Pictures from the Field

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many issues can you find in this picture?

A: 1

B: 2

C: 3 or more

The correct answer is “C”:  3 or more.

In this Photo we have several electrical issues.

1. Live Abandoned Wire – See the black marrettes in the middle of the picture.  This wire was found in the basement, just hanging there.  To make matters worse it was live.  This is a very dangerous situation and may lead to electrical shock or house fire.  We always recommend that all abandoned wiring be removed by a licensed electrician.

2. Wires installed under joists and on the face of studs – Wires should always be run through joists and studs.  When wires are attached to the face of a stud or the bottom of a joist they are susceptible to mechanical damage.  The wires may get accidentally hit against the stud, pinching them and causing the plastic sheathing to rip, which may expose a live wire.  An electrician should come in and re-wire this properly through the joists and studs.

3. Wires touching Metal Piping – We never want to see wires touching metal piping.  If the plastic sheathing were to be damaged and a live wire touched the metal piping, the metal piping would be live.  If you then touched the metal piping then you would be shocked.  When wires are close to metal piping or duct work adding a piece of batt insulation between the wire and the metal will stop them from touching and is a simple solution.

4. Wires not properly secured – This picture shows a couple of wires that are not properly secured.  Wires that are not properly secured indicates that the wiring may not have been installed by a licensed electrician.  So naturally we wonder what else might be wrong.  The immediate threat of a wire that is not properly secured is that the wire is loose and can be pulled by child or get caught on something that you’re carrying.  If the wire is pulled it may lead to a loose connection, which can result in a house fire.

Close to 95% of houses we inspect have some electrical issues, including brand new builds.  Electrical issues are always safety issues.  They may lead to a house fire or electrical shock.  All electrical issues should be a priority to fix. Always choose a licensed electrician .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What the?  Did they cut the structure?

Yep.  This is a floor joist that they completely cut through.  This is a major problem.  The good news is that it can be simple to fix.

The floor joists are an important structural member in the home.  Floor joists carry the load from the floor above to the beams or foundation below. If a floor joist is cut it can no longer carry the load above it and can result in structural movement or even collapse. In this particular situation the fix is simple and cost effective.  Simply sister or laminate two more joists on either side of this damaged joist and affix all three joists together so they act as one member.

We work hard to thoroughly inspect each home.  This joist was above a hanging ceiling and may have been missed quite easily.  However, we move a few ceiling tiles to take a look at the structure to try to identify any issues. We not only will do our best to find the problems in the home, but we’ll also, give you practical advice on how to fix the various problems that we find.

 

Can you guess what is going on here?

All three pictures were taken from the same side of the house.

A: Water Issue

B: Structural Issue

C: All of the above

The answer is “C”: All of the above.

The left picture is a picture of a scupper.  A scupper is part of the drainage system of a flat roof.   It is simply an opening in a parapet wall or perimeter curb that allows water to drain into a downspout running down the exterior of the building.

The middle picture is from the inside of the garage.  This wall was below the scupper and is the same wall as the  picture on the right.  Notice the mold on the drywall.

The picture on the right is a picture of the termination point to a drainage pipe for a second story balcony drain.

There are several issues going on here that could add up to costly repairs.

We carry professional tools such as moisture meters.  When testing this wall for moisture content, we noticed that most of the wall had high moisture content and very high moisture content at the bottom of the wall. The wall in effect was soaked!  Water was leaking down into this wall causing mold and rotting of the structure. This wall needed to be completely gutted and the structure further investigated for rot and other damage once the drywall was removed.

Possible Causes Included:

1. Leaking at the scupper.  Scuppers are notorious for leaking if they are not properly flashed.  Water can then travel below the roof sheathing and rafters and into the wall cavities.

2. The balcony drain pipe may be leaking or may not be connected properly.  Water can travel along ways before it falls and drips.  Water may have been travelling along the outside of this drain pipe and leaking into this wall cavity.

3. Since there is no downspout on the balcony drain pipe, the outside of the wall was completely soaked as well.  If a proper drainage layer was not installed in the wall cavity, the wall cavity will get wet and begin to rot.

 

Written by Mike Rumble

Mike Rumble is a Certified Home Inspector in London, Ontario.