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Coming Out Of The Closet

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

Closets in new construction are sometimes very large, particularly the master bedroom closet.  In this case the closet is in the shape of a capital H, and large enough for a sizable slumber party.

That means it's going to hold lots of stuff!

That being the case, it is important that the racks are strong.  Because?  Because gravity works, every time.

So it's important that they are installed properly.

You want the racks to be level so they can be used for storage.

And each of the support arms should be screwed into a stud. 

When the support arms are supported by Molly Bolts (which test at 170 pounds) they often come loose as they are tightened too much, damaging the drywall and becoming and weak at the support point. 

While there are many different kinds, I consider Molly bolts to be the scourge of mankind.  But that is just me.  They are used very often by builders, and sometimes in the wrong places!

In this closet the support arms were put in the wrong places.

One was already coming loose.

Clothing is very heavy.  The demands on racks and support usually gets heavier!

And gravity works, every time.

If this support arm is loose now, what will happen over time?

And why is it loose?

Do you see the little notch in the top where it attaches to the front rod?  The narrow support rod extending from back to front is supposed to slide into that notch.  That way there will be no slippage.

My client asked if the support arms  could simply just be moved over an inch to capture that small rod into the notch. 

The answer?  Sure!  But the support arm will not only be out of alignment, it will be weaker since it won't be straight.  The rack would have to move, if it has room.  Remember, clothing is very heavy, and typically heavier over time and gravity works, every time.  Then she said something interesting.  "Well, if they can't move the racks to make it look good, those racks are COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET."

My recommendation:  Many racks diverged in a closet and I, I saw the ones less supported by, and that has made all the difference.  It's the little things on a new construction inspection that can make all the difference.  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(73)

Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jay, it is all about the job they have to do---there would certainly be some jobs they could do---and then too depending on what kind of substrate they are in.

Feb 25, 2011 03:43 PM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

People are so into closet space these days.   But it uses up so much floor space that it can detract unless there is a ton of square footage.

Feb 25, 2011 03:57 PM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Jay:

Tanks for the info.  I have learned so much on ActiveRain. 

Feb 25, 2011 04:49 PM
Brandon & Grace Yee
Chase International - South Lake Tahoe, CA
Lake Tahoe Real Estate

Hi Jay,

Thanks for the informative post.

Cheers from Lake Tahoe,

~Grace Yee

Feb 25, 2011 05:40 PM
David O'Doherty
Clayton, NC
Clayton NC Homes, Raleigh, NC

Jay, great eye, how many times has this gone unnoticed. There's the cost of the inspection a couple of times over.

Feb 25, 2011 10:18 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Don - one would assume such, but we know what happens when we assume...

Charlie - depending on one thing to do another often involves ignorance of what the material is intended to do!  If, for example, you are going to lash a tail from one air plane onto the front end of another, well, you had better use the right strapping!  There can be no ignorance there!

Ruthmarie - trust me, there was enough square footage in this house.  This master bedroom was larger in square footage than the house I grew up in.

Evelyn - that is one of the great things about AR, isn't it?

 

Feb 25, 2011 10:55 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thank you Grace.  And stop by again!

David - and like some people have commented here, sometimes you find out in the middle of the night!

Feb 25, 2011 10:56 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

When we built our house...the master suite has a large walk in closet...I remember my Dad's sage words of advice to David..."Don't make the closet that big, she'll think she has to fill it up !"  And the rest is history...of course she did !

Feb 25, 2011 11:01 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Yes, Sally, I know...  And is David allowed even a small portion?  I am not, so if he is the universe is totally out of whack.

Feb 25, 2011 11:32 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Jay, the shelving sure looks good, but can it hold the weight. I thought molly bolts were the best invention since sliced bread. lol

Feb 26, 2011 12:39 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That, Michael, is assuming that sliced bread is the best invention!

Feb 26, 2011 12:48 AM
Bill Ness
55Places.com - Chicago, IL
55Places.com, Active Adult Community Guide

Big closets are a huge selling point in active adult communities, especially where the homes do not come with or do not offer basements. It's easy to take shortcuts with closet installation so you really have to double check this kind of thing.

Feb 26, 2011 02:56 AM
Pelin Guzel
Dallas Homes For Sale - Plano Real Estate - Dallas, TX

Big closets are great however 80's homes in Dallas area have small closets so most people add extra wardrobes to their bedrooms.

 

Feb 26, 2011 04:36 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Bill - and I do check!  New construction must be looked at carefully.

Pelin - I see wardrobes in bedrooms also!

Feb 26, 2011 07:42 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Mr Jay,

I am not so dumb as to have neglected to notice that you had referenced my tape selections in the fields of aviation. I wish to reiterate that the tape held up fines, until I had an accidental crash near my backyard. It did as intended. The tape got me home when an individual I had been counting on for a financial bailout, who shalls go unnamed, was a big flop. The key is preparadnesses.

Nutsy

Feb 26, 2011 07:58 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

You fogged me with this one Nutsy!  Tape selections in aviation?  Can you explain?

And next time, don't end up in the Third World where they don't understand refrigeration and your clams will stay healthy!

Feb 26, 2011 09:14 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Mr Jay,

You are being a weasel again. You had stated that you did not approve of the way I had taped this aircraft together when I made my heroic return from Mexico. You inusulated me yet again in a veiled manner, now you are acting as if your aging brain forgot not only to send me my bailout but, also, that you had implied that taping the different tale on the plain was a bad idea.

Nutsy

Feb 26, 2011 09:34 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Oh! I get it now!  So, Nutsy,

1.  You need your own avatar and to stop using my friend Steve's.
2.  Taped?  Those ends were LASHED together by Eagle Scouts, including Eaglet.  Eaglet is famous for his clove hitches, which can be seen at both sides of the lashing example to the right.  Tape cannot hold at a high altitude.
3.  The tail of the plane we left you was adorned with my famous logo - The Eagle Has Landed. 
4.  You returned from Guatemala, not Mexico.

Have you been eating hemlock again, thinking it was old carrots?  That will have severe effects on the brain.  Are the white of your eyes red?  Are your leg joints swollen?  Those are a couple of symptoms of hemlock poisoning.  Please let me know.

I am concerned.

 

Hemlock ----------------------->

 

Feb 26, 2011 11:41 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Mr Jay,

I left Guatamala but the plane was outside Oaxaca so, technically, I flewed from Mexico to Washington when the tail came looser and I did that nose dive into that wood shack. I am not allowed to get my owned avatar until I am 21.

Nutsy

Feb 27, 2011 05:01 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Valerie - clothing is very, very heavy.  Good racks are essential.  Glad to alert you!

Nutsy - Guatemala, we saw you take off!  And the tail looks intact there - it's the wings you seemed to knock off.  I will have to check that avatar rule.

Feb 27, 2011 07:35 AM