"The Ugliest House in Nashville" Part 2

The roof is a major component of any house and can cause serious damage to a house if not properly maintained. The methods used to install a roof are also important, if the incorrect method is used it is a safe bet that the roof will fail to do it's job. A professional Home Inspector can detect if the roof was installed using non-standard methods, and will advise an evaluation by a professional roofer prior to closing. This will protect you and your investment.

The slope or pitch of any roof that has lapped shingles (one on top of the other)is very important. Generally a 3-12 pitch is the minimum for lapped shingles. The 3-12 pitch means that for every 12 inches the roof will slope 3 inches. The 12 does not change, just the first number, so the larger the first number the steeper the slope. If the slope is not steep enough for the water to run off the roof quickly, the water will run back under the shingles and cause leaks.

This House in Nashville had some very good examples of non-standard roof installations. The roof on the Nashville house was not actually flat, but two different degrees of pitch on different sections. The front and sides had a parapet wall, and the roof sloped to the rear. The far right side had a pitch of 1 in 12, and had asphalt shingles (lapped shingles). The other sections had a 3 in 12, and also had shingles. The second level was 1 in 12, and had rolled roofing. Very interesting to say the least. The roof on the first level sloped down where it meets the second level front wall, and was slightly built up in the middle to try to divert the water flow like a chimney cricket. The roof had just recently been re-roofed thought, so it was hard to tell what had been going on. I have attached some pictures of the roof. See what you think.

"The Ugliest House in Nashville"

Buyers are attracted to houses they want to purchase for many reasons. But for what ever reason you are attracted to a particular house always get a home inspection prior to your purchase. The house may have the best view, the best school district, close to your job, or for what ever reason perfect for you. But without a home inspection that dream house can turn into a financial night mare. If you find the perfect home and the inspection reveals costly repairs,in most cases you and the seller can come to some mutual agreement on how to make this sale work for both parties and you can still get the house of your dreams.

A friend and fellow Home Inspector from Nashville, (Tom) sent me some information on an inspection he did on a house with a perfect view, but the inspection revealed the house was not so perfect. I will talk about the issues Tom found with this house in my next post, but for now I want to tell you about "The Ugliest House in Nashville", well that is not my opinion, I think the house has a certain charm, but here is what Tom said; "Oh, when I drove up and got out, the Realtor said", the buyer had termed
the house "The Ugliest House in Nashville".
You be the judge.





Join me tomorrow for more information on "The Ugliest House in Nashville".

Home Inspector Finds “Bats in the Belfry”

Home Inspector Finds “Bats in the Belfry”

Like I have said before, you never know what you are going to find in an attic or a crawl space. If you inspect houses long enough, you will have unusual discoveries. I received an email and picture from a friend and fellow Home Inspector in Jacksonville that proves this. Here is the email and the batty picture:

Al,

I thought you might like to see this. I was inspecting a two-story condo with an airshaft like structure above a first floor closet. I was in the attic and smelled a strong urine smell and heard sounds like small birds. I made my way over to the opening from the attic into the shaft and looked down, seeing a lot of dirt and what turned out to be bat guano (hence the urine or ammonia smell). When I turned to look up into the shaft, this is what I saw! I took this picture very quickly as I did not want to disturb them and have them fly into the attic where I was. The picture is not very clear as I did not take the time to zoom the lens, but you get the idea. Anyway, I'm sure this has happened to others, but it was a first for me!

Regards, Chris

I have found my share of unusual things in attics and crawl spaces, but I have never found anything like this in a condo. Chris has me beat on strange condo inspections.

Tune in tomorrow for more unusual discoveries.

Once Bitten Twice Shy

Vic’s Uncle, who is not a home inspector tried to save some money by not hiring a professional home inspector. In lieu of hiring a professional home inspector, he decided to check out a prospective purchase himself. His first problem is he started with too many no’s; No long sleeves, no boots, no mask, no gloves, and no idea. When he was inspecting the crawl space of this Caribbean home he found, or should I say a Centipede found him. This centipede is native to the Caribbean and can grow to about 12-inches long and whose bite generally does not cause death, but can cause serious pain and high fever, not too mention necrotic fasciitis (gangrene). Vic’s uncle is ok now, but his temperatures got up to 104 before he decided to go to a hospital.
Below are some pictures:

Creatures in a Crawl

Crawl spaces can be dangerous to a home inspector because of live unprotected electrical wires, standing raw sewage, and also creatures. Personally, I started home inspecting in the south, so I found my share of snakes and black widow spiders, but I have heard some good stories.

I have a home inspector friend (Vic) that since he became a home inspector has been bitten by a possum, a beagle, what could have been a brown spider, attacked by a cat, someone's pet boa, a hawk and my favorite, a copperhead rattler.

It is important to dress properly to inspect a crawl space, long sleeves, boots, dust mask, a hat, and gloves will help. Also it only took one very long, very dark crawl space for me to start bringing an extra flashlight.

Vic has an uncle that had a very unusual experience in a crawl space, but you will have to tune in tomorrow to find out what it was.

The Attack of the Crawl Space

During the years of training inspectors, I have often been asked: “Is inspecting dangerous?” I don’t consider inspecting particularly dangerous, but like any other trade, safety is very important. Knowing how to safely approach electrical components, roofs and crawl spaces are very important for the safety of a home inspector . I have home inspector friends that have fallen through a ceiling as they were inspecting an attic. I know a couple of my friends have fallen from ladders and roofs.

Before placing ladders, it is very important to know the location of the power lines. Fortunately I do not know anyone that made that mistake, because in most cases you only make that mistake once and that is the last mistake you ever make.

Inspecting the crawl space of a house has sent me and other inspectors I know to the first aid kit and some times to the Emergency Room. Usually crawl spaces are dark and the path of your flashlight is the only light you see, so it is easy for creatures to be too close to you with out you knowing, in time that is. I don’t know which one I disliked most; live creatures in a crawl space or dead ones. Most of the time it’s not the creature that hurts you, but you hurting yourself trying to get away.

I worked with a guy that said he was only afraid of two kinds of snakes; “live ones and dead ones”. I found out that he was afraid of a third kind, when I watched him run four city blocks to get away from a rubber snake that someone put in his wheel barrow. I know you think it was me; well, I am going to take the fifth on that one.

My First Home Inspection

Inspectors I have trained over the years often ask me if I was scared on my first inspection. I am not sure if I was always completely truthful with my answer, but let me make no bones about it, you bet you’re Sweet Aunt Minnie I was scared. I think I was more afraid of making a bad first impression then doing the actual inspection.

With that in mind, I prepared myself for my first inspection. On Uncle Norm’s recommendation, I washed my pickup and cleaned the interior and had her looking like new for the inspection. Now I needed to make myself look professional for the inspection. I put on my best kakis with such well pressed seems, that even my ex-Navy Dad would have approved of. I wore my best denim shirt with a dark blue tie I borrowed from my police officer neighbor. I polished my work boots and put my hair in a ponytail and tucked it in my shirt, hey give me a break, it was the seventies.

I arrived at the house early and started my inspection. Shortly after I started the inspection Mr. Holloway shows up, so I take a few minutes to introduce myself and thank him for the opportunity to do the inspection. I complete the inspection, and that night I wrote a two page report, and had it on Mr. Holloway’s desk the next morning.