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Stephen, who has been inspecting homes in Central New Jersey since 1998, says he often goes the extra mile when inspecting attics. When necessary, I have taken clothes out of the closet myself or with the help of the home owner or real estate agent. I usually put an old sheet or towel over the clothes and try to position my step ladder as best as possible so as to gain access thru the scuttle hole. If there are two access points, I can climb over to the other side and get in that part of the attic anyway.
Gaining access into the attic is always an important part of the home inspection process. There are many areas of concern, such as, plumbing venting pipes used in conjunction with bathroom exhaust and clothes dryer ducting, flue pipes that are connected to the homes heating system, fire separation walls, type and condition of installed insulation, possible animal infestation, possible mold and mildew, deficient structural conditions, attic ventilation and the possiblity roof leaks.
The most difficult problem I sometimes face is actually squeezing through the scuttle access hole itself, that can be severely undersized especially in older homes. If I didn’t go in the attic or any other space for that matter, the lack of access is documented in the report . “Photos are always a plus.”
During a recent home inspection in Somerset, New Jersey, I noticed that a temporary hollow post was installed beneath and supporting a Steel I-beam located in the basement. As standard procedure, whenever a large beam is installed whether it be a built up wooden beam or steel I-beam, a solid steel concrete filled post is placed as support for the structural beam.
If you ask me, I think the hollow steel post had been put in temporarily and forgotten about; the hollow post is not rated to for such a heavy load as a house structure. These steel I-beams were not connected together in anyway. Luckily it appears that the existing concrete posts were installed over solid concrete footings. Since the only thing that is needed is an additional post, the existing footing will be sufficient. I always advise to install (4) four inch solid steel concrete posts under all types of beams.
I’m wondering how the Somerset County, NJ municipal code official missed this? Quite obvious during the rough framing inspection I would imagine. The house has been like this for quite some time. Luckily there was no structural damage, only the lack of a proper structure support.
Is something missing from this picture, of the roof overhang? While everything looks in good order at the soffit area of this home located in Middlesex County, NJ there is one element that is missing and should be a concern to every homeowner. The rain water gutter system .
The gutter system’s main purpose is to divert water away from the house. And having a proper gutter drainage system installed and maintained will also keep water from entering a basement as well as from running down the walls of the house and penetrating the exterior walls and windows.
While inspecting this home in Middlesex County, New Jersey, I noticed the water drained down from the roof and spilled directly on the ground at the rear, uphill elevation of the house. When water is allowed to spill directly on the ground, and it is on the uphill side of the house, it has no where else to go but under the floor slab, continuing it’s down ward path dictated by gravity to the other side of the house.
Water traveling under a house can eventually cause settlement and cracking of a concrete floor slab. Any cracks that may develop can be the source of future insect infestation, as well as an area for dampness to enter, create uneven floors and possible damage to the walls of the home if left unattended.
When water travels up against a house or sideways, it can have a devastating effect too. One of the most common areas of concern that I find regularly is where water splashes against an exterior door. This will almost always rot the door trim and frame and the wall around it. When gutters are installed and maintained, this doesn’t happen.
A disconnected/and damaged gas dryer duct was found while inspecting a house the other day. The clothes washing appliances were located in utilty room connected to the main house. At first, it was a little difficult to see the damage because the duct was pushed behind the dryer appliance. As soon as I started the gas dryer appliance did the extent of the defect become noticeable. Lint debris was blowing into the air. 
Since this was a gas dryer, fossil fuel must be combusted along with deadly oderless carbon monoxide gas. And expelled, in this case, into the living space of the home causing a very hazardous condition. The house had only been vacant for a month. The service person that did the installation just didn’t do a good job. Luckily the duct ruptured when I started the appliance. Even a small hole in the duct would be very dangerous to anyone living in the house that could cause headaches and also be life threatening. Carbon monoxide is colorless and oderless and it doesn’t take very much to harm an individual. The hole is located where the gas pipe and shut-off valve are situated.
The common situation that sometimes abruptly surfaces: after doing a Central New Jersey home inspection and returning to the house to pick up a radon canister only to be confronted by a disgruntled homeowner telling you that you had made life very difficult for them. All too often I hear, ”that it wasn’t required when the house was first built so why even mention it during the home inspection.” Or the realtor may say that there is no need to recommend future changes, that no more is needed.
When I go out to do a home inspection I need to do the job as I see fit. I will report things as I see them but will also mention and include in the report findings “safety upgrades” as they come up, especially in older homes. When talking with other home inspectors I find they are faced with the same sense of ingratitude coming from the selling realtor and/or the homeowner. Even though something wasn’t required when the older home was first built, I feel the home inspection “ is the perfect time to educate people” in regard to how to improve the condition of their Central New Jersey home.
My area of expertise is home construction and design in New Jersey. I have spent many years educating myself in this field of endeavor. I consider myself a generalist. but also a house expert who understands how the structural, mechanical and electrical systems should work together in a house. Many homes, old and new, were built with minimum standards. The average person may not understand how& when a house is supposed to be maintained. They are not house experts. That’s where I come in.
I don’t see why anyone would have a problem with a home inspector “recommending” safety upgrades? If an older home doesn’t have GFCI protection, I always recommend them. I also ask my clients if they actually know what GFCI’s are used for. If they don’t, it’s “time for me to educate” them about the importance of these modern safety devices.
I always check to see if handrails are up to today’s current safety standards here in New Jersey because- this is always a big safety issue. Or egress windows that meet minimum requirements- providing an escape-way in case of a fire. Of course garage doors need to be installed correctly and openers need to have proper auto-reversing function fully operational. And the garage floor and living space floor should not be at the same height- that could allow gasoline fumes to enter into the house during an accidental spill and cause a fire or explosion. And any access hatches into the attic that would affect the integrity of the firewall.
Many times I see that in older homes that there is no division/or fire safety wall that separates the attic area between the living space of the house and the garage. The installation of an attic fire wall between the garage and the home’s living space is an important concern. I know of a whole block of older townhouses that recently burned down in New Brunswick, NJ because there were no fire walls. Installing a firewall could save the rest of the house or buildings from going up in flames. It could help provide needed time for the fire department to respond to the emergency and save the home or buildings and it’s inhabitants from disaster.
New Jersey Home Inspection Law was first initiated it took about a year for someone to become licensed. The requirements were classroom study and test with a required number of inspections to be preformed. Things were looking good.
Since that time the home inspection law has been watered down quite a bit with minimal qualifications of as little as three weeks of class room training. We can thank the politicians that we voted in for permitting this to happen…a rushed, rushed crazy way of doing things. I know. I was actively promoting licensing home inspections in New Jersey at that time.
My point is that the buyer should beware of less experienced inspectors who offer lower prices than the norm. You know as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Licensing is now a minimal qualification. Organizations such as (ASHI) American Society of Home Inspectors require high educational standards and a minimal of 250 paid inspections before becoming a Member. That should feel like a breath of fresh air compared to what has happened to the industry. Before booking an inspection, please try to find out the credentials of the person that will be doing your home inspection.
