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Deck Safety: Part 1 – Stairs

May 24, 2012 By Jenn Leave a Comment

Deck stairs with split stringer

Information on correctly and safely building a deck for your home is readily available, and yet many decks that we see are just an accident waiting to happen. As a homeowner it is important to ensure that your deck is safe, and to do your best to prevent potential risks to your family and loved ones. No one wants to have a tragedy occur during a backyard barbeque, but an unsafe desk poses just such a risk. There are a number of components that make up a deck, and that need to be maintained to ensure deck safety, however for the purposes of today’s article we are going to focus on the stairs.

Stairs or steps leading to a deck are often one of the most overlooked areas, and pose one of the largest risks. Of the homes that our company inspects that have decks, approximately 80% of the stairs to those decks are not installed or maintained properly. The following are a list of three simple things you can check, or have a contractor check, in order to ensure that your deck stairs are safe.
1. Check the deck stringers, and how they are attached to the treads. Often times these are installed with small deck screws or nails, and are typically installed without tapping or pre-drilling the stringer, which can cause splitting. When the stringer splits, the screw can pull loose, subsequently causing the tread to pop loose while in use. If the stringer is split on your stairs (see photo for example), you should have them replaced. When new treads are installed, make sure that the tread and stringer are pre-drilled so that a split will be less likely to occur again.
2. Check how the stringer is attached to the deck at the top of the stairs. The stringer should be bolted through the side of the deck joist or structural member. There are also designated ‘strong tie’ brackets that can be used to suspend the deck stringers. The stringer should never be toe nailed or screwed. If the stringer is not secured properly the likelihood of the stairs falling becomes very high, and should that occur while someone is walking up or down the stairs, injury is highly likely to occur.
3. The railing on a deck stairway is an incredibly important component, however simply having a railing does not completely mitigate the risk of falling. In order to best utilize your deck railing, it is important to make sure that the railing is graspable. What this means is that a person should be able to grip the rail with their thumb on one side, while still being able to wrap their fingers around the other side. The standard acceptable dimension on a circular railing is between 1-1/4 and 2” in diameter. As with the stringers above, it is also important to ensure that the deck railing is attached in a stable manner to the deck structure, and does not come loose upon having reasonable pressure applied.
The three issues listed above are the most common problems we see with deck stairs, however it is in no way meant to be an exhaustible list of potential safety hazards. It’s always best to have your deck periodically evaluated by a qualified contractor to ensure the highest level of safety for yourself and those who use your deck. With all this gorgeous weather a deck is a great place to spend time, just make sure you are safe while you relax!
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Slate Roofs

February 8, 2012 By Jenn Leave a Comment

Today let’s talk about slate roofs. Slate roofs are unique to any
other roof-type, and in order to successfully inspect a slate roof it is
imperative that you first understand the various characteristics of the slate
itself, as well as the ways that those characteristics impact the use of slate
as a roofing material. Those characteristics are beyond the scope of this blog
post, instead we will focus on problems that are often seen with slate roofing.

One of the potential problem areas with slate roofs occur around
the points at which the slate is fastened to the roof. As the slate ages, these
fasteners can break free, something that often occurs during winter when snow and
ice weigh on the slate and add stress to the fasteners.

All slate roofs have snow and ice breaks on the roof, which helps
to slow the progress of snow and ice sliding down the roof, often referred to
as ‘ice bars’. During an inspection it is important to ensure that these bars
are inspected as well, as the pressure of snow and ice can cause them to become
loosened.
As slate roofs age, the need for annual maintenance increases, and can
become costly. The level of maintenance required is dependent on a number of
factors, including: the area of the country in which the house is located, the
size of the roof, the number of qualified slate roofing companies in your area,
and the type of slate that is used. Some slate-types have only a 20-30 year
expected life span. If you are considering purchasing a home with a slate roof,
you would be strongly encouraged to get additional information about the type
of slate roof particular to the home in question, and to talk with a qualified
roof inspector about the risks and potential costs inherent to that particular
type of slate.

