Website: http://www.blessthishouse.biz
Email: rongreen@macomb.com
Phone: (309) 833-1195
621 So. Campbell St. 
Macomb, Il 61455
Inspector: Ron Green

Summary Page

Home Inspection Report
Client(s): First-time Homebuyer
Property address: West-Central Illinois
Inspection date: Saturday, March 29th, 2008

This summary page published on 4/2/2008 11:09:34 AM CDT

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1) Exterior: Repair/Maintain - One 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:

  • Hydraulic cement. Requires chiseling a channel in the crack to apply. See http://www.quickrete.com/catalog/HydraulicWater-StopCement.html for an example.
  • Resilient caulks (easy to apply). See http://www.quickrete.com/catalog/GrayConcreteRepair.html for an example.
  • Epoxy sealants (both a waterproof and structural repair). See http://www.mountaingrout.com/ for examples of these products.
    2) Roof: Major defect, Comment - The roof structure below the surface is "skip sheathed" where batten boards rather than sheets of plywood support the roof surface. Installing a composition fiberglass or asphalt roof in the future will require the additional expense of installing sheathing, such as plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) over the batten boards.
    3) Roof: Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Standing water was found on the flat roof. It should evaporate within 48 hours after it rains. If standing water remains after 48 hours, then the roof installation is likely substandard. A qualified roofing contractor should evaluate and repair if necessary to prevent prolonged standing water.
    4) Roof: Comment - This asphalt or fiberglass composition roof surface has two or more layers of roofing materials. When this roof is replaced, recommend a complete "tear off", where all existing layers of roofing are removed before installing new roofing materials. For 20-year rated composition shingles, additional layers of material reduce the new roof material's lifespan as follows:

  • 16-20 years - First roof
  • 12-16 years - Second layer on existing roof

    Removing existing roofing materials will significantly increase the cost of the next roof.
    9) Attic: Repair/Replace - Ceiling insulation is uneven in some areas. Exposed wire junctions are not covered with insulation, and this is as it should be. However, I cannot view many areas of the attic floor. There may be some junctions covered with insulation. Cloth-insulated wires are joined to older knob-and-tube wiring in "open splices", i.e. not in metal junction boxes.

    Assess to the attic has been limited, since there is no longer ceiling access from the inside of the house. It is not possible to crawl through the gable vents. I was not able to determine the depth of the insulation, nor view the entire attic space.
    15) Interior rooms: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more open ground, three-pronged electric receptacles were found. These circuits can be protected by installing Arc Fault Protection breakers at the electrical panel.