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Past Is Prologue

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

An interesting email came the other day.  It was from a former client, for whom I had done an inspection four years ago.  His house at that time was only two years old.  All the window trim on the house was beginning to rot. 

My comment at that time was that this was a lot of rot developing in only two years, and that it would get worse.  I also suggested that since it was on nearly window that the problem was likely due to improper installation.  At that time I was unable to see what could have caused it, but thought it to be the usual suspects.  On my way home the next day this house was along the way, so I stopped by to have a peek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could have posted many more photos.  So, what are the common characteristics?

1.  Caulking is not meant to be wider than about 1/4".  This is much wider than that!

2.  Interior nails (or brads) were used.  As they rust, they rot the wood with them!

3.  The wood was not primed.  Even if it was primed on the outside facing the weather, and I could see on some peeling windows that it was not, wood has 6 sides!  All 6 sides need to be primed PRIOR to installation or it will not last.

4.  The trim was just jammed into place, with large gaps.  The miters and joints are not tight and merely filled with caulking.

ANYTHING NEW HERE?  No, not at all.  I see this every day.  It is 7-11 construction at its worst (or best, depending on your angle...).  It is a slap-up job by inexperienced people, working with little oversight.

Here's the big issue!  ALL of the houses nearby are experiencing the exact same problem.  I had noticed that 4 years ago, but the other houses weren't my focus then.  Now we have a demonstrable pattern throughout the neighborhood. 

The pattern, in my opinion?  Improper product, improper installation.  Of course, if contacted, the builder would claim lax homeowner maintenance.

But everyone has let this go and now the rot is migrating into the framing structure around the windows.  This was something my client was told four years ago that he needed to handle immediately.  It has been let go.  By everyone.  Now it has gotten dramatically worse.

I don't know where it will go from here.  But I would recommend replacing the wood!

My recommendation:  Sometimes home inspectors will point out conditions and suggest repairs that prevent future, more difficult, repairs.  It is best to pay attention...

 

 

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 (41)

Brent Wells
The LivingWell Team - Prosper, TX
Dallas - Fort Worth

Jay - I can't imagine how disappointed the home owners must be. Actually yes I can, we have had older existing homes that passed a detailed inspection have multiple problems, but nothing so blatantly wrong... I would be furious.

Sep 01, 2010 04:33 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

By the time you buy that much caulk, you could probably take the time and effort to do it right.

Sep 01, 2010 06:06 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Jay,  Interesting post.  If this is typical in that area someone should hold the builder's feet to the fire.

Sep 01, 2010 07:24 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Jay- once again I have to say that nothing can replace a great home inspection!!!

Sep 01, 2010 07:37 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Why do clients hire inspectors to get advice and then not heed it?  Looks like it's going to be a costly repair now.

Sep 01, 2010 08:54 AM
Lesley Wagstaff
Re/Max Results Realty in Vancouver, BC - Coquitlam, BC
For Real Estate and Mortgages

Excellent information.  A lot of buyers get the initial report and then don't bother to do anything about it after they move in.  Such a shame.

Sep 01, 2010 08:56 AM
Jennifer Dulmaine
Keller Williams Realty - Spencer, MA
Seth Campbell Realty Group

Jay, I don't think I have seen anything this extreme before! Thanks for sharing, Jen

Sep 01, 2010 12:48 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Lenn - I am seeing vinyl more and more.  It is the new white trim...

Maybe Cindy, but even then the builder might have tried to say it was maintenance related, who knows!

Mike - my grandmother built the first house in a section of Washington, DC called Chevy Chase at the turn of the last century.  The original wood siding is still on that house.

Missy - no, it doesn't!  Once started the process is slow and unrelenting.

Sep 01, 2010 11:13 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Claudette - this is a good object lesson.  I don't often hear from people years later saying they still have the same problem I identified on the inspection!

Susan - he may have looked at that trim for years saying how he had to get around to it!

Jim - I don't see that too often.  I still wonder about its long-term viability.  But it might be terrific.

John - or primed, particularly at mitered joints.  But you're right, it is soft and the aluminum or vinyl-covered stuff works very well too.

Sep 01, 2010 11:17 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Dan - I think at this point they want the builder to listen...

Michael - like I said, I think they want this to be the builder's problem!  Good luck, probably...

Maureen - what would she prefer the inspector say?  What should the inspector say?  Geez...

Karen - I have had a few of those and surprisingly they fixed the houses up nicely!

Sep 01, 2010 11:19 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Michelle - proactivity is hard to teach!  The School of Hard Knocks usually gets its lessons over pretty well.

Charlie - quick, easy, available, cheaper, traditional.  Who knows?  But you gotta treat it right.

Brent and Deb - I sent him my thoughts and a few photos and have not heard back!  And I did that no charge.  Not even a thank you...

Jack - I saw a bathroom drain the other day with enough caulk on it to fix this house!  Is that what you mean...?

Sep 01, 2010 11:24 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Bill - there was CERTAINLY a pattern here, but after all, it has been six years.

Barbara-Jo - I can't think of anything either.

Tammie - very costly.  Nearly every window.  Only the ones under the front porch roof escaped this problem.

Lesley - the wood was unusually rotten for even a 2 year old house, so, yes, it is a ashame.

Jen - this was quite the problem.  And it is getting worse by the day.

Sep 01, 2010 11:27 PM
Valerie Duncan Stewart
(Metro First Realty) - Oklahoma City, OK
Real Estate Agent-Broker, OKC, OK

Jay, 

You did it again! Another informative post! I re-blogged you for my customers in the OKC area. I love your pictures and detailed explanation of what we are viewing in your blog. Great job! Oh, and thanks for the ability to re-blog! :)

Sep 02, 2010 08:38 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Valerie - thank you for stopping by so often and for reblogging!  I am glad you find the posts informational.

Sep 02, 2010 09:05 AM
Eric Middleton
Closer Look Property Inspections Inc. - Uniondale, NY
Professional Property Inspector

Jay- it's really upsetting when we put so much time and effort into the report and still get call backs because the client did not read the report or act on it.

Sep 02, 2010 03:02 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That happens to you too Eric?   ;~)

Once a lady ripped me one because some plaster fell from her ceiling onto her stereo system.  She was disgusted that I had not warned her that it could happen.  I looked on the report - there it was!  She never called again!

Sep 02, 2010 03:06 PM
Reuben Saltzman
Structure Tech Home Inspections - Minneapolis, MN
Delivering the Unbiased Truth.

How do you come across so many nasty houses?  I've never seen wood anywhere near that rotted in that short of time.  I wouldn't have thought it was possible.

Sep 06, 2010 02:45 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I know Reuben - I get all the good houses!  That is typical around here, although not on houses 6 years old.

Sep 06, 2010 10:56 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Dear Jay -
I love the phrase 7-11 construction!
It is really sad to see this on expensive homes as well. Give me a "grandmother" house with all its revolting wallpaper and let me see that the repairs are done properly. It is too easy to hide really serious errors when the home looks so "ROOMS TO GO" as the Client walks through it and falls in love. 
Have a happy day -
Lynn

Nov 26, 2011 04:27 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That's my experience Lynn.  The builders sometimes go to 7-11 in the morning to pick up workers.  It's a shame.  Then they are out working on homes and leaving people with this.

Nov 26, 2011 09:11 PM