Seattle Home Inspector's Blog

     Home Inspectors have begun to go numb (you know like a 24 hour ice-cream head ache) calling this detail out and yet it continues to happen over and over again.   This is especially frustrating in new construction where one would hope that there are jurisdictional inspectors that are paying attention as well. 

      Because this is not a direct safety issue, it is not what jurisdictional inspectors are looking for on their final inspection.  All they basically care about is whether hand-rails and smoke alarm/detectors are in place or not.  That the siding is going to rot behind the sidewalk in ten years is of little interest to them.  As a result the Home Inspector gets to be the "bad guy." 

     Take a look at the installation of this concrete block retaining wall.

     In the picture it is hard to tell that the siding isn't butting into the blocks and then caulked.  While even that scenario would not be a proper installation, in this case, the blocks are ON TOP OF THE SIDING----with the gap caulked.  How long before the wood behind this block wall rots away or provides a pathway for wood destroying insects into the structure?  Perhaps never, perhaps next week.  Aside from this obvious question is the fact that it doesn't meet current requirements almost anywhere on the planet---nor does it make common sense. 

     At the bottom of the wall we can see where the siding is sitting right on top of the patio surface.  These kinds of contact points stay wet ALL THE TIME in the North West----and decay/rot happens relatively quickly.   Current requirements call for a minimum of 6" of clearance. 

     Repairs will be difficult and way more expensive than having done it right the first time---

     -----what call would you make?

     These overhangs are usually created when parts of the home are cantilevered past the foundation to create more space----and changes to the foundation might not be cost effective.  Such areas include extensions for:  bay windows, gas fireplaces, bathrooms etc.  This first picture shows an extension for a gas fireplace.

     You can see where the soffit material is hanging down.

     This was a point of entry for critters into the crawl space; and, water from the roof above was dumping on the ground and splashing up into the opening making the sill plate and insulation wet. 

     They make a nifty little tool called a "Palm-Nailer" that works great in small areas like this.  Perhaps this builder hadn't heard of them.