new construction inspections: It Might Have Been Easier To Simply Replace The Truss! - 05/03/13 04:20 AM
When I saw so many repairs on this roof truss, immediately I thought it might have been easier to simply replace the truss! 
It's location is second from the edge, in a townhouse.  This is a pre-drywall inspection.
All three corners had been surrounded with large wood gussets on both sides.  And they had been nailed furiously!  They were hard to miss!
When I pointed them out to my client he said that they had been in the house many times and had never noticed them.
Nearly every inch of the rest of the truss was sistered with 2x4s sandwiching … (30 comments)

new construction inspections: Fire Blocking - And This New Construction Is NOT Ready For Drywall - 04/05/13 03:41 AM
Like probably everywhere, one thing counties here are very big on is fire blocking - and this new construction is NOT ready for drywall. 
And yet drywall installation has been scheduled.
Despite the many builder inspections, and the county approval stickers stating that insulation can proceed and drywall can be installed, one glance by a home inspector saw that fire blocking is missing.
Many materials are used as fire blocking - wood, drywall, thick structural material, sheet metal, foam, etc.  Gaps, even the smallest holes which penetrate from floor to floor, need fire blocking.
Section R602.8 of the International Residency … (28 comments)

new construction inspections: When You See One Problem On A New Roof, Others Will Likely Follow - 03/13/13 02:13 AM
This new house has a nearly flat EPDM (synthetic rubber) roof and when you see one problem on a new roof, others will likely follow.
This roofing material is made by Firestone.  They have very high regard for this product, and it demands total understanding when installing it on a roof.  Firestone even offers an installation course FREE, on line!
So, when I peek out a window and see immediate installation problems I know that the installer does not know how to install the material.
EPDM is an acronym meaning Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (M-class) and the thickness most often used … (42 comments)

new construction inspections: On New Construction, Details Matter - 03/11/13 01:41 AM
When you buy a new home everything is new, and on new construction, details matter.
Things should be finished, things should be clean, things should be properly installed and working as intended.
Most people like for their new kitchen to pop, especially if they have spent big bucks to "upgrade" it to the gourmet whoop di do.
This kitchen exhaust hood is beautiful.
It's a little disappointing to see that they didn't take all the plastic off.
And the finger prints all over the thing aren't quite attractive.
As I said, details matter.
My college biology professor said that looking at … (16 comments)

new construction inspections: New Construction Porch Roof - Shimmed And Glued. And The Beat Goes On - 02/25/13 03:18 AM
I'm not sure why I continue to see this kind of work, the new construction front porch roof - shimmed and glued.  And the beat goes on.
Certainly I am at the point of wondering if this is not considered the "way to do it now," and it's how an architect or builder would spec and build their own houses.
Rather than cutting the supporting studs properly, the outside front porch beams needed to be supported with a shim.  Shims are not long-term support.  Cut the stud supports at the proper height!
Note the special stabilizing chunks of wood on each … (39 comments)

new construction inspections: New Construction - "Please Leave Your Coconuts At The Door." What? - 02/24/13 02:17 AM
What if you arrived at a new construction to do a final inspection and saw a sign on the door.
What if the sign at the door said, New Construction - "Please leave your coconuts at the door."?
Usually the sign I see asks that your shoes be left at the door.
Some builders even have a little bin of booties for you to put on.
My feet are so big that those booties are often too small for me!
At this house, however, it was apparent that your shoes did not need to be removed.
Instead, obviously, your coconuts are … (18 comments)

new construction inspections: After All The Inspections And County Approvals, The Shower Won't Drain - 02/23/13 02:59 AM
Can you guess from the title that after all the inspections and County approvals, the shower won't drain.
Something plumbing happens on new construction inspections more often than I can mention.
Certainly one of the things during a new construction inspection is to see if all the plumbing works properly.
This is the master bathroom shower stall.
I ran the shower for a while, along with the other components, all at the same time.
Doing that not only tests them for function, but also the water pressure.
In this case the shower did not drain.
So I left it for a … (23 comments)

