home inspection report

JohnJ.Smith1111MainStreet,Anytown,FloridaCSMQUALITYHOMEINSPECTIONREPORT1111MainStreet,Anytown,Florida,33333INSPECTIONDATE:April13th,2004PREPAREDFOR:JohnJ.SmithPREPAREDBY:CSMQualityHomeInspections,Inc.15185TangeloBlvd.WestPalmBeach,FL33412561-718-4219561-615-1773FaxINSPECTIONNUMBER:100004INSPECTOR:CharlesMelber©2004CSMQualityHomeInspections,Inc.1111MainStreet,Anytown,FloridaPage2ThisconfidentialreportispreparedexclusivelyforJohnJ.SmithBUILDINGDATA/RECEIPTINFORMATIONRECEIPTInspectionDate:4/13/04InspectionNumber:100004ClientName:JohnJ.SmithInspectionAddress:1111MainStreet,Anytown,FloridaInspectedby:CharlesMelberInspection:$300.00Pool/Spa:$0.00Well&Septic:$150.00Termite:$65.00Total:$515.00Paidby:CheckBUILDINGDATAApproximateAge:12YearsStyle:TwostoryContemporaryGeneralAppearance:Satisfactory:seenotesMainEntranceFaces:EastWeatherCondition:OvercastandrainTemperature:Over85ºFGroundcover:Damp©2004CSMQualityHomeInspections,Inc.1111MainStreet,Anytown,FloridaPage3ThisconfidentialreportispreparedexclusivelyforJohnJ.SmithGROUNDSServiceWalksFromDrivetoHouseandDrivetoGuesthouse;Concrete…Flagstone…Brick…OtherCondition:;Satisfactory…Marginal…Poor…TripHazard…Pitchedtowardshome…Settlingcracks…NotvisibleDrivewayMainDriveandSplitDrivetoGuestHouse;Concrete…Asphalt…Gravel…OtherCondition:;Satisfactory…Marginal…Poor…Triphazard…Fillcracksandseal…Pitchedtowardshome;Settlingcracks…NotvisiblePatio/Lanai;None…Concrete…Flagstone…Brick…Kool-Deck®…OtherCondition:…Satisfactory…Marginal…Poor…TripHazard…Pitchedtowardshome(SeeRemarkspage)…Settlingcracks…NotvisibleDeck…None;Wood…Other;Treated;Painted/Stained…Railing/balustersrecommendedCondition:;Satisfactory…Marginal…Poor…NotvisibleDeck/Patio/PorchCovers…None;Earthtowoodcontact…Moisture/insectdamageLacks:…Metalstraps/bolts/nails…ImproperattachmenttohousePorch(coveredentrance)SupportPier:;WoodWrap;MetalcolumnCondition:;Satisfactory…Marginal…PoorFloor:;Satisfactory…Marginal…Poor…SafetyHazardBalcony(2ndfloorplatform)…None;Wood;Metal…OtherRailing:;Yes…No…Railing/balustersrecommendedCondition:;Satisfactory…Marginal…Poor…SafetyHazardStoops/Steps…Unevenrisers…SafetyHazard;Concretew/Tile…RailingrecommendedCondition:;Satisfactory…Marginal…Poor…Recommendbaluster…Cracked…Settled…DamagedwoodFencing…None;Type:WoodNotevaluatedLandscapingAffectingFoundation(SeeRemarkspage)Negativegradeat:…East;West…North;South…Satisfactory…Recommendadditionalbackfill…Recommendwindowwells/covers;Trimbacktrees/shrubberies;Woodincontact/tooclosetosoil:Seephotosnextpage.©2004CSMQualityHomeInspections,Inc.1111MainStreet,Anytown,FloridaPage4ThisconfidentialreportispreparedexclusivelyforJohnJ.SmithRetainingWall:…Yes;No…Concrete…Wood…Other…SafetyHazardVisualCondition:…Satisfactory…Marginal…PoorHoseBibs;Yes…No…Noanti-siphonvalveOperates:;Yes…No…Nottested…NotonGeneralCommentsFencingisnotpartofahomeinspection.Treesneedtobetrimmedawayfromthehouse.TreeinyardtonorthisoverhangingGarageroof.Deckappearedtobeinsatisfactorycondition,sealasneeded.Drivewayhadsomesettlement,butusable,repairasneeded.©2004CSMQualityHomeInspections,Inc.1111MainStreet,Anytown,FloridaPage5ThisconfidentialreportispreparedexclusivelyforJohnJ.SmithGROUNDSREMARKSServiceWalks/DrivewaysSpallingconcretecannotbepatchedwithconcretebecausethenewwillnotbondwiththeold.Waterwillfreezebetweenthetwolayers,ortheconcretewillbreakupfrommovementorwear.Replacementofthedamagedsectionisrecommended.Walksordrivewaysthatareclosetothepropertyshouldbeproperlypitchedawaytodirectwaterawayfromthefoundation.Asphaltdrivewaysshouldbekeptsealedandlargercracksfilledsoastopreventdamagefromfrost.Patiosthathavesettledtowardsthestructureshouldbemudjackedorreplacedtoassureproperpitch.Improperlypitchedpatiosareonesourceofwetbasements.ExteriorWoodSurfacesAllsurfacesofuntreatedwoodneedregularapplicationsofpaintorspecialchemicalstoresistdamage.Porchordeckcolumnsandfencepostswhichareburiedinthegroundandmadeofuntreatedwoodwillbecomedamagedwithinayearortwo.Decksshouldalwaysbenailedwithgalvanizedoraluminumnails.Decksthatarenotpaintedorstainedshouldbetreatedwithawatersealer.GradingandDrainageAnysystemofgradingorlandscapingthatcreatespositivedrainage(movingwaterawayfromthefoundationwalls)willhelptopreventmoisturedamage.Wherenegativegradeexistsandadditionalbackfillissuggested,itmayrequirediggingoutaroundthepropertytogetaproperpitch.Dirtshallbeapproximately8”belowthebottomsillandshouldnottouchwoodsurfaces.Flowerbeds,loosemulchedareas,railroadtiesandothersuchlandscapingitemsclosetothefoundationtrapmoistureandcontributetopossibledamage.Toestablishapositivegrade,aproperslopeawayfromthehouseis1”perfootforapproximately5-6feet.Recommendgroundcoverplantingorgrasstofoundation.RoofandSurfaceWaterControlRoofandsurfacewatermustbecontrolled.Thismeanskeepinggutterscleanedoutandaligned,extendingdownspouts,installingsplashblocks,andbuildingupthegradesothatroofandsurfacewaterisdivertedawayfromthebuilding.RetainingWallsRetainingwallsdeterioratebecauseofexcessivepressurebuildupbehindthem,generallyduetowateraccumulation.Often,conditionscan