DIY- Know your limits East Wenatchee and Quincy Home Inspection

With the abundance of “how to” and “DIY” shows many people take on project in the home varying degrees of success.

I am for people learning and better understanding their homes. You cannot learn sitting on the
sidelines. Heck I have made many mistakes of my own and have learned. But you should know your limits.

The issue is that when you sell the home those mistakes may be inherited by the new owners and as a home inspector I am there to point out such items.

On this home the sellers were proud of their remodeling skills. I understand, from afar it actually looked okay. But upon closer look it was very apparent that the skills sets were not up to the task at hand.

                                     Shower Pan water Pool Wenatchee Home Inspection
Here we have a shower tile job. The pan installation was not performed properly and water was pooling. The pan needs to be installed so that the surfaces all slope to the drain.

                                       Slope to drain shower East Wenatchee Home Inspection

Since I was suspect of the installation I ran extra water in the pan. When I got under the home I was going to check this area very thoroughly.

Upon getting there I could see the belly wrap sagging indicating some moisture, I push the belly wrap and water started squirting out. There is nothing better than a shower under the shower.

                                        Water Leak in crawlspace Wenatchee Home Inspection

Now we do not know if it is the pan leaking or just at the flange but the installation makes much of this suspect.

 

 

Ancora Imparo


NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                               509-670-9572

 
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16 Comments on DIY- Know your limits

JAN
03
974,161 Points 349 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

It's very cool that you were able to go underneath and see what is going on Don!  And here I thought puddles like that in the shower was to wash your feet when no shower was planned.
5:37am • #1
292,716 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jay, It could also be for your rubber duck when showering ; ) Though crawlspaces are many times no fun they sure can give a definitive look at some items.
6:37am • #2
916,948 Points 178 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Don, for those that have never tried a "crawl space shower"----they just don't know what they are missing :)
6:53am • #3
292,716 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Charlie, So true. It is such a fun experience ; ) Love it every time.
8:04am • #4
179,608 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Don,

You are right on point here. I think that because it looked so easy opn TV, more tackle things that they are not qualified or physically able to do. Even the basics can be tough for someone with the start of back problems. The TV shows never really show how much work is involved in just the clean up.

Add poor time estimates to overwelming labor and shortcuts become more attractive.

THEN, add to that the "IDKWIDK" factor (that stands for I Don't Know What I Don't Know) ..... and you have a minor disaster.

Thanks for the post Don.
8:24am • #5
292,716 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Brad, Thank you. You are so right. I would tell my wife when I did a project like that what ever I say home long it would take mutliply it by 3 then add a day ; )

Often these projects grow in scope once you open things up. 
8:34am • #6
227,617 Points Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Don -- just saw episode of one of those TV shows where they fix things up, and they were doing a shower, and they showed the guys doing the entire underlayment in about 10 minutes, so totally misleading!  Too bad for the seller of the home you were inspecting- that will take some time and money to fix.
12:53pm • #7
292,716 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Steve, These never go as fast as they show on those shows. Plus they do not give much insight in to how many other issues you may run into before you can even start the rebuilding process.
12:57pm • #8
239,842 Points Outside Blog

Don, When we deal with properties that we are going to list, we do the walk through and turn on all the light and water outlets to check them, When we find anything that is not proper or needs work, we often hear the owners say they will fix it or say it's not a big deal... After sitting the down and talking to them about the impact of not fixing it or fixing it right "Half assed" we usually have them call a professional to do the work.  It's easier to deal with, safer and the workers a licensed in the area of work they are doing. 
2:16pm • #9
292,716 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Steve, That is wise. It is an inherit human nature to try to do it as cheaply as possible. But that can cause issues down the road.

Building Inspection NYC, Thank you very much. I will try to keep bringing information that is relevant.
2:36pm • #11
379,000 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Don, 

This is why I love inspections and inspectors.  Knowing what you are getting into is key for buyers.  We typically see a home twice before we put an offer in for buyers, so you see things you miss the first time.  However, having an eagle eye look things over is required for my buyers. 

All the best, Michelle
4:09pm • #12
292,716 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Michelle, Thank you and happy new year. Also we as home inspectors are conduits of information. I feel the more we can provide the best for everyone. 
4:32pm • #13
JAN
05
478,784 Points 59 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Donald,

This is why we inspect like we do.

The Buyer is really fortunate to have you inspecting for them.

Better to say look what I found than to say it looked o.k.

Have a great weekend in the great Northwest.

Best, Clint McKie
6:44am • #14
JAN
06
227,118 Points 86 Featured Posts

Nice find.  That's going to be one heck of an expensive repair.
5:21am • #15
292,716 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Clint, thanks. Better to know whats going one early.

 

Reuben, Thank you and happy new year. Yeah that one is probably not going to be very cheap.
5:47am • #16
155,778 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I'm happy to not have had any crawlspace showers. In fact happy to have very few crawlspaces to inspect. Full basements are standard here. Just having a crawlspace is an issue here.
11:43am • #17


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