new construction inspections: What Do We Do On New Construction When Doors Aren't Level Or Plumb? - 02/21/13 02:48 AM
So answer the question - what do we do on new construction when doors aren't level or plumb?
One basic rule of carpentry is that doors and windows be level and plumb.
Level noun 1 a horizontal plane with respect to the distance above or below a given pointPlumb verb 3 testing an upright surface to determine the vertical
When doors are shipped they have little stabilizers on the corners that insure that the door framing is absolutely square.  It is a perfect rectangle.
If it is a rectangle and level, it is also plumb.  We used to test plumb with … (45 comments)

new construction inspections: Isn't A Front Porch Roof Heavy? How Should It Be Attached? - 01/28/13 02:34 AM
I like a front porch on a house, which usually has its own roof.  But, isn't a front porch roof heavy?  How should it be attached?
Compared to Mother Nature's power, a front porch roof weighs very little.  It should be attached such that it is a part of the structure of the house.
This porch is about 20' long, with its own roof.
The roof structure is such that a porch swing could be installed and the porch could be used for sitting or relaxing.
It is done right in that it extends off the end of the house, so … (45 comments)

new construction inspections: This Is What I Could See - What's Under The Drywall? - 01/16/13 01:25 AM
On a recent pre-drywall inspection, which turned out not to be pre-drywall at all, I was told by the builder that I should proceed anyway because I could see everything anyway.
On a pre-drywall inspection I am looking for lots of things - load transference; whether heavy weight, like a load-bearing column, rests on top of a weight-bearing point; proper insulation installation; foam around windows and doors; HVAC that isn't crimped; if continuous path earthquake strapping is in place; protection for plumbing and electrical; drains running in the right direction; good roof venting.  The list goes on.
Most of what I … (20 comments)

new construction inspections: After All Is Said And Done, Just Knowing It's There Is Enough, Right? - 01/07/13 05:45 AM
When things are supposed to be where they are supposed to be, after all is said and done, just knowing it's there is enough, right?
How often have I had people ask me if a home inspection on new construction is necessary?
Oh, let me count...
The builder has told them it isn't necessary.
There have been, after all, many inspections already.
The sales people have told them it isn't necessary.
There have been, after all, many inspections already.
Sometimes, UNBELIEVABLY, the Realtor will tell them it isn't necessary.
There have been, after all, many inspections already.
Walking into this bathroom, … (19 comments)

new construction inspections: Where You Don't Want To See A Gap - 01/05/13 01:17 AM
There are gaps that have made history - Daniel Boone's Cumberland Gap, the gap between Alfred E. Newman's front teeth and the famous credibility gap inherent in ALL politicians.   But there are times where you don't want to see a gap.
Like between windows!
This is a house that had the insulation installed when we did the pre-drywall inspection.
I like to see a house after the insulation is installed  because it tells me things about the builders' supervisor and subcontractors.
Why?
Usually, if they are careful about the little stuff, the big stuff will take care of itself.
In this … (26 comments)

new construction inspections: Hanging By A Thread, I Mean A Nail - 01/02/13 01:41 AM
Pre-drywall inspections are sometimes done before and sometimes after the County inspections.  This one was done after the County and immediately before the drywall.  I did an inspection on another property by this builder and they do a pretty good job. 
But sometimes things slip.
This staircase would have slipped, sooner than later.  It was hanging by a thread, I mean a nail.
The entry way has two wooden, circular staircases leading to the upper level.  Very pretty, very elegant.
Because they wanted to preserve the wood, they had been covered with plastic and blocked off so they would not be … (26 comments)

new construction inspections: Wonderful Media Room! - 12/30/12 05:44 AM
When I do new construction inspections, of course I check the house out for its features.  And this is a wonderful media room!
I arrived before the buyers for a pre-drywall inspection and looked around a bit.  I knew exactly what this room is to be!  It is huge, 16'x26', in the basement, with two levels and no windows.  Perfect.
Looking toward the seating area on the left, and from the seating area on the right, this is a great room!
Multiple whizbang speaker connections (seventeen) can be seen on the left, for speakers throughout the house, and the blue line … (29 comments)

