Home Inspection E Alaska Ave Aurora CO

The inspector observed stains on the shingles in areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate, then repair or replace as advised prior to the inspection objection deadline.

One or more combustion exhaust flue(s) showed signs of rust/corrosion.  A qualified contractor should evaluate, then repair or replace as advised prior to the inspection objection deadline.

One or more combustion appliance exhaust flue(s) did not extend far enough above the roof. To ensure proper and safe operation, exhaust flues should extend at least 3 feet above the roof, and 2 feet above any portion of the roof within 10 feet (measured horizontally).  A qualified contractor should evaluate, then repair or replace as advised prior to the inspection objection deadline.

The mortar crown was damaged, cracked or deteriorated at the time of inspection. This condition could allow moisture to penetrate the chimney. A qualified contractor should evaluate, then repair or replace as advised prior to the inspection objection deadline.

The chimney rain cap/spark arrestor was missing. A qualified contractor should evaluate, then repair or replace as advised prior to the inspection objection deadline.

A rain cap covers the top opening of the chimney flue liner and is usually combined with a spark arrestor.

A spark arrestor is used to prevent floating embers from a solid fuel fire setting light to a flammable roofing surface or falling onto other combustible materials on the ground. A spark arrestor typically consists of a double layer of metal mesh, which catches the ember and allows the flue gas to escape. Spark arrestors also help prevent animals from entering the chimney.

The insulation is thinner than current thermal resistance (R-value) standards.

Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate and repair or replace as needed.

Ventilation may have been insufficient at the time of the inspection.

Inadequate attic ventilation can cause the attic to overheat, causing heat damage to the roof covering, which results in a decreased life expectancy. Adequate ventilation of the attic will actually help prolong the life expectancy of the roof covering and help stabilize interior temperatures when heating and cooling is in use.

Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate to ensure all attic ventilation is unobstructed and fully functional and/or install additional ventilation as needed.

The concrete driveway 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.

The driveway has dropped or settled in areas, causing a steep or uneven step. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.

The driveway showed signs of heaving and/or settling in areas. Heaving is often caused by soil that has expanded in volume due to increased moisture content, or by wet soil which has expanded as it became frozen. Settlement is when the soil below a concrete slab is loose, or it can no longer support the weight causing it to sink or crack. This condition could potentially cause a trip hazard.

A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.

The driveway has a negative slope and drains towards the home or garage. This condition is prone to water penetration into the home structure. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.

The driveway surface was pitted in areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

A common maintenance task for brick masonry is the repair of mortar joints. The longevity of mortar joints will vary with the exposure conditions and the mortar materials used, but a life span of more than 25 years is typical. The longevity of brick, however, may well exceed 100 years. Consequently, occasional repair of the mortar joints is expected over the life of the brick masonry. It is our observation that the most common reason for repointing brick masonry is to improve water penetration resistance. Repointing deteriorated mortar joints is one of the most effective and permanent ways of decreasing water entry into brickwork. This is because the most common means of water entry into a brick masonry wall is through de-bonded, cracked or deteriorated mortar joints. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair all areas as necessary.

The eaves had gaps at the edges between soffit panels or roof sheathing which allows insects to enter the attic.

Recommend a qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.

It Wasp nest is present at the time of inspection. Recommend removing by qualified contractor.

The walkway(s) surface was pitted in areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

One or more steps was too high, and poses a trip hazard. The riser height maximum is 7 3/4 inches measured vertically between the stair treads. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.

Large trees near the house have branches which overhang the property. Falling branches due to conditions such as wood decay, high winds or heavy snow loads may cause injury, death or damage. Significant weakening of large branches by conditions such as core decay may not be visible by persons without special training. Consider having these trees evaluated by a qualified arborist. Evaluating trees lies beyond the scope of the general property inspection.

Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The exterior foundation wall had shrinkage crack(s.) A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

A wood support post or wood portion of the deck was in direct contact with the ground/dirt. The wood should be pressure treated and ideally be: placed in a metal bracket and/or cement casing, and have clearance from the ground level. Wood in direct contact with dirt will wick up ground moisture and deteriorate at an accelerated rate if routine maintenance is not kept.

Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate and repair or replace as needed.

Deck structure was improperly supported. This may be that support posts were connected to the structure (girder, beams) laterally using lag bolts, or beams are incorrectly notched to posts. The beam(s) should be installed on top of or notched partially on top of the support posts. This is a structural defect that may result in injury if not corrected.

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

A support post was not properly rested on a concrete footer or missing metal connection hardware. This may put the wood in direct contact with the moisture on the ground and accelerate any potential deterioration.

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

Flashing was missing at the ledger board. This flashing problem may allow water to enter into the wall cavity or building components. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The guard/hand rail was loose and should be secured. A fall or injury could occur if not corrected. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

A handrail was not graspable.  Graspable is considered 2 inches across the upward face of the rail.

Correction and further evaluation is recommended.

Improper spacing was noted between balusters, spindles and rails. This is a safety hazard, especially for small children.

Guards may not allow the passage of a sphere 4 inches in diameter.

Correction and further evaluation is recommended.

Improper gap between stairs and railing.  This is a safety hazard, especially for small children.

An opening, on the open side of a stairs, and bottom rail of the guard should not allow the passage of a sphere 6 inches in diameter.

Correction and further evaluation is recommended.

One or more down spout extensions were too short. Recommend installing 6-8ft long (or greater as needed) extensions to divert rainwater runoff away from the property.

