Home Inspection Everett Way Unit B Arvada CO

There appeared to be a breach in the marriage wall between units. This could result as a safety risk for the occupant. The inspector recommends that locks be installed on the attic hatch. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The inspector was unable to verify that the door was fire rated . This may be considered a fire safety hazard. The door between the garage and the house should be a solid wood door at least 1-3/8 inches thick, a solid or honeycomb-core steel door at least 1-3/8 inches thick, or a 20-minute fire-rated door. This means that should a fire occur in garage, the occupant door does not afford protection until firemen arrive. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The concrete floor in the garage was moderately cracked. Cracks that progress to a separation of 1/4″ and more would be an indication of settlement, heaving, or structural problems. Cracks may present a tripping hazard. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary.

Indications of movement from heaving/settling of the concrete floor were present in the garage. Significant movement may be a compromise the structural integrity of the foundation or structure of the garage which only a qualified structural engineer could comment after further analysis.

Recommend a qualified structural engineer inspect further and provide a professional opinion related to this observation.

Axium recommends our premier partner – Level Engineering. They can be contacted at 720-400-8148 or online at www.axiuminspections.com/structural-engineer.

The garage floor had surface spalling in areas. This condition will continue to degrade if not corrected. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The garage door was hard to lift or the spring(s) did not support the weight of the door when tested. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

An extension cord was being used to power the garage door operator. Extension cords are for temporary use only, and the operator should be plugged into a dedicated outlet. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The photo-electric reverse sensors are installed too high from the garage floor surface. The vertical distance between the photo-eye beam and the floor should be no more than 6 inches. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The garage had one or more outlets without GFCI (or ground fault circuit interrupter) protection.

GFCI protection is required for all 15- and 20-amp receptacles, including outlets for refrigerators, sprinkler systems, garage door openers, and washing machines – some items may not be protected on purpose due to the potential for them to go unnoticed and cause damage. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The property had ceiling materials that may contain asbestos. Ceiling tiles or popcorn texture were manufactured or installed using asbestos as late as the early 90s.

In the past, asbestos fibers were added during the production to strengthen and increase durability. Materials that contain asbestos, when intact and in good condition, is generally considered non-friable and is not hazardous. Heat, water, weathering or aging can weaken asbestos materials to the point where it is considered friable. Friable material includes any material containing more than 1 percent asbestos that can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder with hand pressure. This includes previously non-friable material which has been damaged to the extent that it may be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure and can also be made friable during its removal. Friable materials can release asbestos fibers into the air. Once in the air, asbestos fibers present a health hazard to people who inhale those fibers.

The wall was bowed or bulged in areas in the living room.  A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The interior walls were bubbling paint in areas in the stairwell. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The supply register cover was loose or damaged in the living room. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The kitchen counter top was chipped or damaged in areas in the kitchen.  A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

No ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection was provided for kitchen electrical outlets. Although GFCI protection of kitchen circuits may not have been required at the time in which this property was built, as general knowledge of safe building practices has improved with the passage of time building standards have changed to reflect current understanding. The inspector recommends updating the existing kitchen electrical circuits to provide GFCI protection. This can be achieved by:

1. Replacing the current standard outlets with GFCI outlets.

2.  Replacing the first circuit outlet located closest to the main electrical service panel with the GFCI outlet

3.  Replacing the breaker currently protecting the electrical circuit that contains these outlets with the GFCI breaker.

A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The toilet continually “runs” after flushing in the primary bathroom. This generally means the interior tank components are not working properly. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The water supply valves and supply lines at the shower fixture in the bathroom were installed improperly with a reversed configuration. Current standards for installation produce hot water when the valve is turned to the left and cold water when the valve is turned to the right. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

Carpeting was used as a floor covering material in the tub, shower, and/or toilet areas. The carpet is bound to get wet from steam/vapor from the shower, splashing, and water dripping off a body. Carpet tends to act as a sponge and soak up the moisture, which gives mildew and molds an opportunity to grow and spread. Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate and replace the floor covering materials as needed.

The aerator at the sink faucet was missing or damaged in the 1/2 bathroom. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The gas-fueled fireplace pilot would not light. The fireplace and components could not be inspected for proper operation. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary.

The main water shutoff valve was leaking slightly at the time of inspection. The valve is not and was not operated during the scope of a home  inspection. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The sump pump discharge pipe was discharging into the sanitary sewer line. This is not recommended or allowed by most cities and the discharge pipe should be routed to exterior. One reason that cities don’t allow this is that during big storms their sewage treatment facilities can be overloaded. The other reason that sump pumps shouldn’t discharge to the sanitary sewer is that municipal water departments bill homeowners for their sewer usage based on their water usage. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.

The expansion tank was not properly secured or mounted to walls or ceilings. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The TPRV pipe did not discharge to an air gap within the same room as the water heater (Pipe vented through wall or floor.) A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

There was a 90-degree elbow fitting installed at the top portion of the TPR valve discharge pipe on the water heater. This pipe should terminate straight down within 6” of the floor and not have any threads or fittings prior to that point. Any fittings should be an approved material and configuration. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.

There is no insulation on the crawlspace floor system. Heat loss can occur more on this property than one that is properly insulated. A qualified contractor should evaluate and install as necessary.