Frank Torre's Blog

Long Shot / The Polester

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 18:14:50 -0700

I am blogging about the Long Shot camera system today. This camera system has help me a lot since I bought it. It is a telescoping pole that you can mount your digital camera to, I bought the 23 foot pole there are three different size poles to choose from 9, 15, 23 foot. The polester goes where I can not go safely on roofs, or in crawlspaces, etc. This system allows me to take pictures of roofs that are in assessable due to height or are un safe to transverse. They said sharing is caring I am sharing this information with everyone on Active Rain. The web site address is: http://www.LongShotCameraSystems.com here is some pictures I took using the system. When inspecting a roof it important to find the best Long Island Home Inspection you can find. Take a look at the pictures below to see what to look for.

Pool Safety (Preventing Child Drownings)

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:58:39 -0700

I writting this blog post today to provide information about pool safety. The summer is here and the pools are open. I was at a networking event, where they wore collecting money for donation for a child that had drowned in their swimmimg pool. It is too late to save this child but we can all help prevent this happening to another child. By following U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION on pool safety guidelines. When I am doing residential inspection and I see the house has a pool I talk to my client about pool safety. I send them two pdf files, one is from the U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, the another is on pool alarms. We can all come together as real estate community to help promote pool safety. For more information about pool safety please visit the following web site, http://WWW.CPSC.GOV

U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Washington, DC 20207 Web site: www.cpsc.gov How to plan Toll-free hotline: 1-800-638-2772 for the unexpected In some of the nation’s sunbelt, drowning has been the leading cause of accidental death in the home of children under 5 years old. It is very important to have your home properly inspected. Finding the right Long Island Home Inspector is important and I can provide you with the expert reports you desire.

Some More Unusual Plumbing And Electrical Installations, Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:46:36 -0800

I ran across some more unusual plumbing and electrical installation during some of my inspections. These are some of the more creative installation that were done by un licensed contractors. People want to save money or simple do not have the money to spend in these time I understand that but have work done by un licensed contractors cost more in the end and is dangerous to the people living in the house or building. Here are some pictures of the creative installations. During the Long Island home inspection process these are the types of things we see.

This is why you should have at least 6 inches of space between the stove and the wall to prevent a fire.

The plumbing pipe is pitching to the trap instead of draining the water out of the house.

This creative electrical installation was done on a newly renovated kitchen. It was powering the dishwasher, stove, refrigerator.

Who needs a light we have a surge protector.

Some Unsual Plumbing Installations And Two Potential Dangerous Situation, Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:51:08 -0700

I have not posted anything on my blog for some time now. It has been hard to get some free time to write blog posts. Anyway enough about not having a enough time and lets look at some unsual plumbing and two potential dangerous situation I found during home inspections. Here take a look at these pictures and you will see some unsual plumbing installations.

Someone decided to plug up the pressure relief valve on this hot water heater. By doing this to the hot water heater the pressure can build up and it could blow up or fly though the roof like a rocket.

Duct is open and can let Carbon Monoxide into the living space, and hot water heater is on its last leg!

Duct tape sure not be used on HVAC ducts.

Renovation Nightmare, Queens NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:26:15 -0700

I just did a inspection for my client who just had her 2 family home totally redone 2 months ago. It was a nightmare I do not know how the town inspectors allowed it and did not shut down the job, and take away the contractors license. My client called me up asking questions about the renovation she had done to her home. She told me she had the house totally redone for herself and her mother to live in. I told her to contact the the contractor with her concerns and ask him to correct them, and said to her I hope the contractor does the right thing by you and your family and you do not need to call me again. But no the contractor was long gone with they money over 280000.00 dollars "he does not return my calls" the client stated. Here are some pictures of the renovations take a look.

That one 20 amp breaker supplies 2 GFCI in the kitchen and the refrigerator on the same circuit. When I tested the GFCI's the refrigerator turn off, and there are no arc fault breakers in the panel box.

The cables were not installed to hold the bay windows in place.

No caulking around any window.

My client said my knees hurt walking up these stairs.

The deck and balcony

Hot water temperture.

All of the new hard wood floors are warping.

"I Have Leaks And Bugs Are Coming Out Of My Walls" Queens NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:04:14 -0800

I got a called from my client stating: "I have leaks and bugs are coming out of my walls"

Can you help me? I started asking some questions to get some background on this situation.

The client stated they had bought a luxury condominium from one of the leading luxury home builders.

