damp basements | All Points Inspection

New house… what could be wrong?

July 23, 2013

Looks great … right?

A recent client was purchasing a completely furnished home from a builder. When I saw this beautiful shower enclosure with a steam unit/controller, I thought, “What an absolutely spectacular steam shower!”

I began to test it. The unit did not function, and I initially thought the power had simply been turned off. The multi-function shower valve was flawless, and the unit was draining properly. Once I fully investigated, I realized that the steam generator wasn’t even present in the basement, nor was the power connected inside the main electrical panel.

This buyer was very pleased to have paid for an inspection even though he originally assumed it wasn’t necessary. (After all, it’s a new home…what could possibly be wrong?) His home inspection fee was money well spent since the builder supplied a steam generator with no labor costs to make this beautiful shower functional before transfer.

Note to self: never assume!

Because of a myriad of reasons, newer homes should always be inspected. There are a variety of other “issues” that can be detected and addressed before “closing” on your dream house.

Please don’t hesitate to email or call me with any questions regarding a Home Inspection for newer homes.

Aaron

2 Comments | damp basements, home inspection, mold, pre-inspection reports, radon tests, water analysis | Tagged: builder, buyer home inspection, closing, home inspection, home inspector, house transfer, inspection report, new house inspection, northeast Ohio, Ohio inspection, radon, steam shower, water analysis | Permalink
Posted by Aaron Branem

Water & moisture issues

February 16, 2013

window trim damaged from moisture

Just like a car needs regular oil changes to prevent damage, so do houses. A regular routine for homes should be caulking and painting around areas that are vulnerable to moisture or water leaks.

Here are the two critical areas to inspect:

Siding – wood sided homes and aluminum wrapped windows are guilty culprits of water penetration if typical caulk maintenance is not kept up.
Window frames – many homeowners don’t realize why they have water penetration during heavy rainstorms through windows and doors. Again, a recommendation of caulking and painting to maintain weather seals around all windows and door frames.

Mold and mildew are really common issues when inspecting homes in Northeast Ohio. I’ve addressed proper ventilation inside the home (see Mold…should you worry?), but keeping water from coming into the house needs to be priority as well.

Leave a Comment » | damp basements, home inspection, mold, Uncategorized | Tagged: home inspection, leaks, mildew, mold, Ohio home inspection, property inspection, water damage, wood siding | Permalink
Posted by Aaron Branem

Mold…should you worry?

December 27, 2012

signs of attic mold

There are so many kinds of mold species – too many for the average homeowner to keep track of. But when I have to check that box called “Mold” on a home inspection report, the home buyer may find it hard to stay calm. The questions start flying about how to handle the potential sale once mold is found.

To review, here’s what I’ve been explaining to my home buyers:

a) Mold is present just about everywhere…both outside and indoors. Chances are you’ve seen mold in your own home or place of work, and just don’t notice it, or know what it looks like. Mold is most always visible although many times you can smell the existence of it which is distinctly musty. You’ll notice mold in a variety of colors such as brown, gray, black and green.

b) Since mold is always “hanging around,” it’s important to try to find the mold that you can’t always see. Since my inspection requires me to actively search for it, I will look for clues like peeling paint, bulging or discolored walls, or plumbing leaks behind a wall. It’s not always possible to find it all, but experience counts when searching for moisture and mold.

c) Common causes of excessive mold/moisture include previous or on-going problems such as flooding; leaky plumbing; leaky roofs, windows or doors; no ventilation in bathrooms, kitchens or laundry areas; and faulty air conditioning or heating equipment.

d) Nine out of ten times, I find mold or moisture in attics because of either non-existent ventilation or improper venting.

In my area, I will recommend that a homebuyer or homeowner call Nick Biondo at PuroClean in Brunswick, Ohio. For mold remediation call Nick at 330-931-9527 or email nick@puroclean.com or visit his website Puroclean.com

Please don’t hesitate to call me with any “house” questions at 216-276-3702. Don’t forget that if you are planning on putting your own home up for sale in 2013, a “Pre-Inspection” report may be a smart move.

Happy house hunting in 2013!

Aaron

All Points Inspection
www.allpointsinspection.net

2 Comments | damp basements, home inspection, mold, pre-inspection reports, water analysis | Tagged: excessive moisture, excessive mold, faulty plumbing, home inspection; Ohio home inspection, homebuyer, homeseller, improper ventilation, mold, pre-inspection home inspections, radon testing, water analysis, wet basement, wet foundation | Permalink
Posted by Aaron Branem

What do wet or damp basement walls mean?

March 10, 2012

There is always that little “box” on a home inspection report that I know I have to mark when I see damp walls in a basement. While most homebuyers know that damp basements may be an issue…wet foundations surely are a big issue.

The question arises, does a wet wall equal future damage? We do know that water+time=mold.

Fortunately, damp walls or floor in a basement does not always call for a dramatic foundation “dig,” but getting to the source of the moisture is important.

One of the evidences of a previous “wet” wall is a chalky white substance called “efflorescence.” This is a result of evaporation of water. Another clue could be a musty odor or humidity.