 

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The Importance of Chimney Protection

January 18, 2012 By Jenn 1 Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s talk about chimneys, masonry chimneys to be specific. At the top of the chimney there is intended to be a concrete top, called a “chimney cap” or “wash cap”.  The purpose of these caps it to allow water to drain over the top of the chimney, thus preventing it water from getting down into the masonry itself, which can cause significant damage. The issue of water flowing into the masonry is of particular concern when temperatures drop and the water freezes, as this can cause the chimney to heave, damaging the chimney and/or flue liner. Therefore, in order to protect the chimney from this kind of damage it is important to have a good chimney or wash cap, and to ensure that it is mortared at the seams to prevent leaking.

Above, you can see two photos of chimneys. In one of the photos, the chimney has a concrete wash cap and the mortar joints are sealed. In the other photo the chimney does not have a wash cap, and you can clearly see that the bricks have worn mortar joints, and some of the bricks themselves have shifted. To further complicate matters, the flue is not shown in this photo because the top of the flue is broken and now missing.  In this case, the flue did not have a flue cover. The purpose of a flue cover is to protect the flue from water leaking in, which can cause damage, as well as to prevent rodents or birds from entering the flue and nesting there. All chimney flues should have a proper cap that is high enough for good drafting, and screened to prevent animal entry.

 

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Can New Roofs Leak?

January 11, 2012 By Jenn Leave a Comment

 

 

 

The picture you see here is over a roof that was recently
installed on a house. The owners of the house believed that they had the roof
properly installed, and that everything was done to complete the installation.
They believed that since the roof was brand new, there could not possibly be
problems with the roof.  At the same
time, the owners of this house started to notice that when it was raining there
was water leaking into their house, and they were unable to determine where that
water was coming in. When they found themselves unable to solve the mystery,
our company was called in to do an inspection of the roof.

While inspecting the roof, we discovered that the chimney
had a brand new flashing done in conjunction with the roof installation. New
chimney flashings, if not installed properly, can be just as bad as a worn out
flashing, or even as bad as a worn out roof! As you can see in the related
photo, the upper edge of the flashing is resting against tar paper, and neither
the tar paper nor the flashing are secured into the chimney itself. This set up
leaves the top edge open to water, which drains down behind it and into the
house. In the words of a fellow inspector, “it’s like tucking your rain pants
into your rain boots, causing the water to leak into your boots and fill them
up.” Obviously no one walks around with rain gear tucked into their boots, and similarly
no one should have a chimney flashing and roof set up the way that we see in
this picture.

What can we learn from this? Perhaps the most important
lesson to take away is that even with a brand new roof installation, it makes
sense and is important to have an inspection done of the roof before the
warranty runs out. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

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We Do Pool Inspections

April 25, 2011 By WebmasterCB Leave a Comment


above-ground-poolMany of you may not be aware of the fact that Sherwood Inspection Services can and does perform pool inspections upon request. Dave Sherwood has been inspecting in ground pools and their related parts and components for a number of years. So as we head into summer, if your clients would like this service, they can request it at the time that the home inspection is scheduled.

New Service Offered

Sherwood Inspection Services is now offering ultra sonic oil tank testing. This is a valuable service that is offered in addition to the home inspection and can, in most cases, be performed at the same time. Please see the following “Technically Speaking” article regarding the oil tank testing.

Technically speaking

What is the condition of that above ground Heating Oil Tank?
An above ground oil tank may look perfectly fine from the outside, but could be wearing excessively thin from the inside.  Leaking tanks can become a health and safety hazard, and very expensive to cleanup and/or replace.   Since above ground oil tanks typically corrode from the inside out, visual detection of potential leak areas is almost impossible.

Sherwood Inspection Services is now offering ultrasonic oil tank testing.  Ultrasonic testing (similar to a medical ultrasound), detects the level of corrosion occurring inside the above ground oil tank.  This helps to determine the tank’s integrity and if there is a problem on the horizon.