new construction inspections: A Protective Earth, AKA Equipment Grounding Conductor - An Ufer Ground - 12/29/12 03:02 AM
A lot of thinking went into how electrical systems are grounded - and our homes involve a protective earth, AKA equipment grounding conductor - an Ufer ground.
My Oxford Dictionary defines ground as:  an electrical connection to the earth.
Typically, and traditionally, grounding in houses has been done outside, with a rod or some system buried into the earth.  An electrode would then carry any fault or short outside to it rather than electrifying things inside the house.
If a "hot" (meaning not grounded) fault was instead diverted inside the home to an exposed conductive surface, like a metal fixture or … (37 comments)

new construction inspections: Not Hand Made - 12/19/12 02:58 AM
I suppose even builders could advertise that some of their homes are professionally hand made, but in this case it is obvious at least these guardrail balusters are not hand made.
They were installed well. 
None was loose.
They were glued at the bottom and nailed with brads at the top.
And obviously they were officially purchased from somewhere!
Nothing hand made here!
At least they were painted before they were installed and paint was not slopped all over the hardwood floor!
I'm unsure exactly why the builder wanted to leave the UPC barcode tags on every one.
But he did!
… (36 comments)

new construction inspections: Dangerous Light Fixture - 12/15/12 02:49 AM
Things change, codes change and appliances and fixtures change as a result.  Why would a dangerous light fixture be installed in a new home?
What can be dangerous about a light fixture? 
In the olden days of yore, okay not that really long ago, basement stairs were famous for not having enough head room, and then at the bottom of the stairs, at eye level, one was greeted with a light bulb.
So there was some surprise to see this at the final walk through of a new home.
Opening the door I looked right into a light bulb. 
It is … (23 comments)

new construction inspections: It Wasn't Exactly Unhinged, But Their Thinking Wasn't Complete - 12/11/12 03:04 AM
Coming in from the garage I looked at the door and it wasn't exactly unhinged, but their thinking wasn't complete.
This happened to be new construction, but I have seen it on older homes as well.
Door manufacturers sometimes ship their doors with only a couple of screws in the hinges. 
Then they include a pack of screws for the installer to finish the job.
All the door installer has to do it fit it into position, shim and plumb it, and secure it to the framing.
Notice the hole on the left side of the hinge.  It is intentionally left … (22 comments)

new construction inspections: Two Really Lazy Lazy Susans - 12/10/12 02:16 AM
New construction, new kitchen, new cabinets (never used) and two really lazy Lazy Susans.
Each inside corner of a U shape of kitchen cabinets had a Lazy Susan.
The top of the Lazy Susan is very high!
People will need a ladder to get to the top one!
But that isn't the only problem.
Looking into the cabinet neither Lazy Susan was plumb. 
Both were leaning badly!
How badly?
Certainly very badly!
Neither was even close to plumb.
Doesn't that affect how well the trays turn?
Seems to me it does!
We could see how much it was leaning before I … (31 comments)

new construction inspections: Energy Star Qualified In Highlighted Regions - 12/01/12 02:59 AM
When I do a pre-drywall inspection, I really look around!  I check everything, read what is stuck on windows and doors, look at labels, measure wall placements, and so forth.  Again, I really look around!
My buyer told me that this home was sold as an energy-efficient home and he would be receiving a certification from one of the rating agencies, he couldn't remember which.  It doesn't matter which, they all have their criteria, and to certify the house the energy-saving contents and materials have to meet that criteria.
In this house I looked at the stickers on the windows.  I … (27 comments)

 
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Jay Markanich - N. Virginia Home Inspector

Bristow, VA

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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Address: 12315 Sherborne Street, Bristow, VA, 20136

Office Phone: (703) 330-6388

Cell Phone: (703) 585-7560

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