| A1 Quality Home Inspections, Inc - Home Inspection Service | |
| Client(s): | Hermann Munster |
| Property address: | 1313 Mockingbird Ln |
| Inspection date: | 10-27-2007 |
This report is the exclusive property of "A1 Quality Home Inspections, Inc". Use of this report by any unauthorized persons is prohibited.
 | Safety | Poses a risk of injury or death |
 | Major defect | Correction likely involves a significant expense |
 | Repair/Replace | Recommend repairing or replacing |
 | Repair/Maintain | Recommend repair and/or maintenance |
 | Maintain | Recommend ongoing maintenance |
 | Evaluate | Recommend evaluation by a specialist |
 | 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 http://www.reporthost.com/glossary.aspTable of Contents
General information
Roof
Garage
Attic
Electric service
Water heater
Heating and cooling
Plumbing and laundry
Fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys
Basement
Bathroom upstairs hallway
Main entryway
Exterior
| General information | Return to table of contents |
This property has one or more fuel burning appliances, and no carbon monoxide alarms are visible. This is a safety hazard. Recommend installing one or more carbon monoxide alarms as necessary and as per the manufacturer's instructions. For more information, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml05/05017.html
Casement Window handle missing - this window is between the kitchen and family room. Recommend asking homeowner for handles or obtaining manufacturer replacements
 Photo 28 Handle missing from windows (can't open/close)
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Some wall, floor and/or ceiling surfaces were obscured by furniture and/or stored items. Some areas couldn't be evaluated.
| Roof | Return to table of contents |
Some wood shakes are showing signs of damage and/or deterioration. Over time, wood shakes typically curl, split, rot at the ends, "burn through", and/or become loose. Such failures typically result in exposed felt and/or leaks. A qualified roofing contractor should evaluate and replace shakes as necessary. Inspector noted spare shakes in the garage. Estimate life spans for these roofs in our region are anywhere from 20-40 years depending on maintenance/upkeep
A qualified roofing contractor should clean the wood shake roof as necessary, and apply a preservative now and every three to five years in the future see previous notes on moss removal.
Moss is growing on the roof. As a result, shingles may lift or be damaged. Leaks may result and/or the roof surface may fail prematurely. This is a conducive condition for wood destroying insects and organisms. Efforts should be taken to kill the moss during its growing season (wet months). Typically zinc-based chemicals are used for this, and must be applied periodically. For information on various moss treatment products and their pros and cons, visit http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/ec/ec1271.pdf
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.
While "A1 Quality Home Inspections, Inc" cannot recommend and roof vendors, we did do a quick search of vendors in the area that provide the type of roofing maintenance services which might be beneficial for this home. One such firm is attached for your reference:| Garage | Return to table of contents |
Evidence of "light to moderate" rodent infestation was found in one or more areas of the garage attic. 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.
No infrared "photo eye" devices are installed for the vehicle door's electric door opener. They've been required on all vehicle door openers since 1993 and improve safety by triggering the vehicle door's auto-reverse feature without need for the door to come in contact with the object, person or animal that's preventing it from closing. Recommend considering having a qualified contractor install these devices for improved safety. For more information on garage door safety issues, visit: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/523.html or http://www.ohdstl.com/safety.html
Weatherstrip at the sides and/or bottom of the vehicle door is missing and deteriorated or damaged. It should be installed where missing and replaced where necessary to prevent water and vermin intrusion.
Refrigerator in garage is plugged into a GFCI outlet. These outlets are very sensitive. Tripping can be caused by the refrigerator motor which could then cause loss of food stored in the refrigerator.
| Attic | Return to table of contents |
Evidence of "heavy" rodent infestation was found in one or more areas. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines this as more 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.
One or more hornet, bee and/or wasp nests were found. These can pose a safety hazard. Nest(s) should be removed as necessary.
