install AFCI protection if necessary and per standard building practices. General guidelines for AFCI-protected receptacles include the following locations:
  • Bedrooms (since 1999)
  • Kitchens, laundry areas, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens and recreation rooms, sunrooms, closets and hallways (since 2014)
For more information, visit:
http://www.reporthost.com/?AFCI
32) Cover plate installed outside was missing and proper cover for outside use. This is a potential shock and/or fire hazard. Recommend that a qualified electrician repair as necessary.
33) All smoke alarms were missing. Smoke alarms should be replaced as necessary. For more information, visit:
http://www.reporthost.com/?SMKALRM
34) Handle ties were missing at most of the circuit breakers at the sub panel. Approved, "identified" handle ties should be installed to prevent one side from being turned off while the other is turned on. Nails, screws or wires or other nonconforming material are not permitted for use as handle ties. This is a potential shock hazard, especially for someone working on the system. Recommend that a qualified electrician repair per standard building practices.

Plumbing / Fuel Systems
38) leak found in drain fittings at laundry sink. A qualified plumber should evaluate and repair as necessary.
39) Insulation for some water supply pipes in the crawl space was missing and/or substandard. Recommend replacing or installing insulation on pipes per standard building practices to prevent them from freezing during cold weather, and for better energy efficiency with hot water supply pipes.
40) No sediment trap was installed in the gas supply line at the furnace. Sediment traps prevent damage to gas-fired appliances by trapping oil, scale, water condensation and/or debris. Recommend that a qualified contractor install a sediment trap per standard building practices.
41) Plumbing going through floor structure without proper flashing or barrier. Result is lose of heat and access for rodents. Recommend a licensed contractor to repair. Might need further insulation contractor to replace disturbed insulation from repair.

Fireplaces, Stoves, Chimneys and Flues
45) The metal chimney for the wood stove or fireplace was too close to combustible materials such as wood or insulation. This is a fire hazard. Minimum clearances
  • 6-9 inches around double-wall metal chimneys, or single-wall with shield

Recommend that a qualified contractor evaluate and make repairs or modifications as necessary so minimum clearances from combustibles are maintained around all chimney and flue pipes, per the manufacturer's specifications.
46) The wood stove insert's hearth appears to be undersized. Check manufacturer requirements. Hearths for inserts should extend at least 18 inches to the front and sides. Recommend that a qualified person make repairs or modifications per standard building practices, if necessary. For example, by installing a non-flammable hearth pad, or by extending the existing hearth with non-flammable materials.

Kitchen
50) Electrical wiring for the under-sink food disposal was substandard. Non-metallic sheathed wiring was exposed and subject to damage. The wiring can be damaged by repeated bending or contact with sharp objects. BX-armored conduit should be installed to protect wiring, or a flexible appliance cable should be installed. This is a potential shock hazard. Recommend that a qualified contractor repair per standard building practices.
51) No air gap was visible for the dishwasher drain. An air gap is a device that makes the drain line non-continuous, and prevents waste-water backflow from entering the dishwasher, and possibly flooding out of the dishwasher if/when a siphon occurs. Some newer dishwashers have this device built in. Recommend determining if an air gap device is built in to this brand and model of dishwasher (e.g. review installation instructions). If not, or if this cannot be determined, then recommend that a qualified contractor install an air gap per standard building practices.

Bathrooms, Laundry and Sinks
52) The toilet at upstairs bathroom didn't flush. May be due to no toilet supply from valve. Recommend that a qualified plumber evaluate and repair or replace the toilet as necessary.
53) The shower enclosure at master bath was deteriorated, damaged or substandard. Water can damage the wall structure as a result. Recommend that a qualified contractor repair or replace the surround as necessary.
54) The exhaust fan at master bathroom was weak or slow. Moisture may accumulate and result in mold, bacteria or fungal growth. Recommend that a qualified person clean, repair or replace fans as necessary.

Interior, Doors and Windows
58) Handrails at interior flight of stairs were not graspable and posed a fall hazard. Handrails should be 1 1/4 - 2 inches in diameter if round, or 2 5/8 inches or less in width if flat. Recommend that a qualified person install graspable handrails or modify existing handrails per standard building practices.
60) Condensation or staining was visible between multi-pane glass in one or more . This usually indicates that the seal between the panes of glass has failed or that the desiccant material that absorbs moisture is saturated. As a result, the view through the window may be obscured, the window's R-value will be reduced, and accumulated condensation may leak into the wall structure below. Recommend that a qualified contractor evaluate and repair windows as necessary. Usually, this means replacing the glass in window frames.

Be aware that evidence of failed seals or desiccant may be more or less visible depending on the temperature, humidity, sunlight, etc. Windows or glass-paneled doors other than those that the inspector identified may also have failed seals and need glass replaced. It is beyond the scope of this inspection to identify every window with failed seals or desiccant.