As a Licensed Structural Pest Inspector, or even as a Licensed Home Inspector, in Washington State, I am always reporting on what is called “conducive conditions.” Conducive conditions are anything that will tend to attract or lead to damage to wood structures by wood destroying organisms including decay/rot and wood destroying insects. The list of conducive conditions is almost endless. One really common one is maintaining proper clearances to siding and trim-----6 inches in most cases. This can be very difficult to achieve with older properties and sometimes if I see any amount of clearance at all I am happy. In the following picture I think almost anyone can see that the window sill being buried in the grass makes a perfect “condition” than any self respecting bug or fungi could appreciate. Open invitations will be answered-----I promise. Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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A well around that opening would look pretty good. It might be too late for the wood though.
Very kindly,
Croakster
Well that certainly doesn't look like the best idea I've ever seen.
I've always thought of you as a fun guy!
Jack and not a water type well either :)
Croakster-----yes the bog is the perfect place for you
Tammy----it took quite a while for this to happen. I bet when the house was built 90 years ago it didn't look like this.
Alan, yup :)
As a home gets older the ground can build up around it, some times with help from Mount ST Helens. I have seen a lot of windows like the one pictured.
Dennis, yes. Sometimes I think Landscapers should be considered a form of wood destroying organism----or at the very least a conducive condition :)
Moist soil + wood = dry rot waiting to happen
Good picture of the inevitable!
The ants go marching on and on...Cheryl(I had a few of those visit lately)WIllis
Carla - I think soil + wood = equals ACTUAL (moist) rot!!
Charlie, that look like it only goes into a crawl space so what's the problem? Many crawls have creatures living in them and some of them eat wood.
"Landscapers should be considered a form of wood destroying organism"!!! That's just too funny!!!
First Comcast stupidity, next Carpenter Ants move in and now you've inpsected a house with Conducive Conditions? Is the whole world against you my friend?
Mr Charles,
Do all conducive conditions involve water, worms and wood?
Nutsy
Hi Charles, Nice photo, really illustrates the the effects of improper clearance. It's common down here with wood fences attached to the home. jay
Gosh, that house really settled! Was it a main level bedroom before it's sinking. In actuality it appears to be a crawl space???
Sue of Robin and Sue
Carla----actually "wet" rot :)
Cheryl, they will rule the world one day
Alan----sooner or later
Glenn, are you saying that is what crawl spaces are for?:)
Craig---and oh so true
Kate, houses in themselves are conducive conditions----all we can do is slow down the process
Nutsy, you have "w's" on the brain
Jay, thanks
Sue, ahhhh---the sinking house :)
Mr Charles,
I could squeeze in there at the lower left corner.
Nutsy
Nutsy, you would chew your way through the hardware cloth I am sure----like usual
Mr Charles,
You can run, but you cannot hyde.
Nutsy
Charles, I think it's a boiler plate item that should be on everything.
Mr/Mrs client do your breath? Hmm well that is a conducive condition, could you please stop? Ooh I 'm breathing, now I'm the conducive condition. I will have to put on my handy dandy- " Conducive Condition arrestor model CC2000-J" Keep even pesky inspectors at bay!
Later Don