I asked the client if she had the condo inspected prior to purchase. The client said, the attorney advised that no inspected was needed due to the fact, it was new construction. I then, asked the client about the bugs coming out of the walls. The client described the bugs as little black dots, the client said they have a ziploc bag full of them. I told them, I am not a bug expert, and ask them to bring the bag of bugs to the pest control company to find out, what kind of bugs they are. I then ask about the leaks the client stated the leaks were on the ceilings of the bathroom and the kitchen. The following pictures are from my inspection of the condo.

No Visible Leak On Bathroom Ceiling

Leak On Bathroom Ceiling Found With Thermal Imaging

Verified Leak On Bathroom Ceiling With Moisture Meter

Sick House Syndrome, Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:25:59 -0800

I was recently hired by my client to inspect his house not because he was selling it or buying a house. But because his family was getting sick with respiratory infection every month from living in the house. The client told me over the phone that he just had a mold removed from both the basement and attic of the house, and wanted to known what was causing all this mold build up in his home. The following pictures show the cause of the mold problems in the home.

Most of the HVAC ductwork was crushed.

Bathrooms vent are discharging in the attic putting unwanted moisture and helping the mold to grow.

A active water leak from a valve.

This is the opposite side of that stucco wall.

The stucco and the synthetic stucco are in the earth allowing water to be sucked up into the wall and styrofoam.

The soffits were covered by stucco blocking air flow to the attic and the roof.

The grading around the house was sloped in the wrong direction.

Deck Not Installed Properly, Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:31:51 -0800

The first thing I saw was the ledger board did not support the whole deck. Second thing no flashing to prevent water from entering the house. I started probing the wood with my screwdriver and almost lost it a few times due to wood rot that was present. Then started shooting it with the infrared to see what it would detect? How much moisture was present? I wrote up the deck in the report as a improper installation check for CO and permits for the deck.

Retaining Walls, Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:59:54 -0800

This retaining wall is failing due to hydrostatic pressure. Be sure to find out who is responsible for the retaining wall? This can be a very expense repair. This wall was about 7 ft height and 50 ft long, the repair bill would be thousands of dollars. Make sure your client is not the one that is going to be responsible for this repair.

"Danger of Electrocution" Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:38:05 -0800

The missing knockouts on this main electric service panel box are exposing the main lugs. Which are live all the time, because wires coming from the meter base which is coming from the utility company. This situation is very dangerous, I all ways call out missing knockout because the hot bus is exposed.

FSBO, Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:42:10 -0800

I recently had a inspection on a FSBO house other day. I got to the house about half hour early and introduced myself to the couple who owned the house. The wife looked and acted nervous asking if I pass or fail houses I inspect, I told her I report on present condition of the house and do not pass or fail a house or building I inspect. After that was over I begun to ask the couple questions about the condition of their house. They stated the house had been newly renovated. I started inspecting around the house and saw all renovations were done only on interior of the house. Nothing on exterior of the house, there was no curb appeal to this house. If this couple had hire an inspector or engineer prior to putting their house on the market. They would have found out everything they needed to fix on the house. Second thing they should have done was hire a appraiser to find out what their house is worth. I personally would never sell any property without a real estate sales associate or broker.

Window Frames, Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:40:22 -0800

Windows frames need to be protected from the weather. Either with paint or caping to stop weather from getting at the wood and causing dry rot of the wood frames.

Poor Ventilation, Queens NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:49:46 -0800

Poor ventilation to this attic is reason for this vegetative growth on the wood.

Pipe Supports, Queens NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:35:32 -0800

Pipes should be strapped every 4 ft for support.

Torre Inspection Services, Long Island NY

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service, LLC 516-551-1953) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:07:08 -0700

Heat Loss around door.

Comprehensive Residential & Commercial Inspection Services SERVING LONG ISLAND AND THE FIVE BOROUGHS

www.torrerealestate.com

Phone # 516-551-1953

Thermal imaging is a technology that allows the INSPECTOR to show you things about your home that no one can show you using other inspection methods. Thermal imaging produces images of invisible heat energy emitted from objects and sytems in the home and allows us to measure it. Thermal imaging helps to diagnose the problem rather than merely identify symptoms and can sometimes, but not always, identify and document: Electrical faults before they cause a fire, overloaded and undersized circuits, circuit breakers in need of immediate replacement, missing, damaged, and/or wet insulation, heat loss and air infiltration in walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, water and moisture intrusion that could lead to mold, possible pest infestation, hidden roof leaks, before they cause serious damage, air conditioner compressor leaks, under fastening and/or missing framing members, structural defects, broken seals in double pane windows, energy loss and efficiency, dangerous flue leaks, damaged and/or malfunctioning radiant heating systems, unknown plumbing leaks, overheated equipment. These color images can then be included in the inspection report providing supporting documentation to the report. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Thermal Infrared Photo: Heat Loss from high hats lights

Circuit-Breaker Panel Box

Moisture by toilet

Could Not be seen without Infrared.

