I got a frantic call today from my cousin. Her friend was selling her house and the first couple to look at it was about 1 hour away. While she did a last minute tidy up, she was horrified when she went into her daughter’s room. The carpet was soaking wet and there was a horrible smell. She is a do it yourselfer so she looked around then ripped the carpet up to try and find the source. She couldn't. That’s when I got the call.

    So I get there and start to look around. As I'm looking around, the potential buyers show up. Well as you can imagine, first impression and all, they were out of there within 2 minutes. The seller tried to explain it would be taken care of, but you never get a second first impression. Count that couple out.

    Anyways, I look for the simple stuff first. The windows and the ceiling (roof) weren’t leaking. Besides, it hasn't rained here in days. So the source must be internal. On the other side of the wall was the bathroom. I take a look see in there. One of the things that catch my eye is the separation between the tile and the base boards. I mention, “you know, if someone took a shower, the water could over flow/splash out of the tub, onto the floor, then flow under this wall into the next room”. Well I got an ear full on that one. No way can that happen. The shower curtain is always closed. Her son had showed there this morning and she knows it was closed. I couldn't get another word in edge wise, that could NOT be the problem. If that was the problem, it would have happened years ago she claimed.

    I checked the toilet. After all, she had stated how she had recently changed the ball valve and had to tighten down the toilet because it was loose. Now I knew exactly what it was and tried to explain it to her again. The overflow from the shower was....NO WAY, it can't be, there must be a broken sewer pipe, and don’t you smell that odor? And yes, the bedroom had a nice urine odor. But sewer is not a urine smell, it is much fouler.

    The hardest part in this whole ordeal was how upset she already was. She had just lost her first potential buyer and she was convincing herself that a plumber would have to break through the concrete to fix the sewer lines. It took me a lot of patience and small talk to not only gain her confidence but to calm her down. After listening to maybe 45 minutes of stories, talking about our kids and looking around the house, I tried again.

    I said, hey can I have a glass of water? I wasn't thirsty, I wanted to try something. But I took a sip like I was. We walked back into the bathroom and stood there for a moment. Then I asked her if she minded if I tried pouring a little water on the floor to see what happened? She was calmer now, and said OK. I poured the glass of water on the floor, it flowed straight to the wall and underneath it. We walked to the other side, and the water was pooling up right where the stain was. She looked at me and smiled and just shook her head.

    So, now that she believed me, she asked me to explain it all.

    Carpet wet, padding had slight mold - The water from the shower splashed onto the floor then rolled under the wall into the bedroom. I asked and she said yes, her son, who left for college today had taken an abnormally long shower, he was nervous about going to college. So the normal showers put a little water in there, causing the mold and saturating the pad and carpet. With today’s longer shower, there was enough water to seep up through the carpet and feel it.

B    ut why did it flow now and not before - The DIY fix on the toilet bowl. When something is loose, the best answer is not always to just tighten the bolts. The bolts are set into the concrete and fasten onto the toilet bowl. In between the two is the floor tile. When she over tightened the bolt's, the tile was the item to give and broke free. It was slight, but enough to break the caulk seam between the tile and the baseboard. The water would now follow the grade towards the wall, into the gap, under the wall and into the next room.

    But the smell? - She had put in brand new carpet about 1 year ago. But she didn't replace the tack strips. I surmised that the previous owner had pets (She confirmed they did). When pets urinate in the house, they like to do it along the edges, where the tack strip is. When the urine dries out, it crystallizes and the odor is minimal if at all. But now add a water source, and the odors returns.

    So now she has lost her first set of potential buyers and she can't bring anymore over this weekend until it is fixed. I suggested that she needs to reseat the toilet too. Although I doubt it, she may have crushed the wax ring. I recommended a plumber does it this time. She also needs to have the carpet cleaned and most likely replace the padding.

    As we know Murphy well, the worst will happen at the worst time as it certainly did for her here. And believe it or not, the whole thing could have been prevented by a tube of caulk. Had she re-caulked where it had separated along the base board, then the adjacent room would never have been flooded. The water would have most likely pooled up and brought her attention to a potential problem, but before it caused any real damage.

 

 
Post is included in group: Home Inspections
Post is included in group: Plumbing & Heating
Post is included in group: Property Inspection Discussion
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13 Comments on How important is "Just a little Caulk"?

AUG
16
2008
971,333 Points 102 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That's why I depend on my home inspector and require my buyer to attend your inspection John...

2:21am • #1
238,128 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Impirical observation is always the best visual aid. Great post.

2:24am • #2
378,772 Points 5 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Very well written... You kept my attention through the entire post.  Nice detective work.

Cameron Novak, Corona Real Estate Agent
Cameron Novak

Corona Real Estate Broker
The Homefinding Center
TM
Corona, California
951-212-7479

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2:31am • #3
1,057,134 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Good story. I had all these visuals as I was reading your post. We'll have to rename your business: "John Coker, Virginia Beach Home Detective." Or you could create a wholly owned subsidiary of your present company. :)

2:58am • #4
117,759 Points 15 Featured Posts

John great post I always learn something from a good home inspector. 

6:17am • #5
AUG
17
2008

Always looking for a good home inspector in my area!  I always make sure my buyers have an inspection!  You are such and important part of the transaction!  I'll keep you in mind for next time.

3:03pm • #7
235,053 Points Outside Blog

Thanks for the info but why do people call in experts and then want to argue with them?

4:05pm • #8
AUG
23
2008

Great information and great post John.  Have a great weekend.

10:51am • #9

Hey guys, sorry for slow response, I was disposed in Spain for a bit,

 

Jim,

    That is actually the favorite part of my job. Finding the not so obvious especially when the repair is very minor and I saved the client $100's.

Will

   Don't forget, the inevitable. It's not if Murphy will show up, just when.

Anna

    Ready willing and able, I would be glad to work with you to help our clients.

Gene

    Human nature of the wanna be know-it-alls? Either way, I'm glad I was able to help her. But dealing with my grandmother for so long, I have grown accustomed on how to handle people like this.

Richard

    You too, thanks bud.

 

And thank you all for the kind remarks.

 

11:46am • #10
SEP
01
2011
479,600 Points Called Shot Master

Hey there and afternoon to you John
John, I'm sure hopping everything is going well for you and your family!

5:16pm • #11
479,600 Points Called Shot Master

Hey there and afternoon to you John
John, I'm sure hopping everything is going well for you and your family!

5:19pm • #12
DEC
30
2011
479,600 Points Called Shot Master

Hey there John
John,
I sure wanted to be sure to get by and leave a Happy New Year message for you and your family.

4:12pm • #13


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John Coker - Virginia Beach Home Inspector

Virginia Beach, VA

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Family Home Inspection LLC

Address: 1581-107 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA, 23454

Office Phone: (757) 202-3282

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