| Building Analysis Report for: | |
| Client(s): | Sample Report |
| Property address: | 1234 "A" Street Puget Sound, WA |
| Inspection date: | January 1, 2000 ICN 123WA04 |
WAC 16-228-2045 requires that a diagram be prepared for WDO inspection reports. A copy is available upon request.
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The price estimates contained herein are intended as "ball park" estimates. They are designed to give you a preliminary estimate of the costs for the repair or correction of an item in the Summary section of the report. Actual prices will depend upon the many details of the job and the prices charged by any one contractor. The estimates assume the use of standard materials and designs. For example, an estimate for tub walls assumes plastic laminate or fiberglass walls. Tile walls might cost 2-4 times as much and some materials and designs could cost much more.
If you receive any proposals for repairs, modifications or improvements to this or any other property, please feel free to mail or fax these proposals to our office. We will review this material and call you with comments and suggestions.Our Sound Home Resource Center web site is designed to help our clients understand and deal with various home improvement issues. We invite you to use it.
 | Safety | Poses a risk of injury or death - Highest Priority Item |
 | Major Defect | Correction likely involves a significant expense |
 | Repair/Replace | Recommend repairing or replacing |
 | Repair/Maintain | Recommend repair and/or maintenance |
 | Minor Defect | Correction likely involves only a minor expense |
 | Maintain | Recommend ongoing maintenance |
 | Evaluate | Recommend evaluation by a specialist |
 | Monitor | Recommend monitoring in the future |
 | Comment | For your information |
Structural Pest Inspection Concerns
Items of concern relating to the structural pest inspection are shown as follows:
 | WDO/WDI Infestation | Evidence of infestation of wood destroying insects or organisms (Live or dead insect bodies, fungal growth, etc.) |
 | WDO/WDI Damage | Damage caused by wood destroying insects or organisms (Rot, carpenter ant galleries, etc.) |
 | WDO/WDI Conducive conditions | Conditions conducive for wood destroying insects or organisms (Wood-soil contact, shrubs in contact with siding, roof or plumbing leaks, etc.) |
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
Summary
Exterior
Roof
Electric service
Water heater
Heating and cooling
Plumbing and laundry
| General information | Return to table of contents |
Sub-standard and Non-standard Work
Evidence of one or more possible abandoned underground oil tanks was found (vent pipe, metal supply lines, etc.). The client(s) should determine if underground oil tank(s) exist on this property, and if tank(s) have been removed or legally decommissioned.
Sample Report - This is a sample composite home inspection report. Some of the photos and defects are examples of common issues.
| Summary | Return to table of contents |
The Electrical System
Heating and Cooling Photo 4 The masonry chimney is being used for a gas furnace. This has damaged the interior of the brick and mortar. The chimney must be repaired and lined with a metal liner in order to prevent further damage and a blocked chimney.
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 Photo 7 The high efficiency furnace lacks the required air-supply pipe - a basic part of the installation.
This may suggest that other defects exist here. |
 Photo 15 The timer for the hot-water recirculation pump is located at an inconvenient location - very high off the floor.
It should be set to run during hours with the most amount of hot water usage. |
 Photo 16 Passive Cooling
Here is an example of a "passive cooling system" as seen in Cordoba, Spain. Such systems work very well in all climates. In temperate zones, passive cooling can eliminate the need for fans and mechanical air conditioning. In warmer climates is can reduce the need for air conditioning and save a lot of $$$. See: http://www.soundhome.com/article/air-conditioning |
Bedrooms Photo 6 This bedroom window lack the required emergency exit (egress) configuration - such windows must have a net operable size of about 20" x 24".
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Homes require a regular maintenance program that costs about 1-2% of the property value per year. This includes regular service on systems such as: furnaces (annual), septic system pumping and inspection (every 3-5 yrs. - if applicable) and regular gutter cleaning (1-2 times/yr.). It also includes the amortized costs of major replacement items such as roofing, siding/ext. paint, furnaces and appliances.
Roof System
Drainage Issues and Crawl Space Moisture
Plumbing
Moisture Control System - Very important| Exterior | Return to table of contents |
Soil is in contact with or less than six inches from siding and/or trim. This is a conducive condition for wood destroying insects and organisms. Wood siding and/or trim is rotten in some areas as a result. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary, replacing all rotten wood. Also, the soil should be graded and/or removed as necessary so there are at least six inches of space between the siding and trim and the soil below.
The perimeter grading slopes towards the structure in one or more areas. 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. Wet soil may also cause the foundation to settle and possibly fail over time. Recommend grading soil so it slopes down and away from the structure with a slope of at least 5% (10% or better is optimal) for at least 6 feet.
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.
| Roof | Return to table of contents |
The siding on one or more exterior walls above lower roof sections is in contact with or has less than a one inch gap between it and the roof surface below. A gap of at least one inch is recommended so water isn't wicked up into the siding from the shingles below, and also to provide room for additional layers of roofing materials when the current roof surface fails. Recommend having a qualified contractor make repairs as necessary, such as trimming siding, so at least a one inch gap exists between the siding and the roofing below where necessary.
| Electric service | Return to table of contents |
Electrical Repairs and Corrections
The service drop wire insulation is frayed and/or deteriorated in one or more areas. The utility company should evaluate and make repairs or replace wires as necessary.
The service drop wires are less than 10 feet above ground or walkways. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician and/or the utility company should evaluate and repair as necessary.
One or more ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers in the main service panel would not trip when tested. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician should evaluate and make repairs and/or replace circuit breakers as necessary.
The electric service to this property appears to be rated at substantially less than 200 amps, and may be inadequate for the client(s) needs. Recommend consulting with a qualified electrician about upgrading to a 200 amp service.
| Water heater | Return to table of contents |
A circulating pump is installed for the hot water supply. It is intended to make hot water immediately available when faucets are turned on. Timers are typically integrated with these pumps, and should be configured so water circulates only at desired times for better energy efficiency. The client(s) should familiarize themselves with the timer's operation and configure it as needed.
| Heating and cooling | Return to table of contents |
Air handler filter(s) should be checked monthly in the future and replaced or washed as necessary.
| Plumbing and laundry | Return to table of contents |
Some, most, or all of the water supply pipes in this structure are made of galvanized steel. Based on the age of this structure, corrosion, leaks, and/or the results of a "functional flow test" performed during the inspection, some or all of these pipes appear to have exceeded their estimated useful life of 40 to 60 years. During a functional flow test, multiple fixtures are run simultaneously to determine if the flow is adequate. For example, if the shower flow decreases substantially when the toilet is flushed. Internal corrosion and rust can reduce the inside diameter of these pipes over time, resulting in reduced flow and leaks. A qualified plumber should evaluate and replace supply pipes and fittings as necessary.
 Photo 14 |