It is critical to choose the right inspector for one of the most important emotional decisions and financial investments that you will ever make. Frank Torre of Torre Real Estate can ease the worries associated with property buying and selling by providing you with one of the area's most reliable and knowledgeable inspections.

We accept all major credit cards and debit cards.

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NYS License #
16000029400

Why Us?

Residential and Commercial expertise including Manufactured Home Inspections
Over 20 years of experience as a General Contractor
We provide the personal touch - whether in person or over the phone we take the time to explain our reports
Special testing services including combustible gases, carbon monoxide
Infrared Certified
Computerized reports in PDF Format - emailed to our clients
Fully licensed and insured with liability and E&O
We always fulfill our fiduciary obligation to the client in the role as a real estate inspector
Final walk through assistance (By Request)
Member of Independent Home Inspectors of North America

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Our Services

Home inspections can help you buy or sell your home with confidence. As trained professionals we have seen it all, and we'll provide invaluable help in turning you into a knowledgeable consumer. Home owners can identify problems in the making and take preventive measures to avoid costly repairs. Sellers can understand conditions the buyer's inspector may point out and put the property in better selling condition by making repairs. Our inspection services include:

Buyers Inspection
In both new and older homes, the best way to ensure that you are well informed about the strengths and weaknesses of a property is to have us give you a professional home inspection. We are trained to identify problem areas both small and large that may have been overlooked by the previous owners and to identify which require immediate attention. See our Inspection Overview for more details.

Sellers Inspection
Whether you are selling your home on your own or using a realtor, it's always a prudent idea to have a professional home inspection. Knowledge is power. All homes have strengths and weaknesses: we help you answer how serious the problems are and which must be immediately addressed and which can wait. The more you know about your home, the more prepared you will be for negotiation. See our Inspection Overview for more details.

Commercial Inspection
Commercial Real estate inspections are performed using a T.E.A.M. approach - Technical Expert And Management.

*Depending on the scope of the project, the inspection will be performed by licensed inspectors, engineers and contractors with team captain coordinating the entire effort.

We provide a variety of commercial inspection types, including:

Pre-leasing inspections for triple net tenants
Post leasing inspections
Property condition assessment following departure of triple net tenants
Pre-purchase inspection of commercial buildings
Pre-sale inspections (eliminate any haggling over the price due to presumed deferred maintenance)

We also provide a due diligence/visual inspection similar to the residential inspection after which the customer is notified which consultant will be needed for further review of the property and/or to provide repair estimates.

Types of commercial buildings we inspect include:

Apartments
Condominiums
Offices
Retail stores
Industrial

*We do not inspect the following on commercial properties:

Code inspection
Environmental evaluation
Disability access evaluation
Life safety or fire protection

*Nor do we review blue prints or building plans

Construction Inspection
In a new home, the quality of construction is often not what it used to be some years ago, therefore many buyers have independent reviews of their properties during various stages of the construction process, including slab, frame, and final inspection. This relatively inexpensive inspection protects your purchase, prevents unpleasant surprises, and ensures the quality home that you've dreamed about.

Warranty Inspection
Most builders provide a one-year warranty for new construction. Generally during this period of time the buyer develops a "punch list" of corrections for the contractor to repair under the warranty coverage. Some defects will not be obvious to the untrained eye. It is prudent to obtain our home inspectors list of items that will most likely be repaired by your builder at no cost to you. You will be reassured knowing that potential problems were addressed before they grew into something that could cost you a great deal down the road.

TERMITE DAMAGE

Two good web sites I found very helpful : www.constructionbook.com, www.professionalequipment.com.

"Poor Flashing Job" Needs to be Repaired.

Handrails are missing! Falling Hazard

This retaining wall is failing due to hydrostatic pressure. Be sure to find out who is responsible for the retaining wall?