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When Should A Mullion Take A Mulligan?

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

One year inspection.

Many findings.

Normal for a one year.

You have to wonder.

"How long has this window been this way?" was my question to my client.

"Since we moved in."

"It was like this when you bought the house?!"

"Yes."

"Did you mention it to them on your walk through?  Or did they say anything to you about fixing it?"

"No.  We didn't think it was normal, but nobody said anything.  So it's been like that."

When I told them that the window contractor probably roughly mistreated this window and caused the mullions to break they were surprised.  And that the window was like this before they installed the drywall!

I am astonished sometimes at what people let go.  And in this case especially that the builder's supervisor would just slough it off.  It disgusts me really. They knew that the only way to fix this was to replace the window.

Well, it's all a bunch of mullock to me.  I think I am going to go mull over a pot of mulligatawny soup and take a mulligan on this post.

My recommendation:  On a final walk through, if something doesn't look right, it probably isn't!  But don't let it go for a whole year...

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments (15)

Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

Every house has some problem with it...

Apr 17, 2010 11:06 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Well, for sure Joshua!  I generally find more problems with new construction than with houses that are older.  I chalk it up to the lack of professionalism.

Apr 17, 2010 11:10 AM
John Mulkey
TheHousingGuru.com - Waleska, GA
Housing Guru

Jay - Can't believe the homeowner just accepted that. But then, maybe it's just a new "twist" on an old design.

Apr 17, 2010 01:44 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jay was this one of those cheapo windows with the fake dividers between the panes of glass?

Apr 17, 2010 01:44 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

John - beauty is in the eye of the beholders...

Charlie - double-pane with mullions inside.  I see them everywhere, including my house!  My windows aren't cheapo though.  They must have really banged this sun burst window around a lot!

Apr 17, 2010 01:53 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jay, I agree----really common.  By cheapo I mean compared to if it was all individual panes---true divided lights.

Apr 17, 2010 02:07 PM
Kate Kate
San Diego, CA

Jay, I thought it was a sun dial telling the time. Kate

Apr 17, 2010 02:15 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I like the true divided lights a lot Charlie.  I see them now and then, but not in tract homes!  I knew what you meant by cheapo...

Kate - it is.  The time in the photo there is 10 to 2.

Apr 17, 2010 02:21 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Ahhh..blue tape is a wonderful thing....and the homeowner ought not sign on the dotted line until everything called to the attention of the developer, builder, etc,has been addressed.

Apr 17, 2010 11:02 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Since nobody said anything, I think they thought it must not be a problem Sally!

Apr 17, 2010 11:08 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

I sold a house with a window just like this.  The buyer's bought it as it was too.  Actually is it just cosmetic, is that not right?  How would you fix it anyhow. It's between glass.

Apr 19, 2010 12:43 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It is cosmetic Barbara.  But also ugly!  The only way to fix it is to take the two panes apart, re-situate the mullions, re-seal the panes and shoot in argon gas for efficiency.  Then put the window back!

Apr 19, 2010 12:53 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

My guy had a plan.  He said the mullions were metal and he was going to use a strong magnet and pull them back up to where they should be!  The years have gone by and they are still in the same position so either the magnet didn't work or he decided to live with it.

Apr 19, 2010 02:50 AM
Mike Gillingham
Eastern Iowa Inspection Services LLC - Walker, IA

Sad, Sad situation that a builder would let that slide. I wouldn't put my name on it...

Apr 19, 2010 09:46 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Barbara - that would only have worked if they had iron in them!!  Unlikely.  Usually those things are plastic, and you can tell because they sometimes melt and sag.  If they are made of any metal, it would be aluminum, which is not magnetic!  But still, if they are pulled back into position, how are they attached inside?

Mike - the beat goes on...  People often ask me if this or that is a good builder.  The answer to the question is that it depends on the supervisor on site every day and the quality of the subs.  Clearly, in this case, the window guys banged up that window and the supervisor let it slide.

Apr 19, 2010 10:06 PM