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wood rot: A Double Moisture Whammy - 02/06/12 08:27 AM
What does a client do when there is a double moisture whammy in a vacant house?
It's a foreclosure.  No appliances left - they were taken.  But there is clear evidence that two things have combined in the past to cause a current condition.
It wasn't easy to get to to see.
My tip off was a spongy, bouncy floor around a powder room toilet.  That toilet, and that bath's sink, were against a wall where the washing machine's spigots and drain were inside the abutting wall.
In the laundry room, there was no washing machine or drip pan. 
There was … (16 comments)

wood rot: Wood Gets Slippery When Wet - Resulting In Rot - 01/18/12 06:37 AM
From many (wonderful) excursions into crawl spaces, home inspectors all know that wood gets slippery when wet - resulting in rot.
First we need some excuse to stay wet all the time.
Let's not have gutters on the front of the house!
In addition, the soil in front, and sidewalk, and porch (!), should all incline toward the house.
That will all contribute to making the crawl space really wet!  Home inspectors also enjoy a water view!
That is one front corner of the house, with the standing water extending out about 3'.
The rest of the front wall and the … (31 comments)

wood rot: How NOT To Install Stone Veneer Siding - 11/26/10 07:18 AM
When a large part of the exterior of a house is covered with a faux stone veneer, there are many locations each of which has its own method of protecting prior to the mortar application.  There are inside and outside corners, vertical and horizontal trim members, windows and doors, etc.  Suffice it to say that the stone veneer industry has done many studies and tests and has published very specific "best practices" diagrams.  They are available in a variety of places on line and in classroom form, complete with workbooks and technical diagrams.
This house has a VARIETY of such locations, … (64 comments)

wood rot: Caulking Does Not Deck Flashing Make - 09/09/10 06:30 AM
When decks are attached to houses, if no deck flashing is installed water can get into the house via the through bolt connections or behind the siding underneath.
Neither is a good alternative.
This is even true with EIFS (Exterior Insulated Finish System) - or synthetic stucco.  It is ESPECIALLY true when the deck is added after the house has been built.
I have had a couple of posts about this before.  That is one of them.
Deck flashing, sometimes called "Z" flashing, is a simple, but important, addition to the deck.
On a beautiful home recently I noticed from underneath … (28 comments)

 
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Jay Markanich - Northern VA 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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