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Another Brick in the Wall

By
Home Inspector with JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC HOI 394

I can remember back when I was a teenager waiting for the latest Pink Floyd album to come out, The Wall. What me and the rest of the crowd found excellent was this Floyd album was a double. Twice as much music to enjoy. You can never have too much Floyd.

The other morning while wending my way through a large, maze like finished basement, looking for things interesting primarily only to me, I opened a door and found a wall. It was not The Wall, but a brick wall. It did immediately strike me that this was an odd place to find a brick wall.

Another brick in this wall would be one too many.My eyes roamed over the walls in this small room and realized it was meant to be a wine cellar or more like a wine storage room. The brick walls, there were two, were apparently to add ambiance.

I then noticed a breach in the wall against the foundation. Holes are not usually a welcome sight in a wall, but this one had been done purposefully. The small aperture was to allow for access to the houses main drain cleanout. Access in this instance was quite limited by this barrier. A little too limited in my opinion. While the cap is certainly visible and can be touched, getting a wrench or pliers on the end to unscrew the cover will be quite a challenge. There are too many bricks in this wall.

Time to tear down the wall.

Posted by

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

 ASHI Certified Inspector

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Comments (10)

Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi James,

I have seen this on a recent inspection. Then the closer I would look at the home the more I found to be "issues" with the way the brick was or was not installed.

Have a great day in Conneticutt.

Best, Clint McKie

Jul 01, 2012 09:31 PM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

"Hey Teacher... Leave them kids alone"

Not being familiar with basements because we don't have them down here makes me wonder if even having the cleanout in that spot is a good idea at all. Wouldn't it be better if it was outside somewhere?

Jul 01, 2012 09:36 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Access is one thing, useful access another!  Looks like this hole was carefully cut out after the wall was built.  They measured carefully too!

Jul 01, 2012 09:37 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning James. How interesting this is and what a puzle for a non home inspector. Never would have gotten this one. Enjoy the day.

Jul 01, 2012 10:10 PM
Dale Bledsoe
Crown Key Realty - Tracy, CA
Realtor in Tracy, California

Interesting explanation of what you observed. It is amazing what construction boondoggles are out there. Makes me glad to be selling instead of inspecting or repairing.

Jul 01, 2012 10:42 PM
Diane Daley
Caron's Gateway Real Estate - Northumberland, NH

Very interesting , I guess they did not plan this clean out very well..Thanks for sharing

Jul 01, 2012 11:52 PM
Atlanta's Home Inspector, David Lelak IHI Home Inspections
IHI Home Inspections 404-788-2581 - Canton, GA
Experience the IHI Difference

Our office girl just saw Roger Water's The Wall in Atlanta a few weeks ago. "speechless, and a spectacle beyond comprehension" were a few of the phrases she used to describe the event - Much as you have described this wine cellar.  

Jul 02, 2012 01:18 AM
Kathryn Maguire
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

I am going to see Roger Waters perform The Wall up in DC on the 12th of this month.  I will be thinking of this post when the chanting starts "Tear Down the Wall!"  I am stoked!

Jul 02, 2012 04:49 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jim,

Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!

All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall!


Jul 02, 2012 02:52 PM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Clint, Often things look good from afar, but once you get close....

Fred, Something else you aren't familiar with, snow :) It's better to have them inside. 

Jay, Yes it does. They could have ben a little more generous with the size. 

Shelia, Thanks. We all have our own areas of focus.

Dale, Thanks, just trying to keep it interesting.

Caron, Actually the wall came after the cleanout.

David & Bonnie, Sounds like she had an awesome time.

Kathryn, That sounds awesome. I'd be stoked too. 

Don, Didn't we all appreciate that sentiment back then?

Jul 02, 2012 09:11 PM