Screens appear to be missing and/or deteriorated at one or more soffit and ridge vents (the ridge vent immediately above the attic access hatch has a wasp nest by it - potentially indicating that this is the damaged screen. Screens should be replaced or repaired where necessary, or installed where missing.
| Electric service | Return to table of contents |
Home has a lightning protection system installed. the connector for the rear rain gutter was disconnected and should be reconnected.
 Photo 21 Lightning protection is disconnected from the gutter on the SW side of the home
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| Water heater | Return to table of contents |
The estimated useful life for most water heaters is 8 to 12 years. This water heater appears to be approaching this age and may need replacing at any time. Recommend budgeting for a replacement in the near future.
| Heating and cooling | Return to table of contents |
The estimated useful life for air conditioning compressors is 8 to 15 years. The outside Trane unit appears to be approaching this age and may need replacing at any time. Recommend budgeting for a replacement in the near future.
| Plumbing and laundry | Return to table of contents |
Recommend having the septic tank inspected. Recommend having the tank pumped if it was last pumped more than 3 years ago.
| Fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys | Return to table of contents |
One or more chimney flues do not have a rainproof cover installed. They prevent the following: Photo 13 Chimeny Cap is missing.
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| Basement | Return to table of contents |
| Bathroom upstairs hallway | Return to table of contents |
Caulk is missing or deteriorated along the base of the bathtub, where flooring meets the tub and where the tub meets the wall tile. It should be replaced where deteriorated and/or applied where missing to prevent water intrusion and damage to the floor structure.
 Photo 30 Hall bathtub needs recaulking
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The lights above the tub appear to be inoperable. Recommend further evaluation by replacing bulb(s) and/or consulting with the property owner(s). Repairs or replacement of the light fixture(s) by a qualified electrician may be necessary.
| Main entryway | Return to table of contents |
Minor cracks were found in entryway ceiling. They do not appear to be a structural concern, but the client(s) may wish to repair these for aesthetic reasons.
 Photo 22 Ceiling drywall crack at entryway
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| Exterior | Return to table of contents |
The driveway has a significant "hump" / "trip hazard". Recommend having a qualified contractor evaluate and repair or replace driveway sections as necessary to eliminate trip hazards.
 Photo 11 Driveway has a "hump" in it
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Deck boards are significantly deteriorated. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary. See also photos 25 and 27
 Photo 26 Typical of deck deterioration. Multiple area noted
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Rot was found in both deck stair treads. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary, replacing all rotten wood.
 Photo 15 Deck stairs are in major disrepair
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Rear Basement window well cover is broken. Recommend replacement
 Photo 14 Rear basement window well cover is broken.
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One or more downspouts have no extensions, or have extensions that are ineffective. 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. Repairs should be made as necessary, such as installing or repositioning splash blocks, or installing and/or repairing tie-ins to underground drain lines, so rain water is carried at least several feet away from the structure to soil that slopes down and away from the structure.
 Photo 12 Downspouts on garage side of house should have downspout extensions added to guide water away from house foundation
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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.
 Photo 29 Vegetation is in contact with wood siding and roof.
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Trees and/or shrubs are in contact with or are close to the roof edge(s) in one or more areas. Damage to the roof may result, especially during high winds. Vegetation can also act as a conduit for wood destroying insects. Vegetation should be pruned back and/or removed as necessary to prevent damage and infestation by wood destroying insects.
Photo 29 Vegetation is in contact with wood siding and roof.
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Caulk is missing or deteriorated on most windows/doors and should be replaced and/or applied where necessary. For more information on caulking, visit The Ins and Outs of Caulking.
 Photo 18 Window caulking needs to be redone - typical throughout
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The exterior finish in some areas appears to be failing.. A qualified painting contractor should evaluate further.
Front porch stoop should be sealed to prevent varmint intrusion/nesting
 Photo 19 Front entryway stairs have large gaps - recommend sealing
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 Photo 20 Both sets of doors going into the house off of the deck have water damage on the wood trim.
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