Downspout(s) are missing the proper 6 ft. extensions. This condition may cause problems by introducing excessive amounts of moisture to the soil beneath the foundation. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.

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 door between the garage and the living space failed to close by itself. Modern safety requirements require that the door between the home interior and the garage be self-closing for safety reasons related to fire hazard and toxic fumes. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The floor surface of the garage is not sloped properly away from the structure due to settlement.

The area of floor used for parking of automobiles or other vehicles must be sloped. It should slope toward the vehicle door opening. The sloped surface will help the movement of liquids to a drain or toward the main vehicle doorway of the carport.

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. Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate and update to current building standards 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 carpet was damaged in areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The floors showed signs of minor damage and wear, particularly in high-traffic areas.  A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

At the time of the inspection, the property did not have emergency escape and rescue openings which met generally-accepted current standards. Egress opening requirements:

For safety reasons, all sleeping room and basements greater than 200 square feet and new properties should meet the generally-accepted current standards for emergency escape and rescue openings, which include the following requirements:

1. Sill height shall not exceed 44 inches above the floor.

2. Minimum net clear opening shall be 5.7 square feet; exception – grade level windows

may have a minimum clear opening of 5 square feet.

3. Minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches.

4. Minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches.

At the interior steps, the risers were taller than acceptable standards.  The risers exceeded 7 3/4″ in height.  A fall or injury could occur if not corrected.  A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

At the interior stairs, the handrail had a railing end that did not return to the wall or post.  A fall could occur if something (purse, backpack etc.) caught the end of the railing when descending. A fall or injury could occur if not corrected. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

At the interior stairs, the handrail had spacing between components that were too far apart. Spacing of more than 4 ” could allow a child or pet to fall through. A fall or injury could occur if not corrected.  A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

An electrical outlet was not grounded. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The dishwasher drain line came out from a low location and did not discharge into a higher drain pipe. Dishwasher drain lines require a “high loop” in the line in order to drain properly. A “high loop” may have been hidden behind the appliance itself. The high loop in the drain hose is to keep water from settling in the hose to prevent any odors from backing up into the dishwasher. Food or debris may become stuck in the line and smell or mold if not corrected. Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate and repair or replace as needed.

The vent hood was loose and not properly secured.  A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The laundry room did not have an exhaust fan or an openable window. A qualified contractor should evaluate, then repair or replace as advised.

An outlet did not provide Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection. Although GFCI protection of circuits may not have been required at the time in which this home was built, safe building practices have improved with the passage of time and building standards have changed to reflect current understanding. The inspector recommends updating the existing electrical circuits to include GFCI protection. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The toilet was loose at the floor. This condition typically is caused by loose bolts or nuts and/or missing floor seals. Loose toilet can result in leaks, water damage, and mold, as well as damage to the toilet, water supply lines, bolts, and drainage pipes. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

Caulking in the shower/tub area was deteriorated at the time of inspection. Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The main electrical distribution panel was manufactured by Zinsco. These panels have a reputation for being problematic and further evaluation by a qualified electrician is recommended. Zinsco panels can generally be identified by a blue and silver “Zinsco” label inside the panel, an embossed “Magnetrip” label at the top of the panel face, and the colorful breakers.

• There may be components of the panel that contain aluminum.
• The connection between the breakers and the bus bar may be defective.
• The bus bar may be corroded.
• Breakers may be turned off, but the circuit could still be live.

The obsolete and unreliable Zinsco panel should be further evaluated and replaced by a licensed electrician as necessary.

The water temperature was below the suggested range of 120-130 degrees. Recommend adjusting the water heater thermostat first. If water does not reach the acceptable range then a qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

Due to the year (1999) of manufacture, the heating system is assumed to be near the end of its expected service life. Regular maintenance and monitoring of its condition is recommended. Budgeting for repairs and future replacement is recommended. A qualified contractor should evaluate to clean, service/repair/replace as necessary, and certify the unit if possible.

The heating system cabinet was corroded, rusted or damaged in some areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.

The HVAC supply and return ducts were dirty at the time of the inspection and in need of cleaning. Recommend having all the HVAC supply and return ducts cleaned by a qualified contractor.

The blower motor and/or wheel appeared to be dirty at the time of inspection. Blower fan motors and fan wheels are subjected to constant dirt, dust, and lint and can become overly dirty when not cleaned on a regular basis and even faster if the air filters are not changed regularly.

A qualified contractor should evaluate, clean, and service as necessary, and certify the unit is in good working order.

Recommend replacing the evaporative cooling pads on the swamp cooler and cleaning the reservoir.

The cooling system turned on but did not operate as expected by producing adequate conditioned cooled air. An ambient air test was performed to determine if the temperatures of the supply air was at least 5 degrees cooler than ambient air. Typical performance of these units is about 5 – 15 degrees of difference. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair/replace as necessary.

The concrete floor in the basement was cracked in areas. These cracks appear to be common cracks indicating regular settlement or heaving, but not necessarily structural problems. Recommend a qualified contractor to evaluate to make further recommendations and repair as necessary.

Axium recommends our premier partner – Level Engineering. They can be contacted at 720-706-8540.

Efflorescence (white powdery substance) on the wall indicates moisture is in contact with the concrete or masonry. This does not necessarily indicate that intrusion will occur. I recommend checking the gutters and the downspout drain lines for proper operation. Also, a water proofing paint could be applied to the interior side of the wall if necessary. Efflorescence is found on many properties without water intrusion occurring inside the property. But, it should alert you to the possibility that future steps may be needed. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary.