Frank's Blog

Some Unsual Plumbing Installations And Two Potential Dangerous Situation

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:51:08 -0500

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

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:26:15 -0500

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.

Sick House Syndrome

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:25:59 -0600

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

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:31:51 -0600

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

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:59:54 -0600

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"

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:38:05 -0600

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

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:42:10 -0600

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

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:40:22 -0600

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

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:49:46 -0600

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

Pipe Supports

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:35:32 -0600

Pipes should be strapped every 4 ft for support.

Torre Real Estate

Frank Torre (Torre Inspection Service 516-551-1953) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:07:08 -0500

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.

SERVING LONG ISLAND AND THE FIVE BOROUGHS: Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens NY Brooklyn NY, Bronx NY, Manhattan NY, Staten Island NY, Bethpage NY, East Meadow NY, Farmingdale NY, Fresh Meadows NY, Garden City NY, Glen Cove NY, Glen Head NY, Great Neck NY, Hicksville NY, Jericho NY, Laurel Hollow NY, Levittown NY, Astoria NY, Long Island City NY, Manhasset NY, Merrick NY, Mineola NY, New Hyde Park NY, New York NY, Old Bethpage NY, Old Westbury NY, Oyster Bay NY, Plainview NY, Syosset NY

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.

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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
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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?