Having this service performed by Sherwood Inspection Services can:

  • help control potential oil tank problem costs upfront
  • aid in knowing the tank’s condition
  • determine eligibility for enrollment in the TankSure® Program

The Boston Environmental TankSure® Program is a proactive residential tank replacement process using EPA and API approved ultrasonic testing technology.  Once the tank has been inspected and tested by Sherwood Inspection Services, the measurements and physical characteristics, along with surrounding environment information, are entered into a Tank Profiling Software system.  The tank information is then analyzed to determine its condition and whether or not replacement is necessary.

There are several benefits to the homeowner:

  • Up to $1,000.00 tank replacement warranty from a participating fuel oil supplier.
  • A Tank Inspection Certificate documents the inspection.
  • The Tank Inspection Certificate may reduce the cost of the homeowner’s insurance policy.

Enrollment in the TankSure® Program is contingent upon the tank passing an initial ultrasonic and visual inspection, typically performed during the home inspection.  While we cannot guarantee the prevention of a leak or other failure of the tank, we are providing this service with the hope that, by regular testing and monitoring by an approved oil service provider, costly and unexpected failures can be prevented.

Make sure to have your client ask to include this valuable service in their home inspection.

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Why Inspect a New House?

April 25, 2011 By WebmasterCB Leave a Comment

New ConstructionI just love that new house we saw, You know , the one up on the top of the hill?

Lets go for a drive in the country and see it, I’m really excited about it !!

Buying a newly constructed home is a great feeling. Having issues with that new home tends to let the air out of your balloon really quickly….. with that sinking feeling soon to follow.

One thing folks tend to think is that all new homes are created the same and should be in perfect shape. Everything should work like it is brand new with only a fine tuning required here and there. The same trusted developer always turns out the same trusted home right?
The truth is they are all different, just like the people building it, and that means everything. We all know that not all folks have a good day, and others have a lot of other things on their minds. Some don’t like the boss, (” I’ll show him”) or even care about the job they do.Then there are the folks who don’t have the right part they may need, but build it anyway. Some builders don’t have the money for the job to begin with and need to make up for lost time due to the coming storms.  Don’t be surprised if your contractors helpers don’ta a speaka da engrish, or that they even know what to do with those directions they see following the breeze down the road…oh well. The issues that can pop up are too many to list and you can not be there all the time to look out for your interests. What do you do?
Bad things happen to good homes….sound familiar?

Then comes the statement of “well it passed code, so everything is just fine” This is one of those things people treat like it is written in stone and there are not going to be any issues with this home for at least a year. I hear this on every single home I inspect that is new. Then I ask the folks who are buying it what that means to them. The answer I get 99% of the time is “security that the job was done right.” That is about the time I grab my chest and fall to the ground gasping for air. When the panic has gone away, I tell them I was fine this morning when my doctor gave me a clean bill of health, I don’t know what just came over me. Hehe.

Having a code inspection is only a starting point, and a good one. However sometimes reality has to set in. Some Building officials are overburdened with their jobs and some  do just fine. Some builders are held under the microscope, and others are not. I speak from experience having been on both sides of that coin as a builder. After the certificate of occupancy is signed, there is nothing left to do, the house passed inspection. Most states have a one year warranty on all new homes by law. This is great as long as you only want your home to last one year. When you have your home evaluated by a professional ,licensed, continually educated home inspector , you get more. We start  with a tool called ”code” ,the states minimum standard, and go up to industry standards from there. It really depends on what your home contract is being built to as to what we are looking for in new construction consultation. A building official cannot point out that your teak deck you paid for is only a mahogany substitute. That is not in their scope of work. Those folks are doing the best they can with the tools they have to work with. And we all know  home inspectors love all the new gadgets. We  really like to test the temperature of the water coming out of the faucet so it does not scald the new baby in the tub. We check things like we are going to buy it ourselves. We know about recalled appliances, or new products which are being used incorrectly. Our jobs scope does not end there either. Unfortunately sometimes we get to act as a liaison when you cannot get along with the builder. For you this is another way to get your dream home without heading to the lawyers. We speak house, just like a builder, and can help to get you what you need.

These are a just a few of the reasons to get your new home inspected by a local, knowledgable, hometown inspector. Someone who will be around for years and decades to come, to help you answer all those questions…..personally.

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