Images
Roof
The stains on this soffit aren’t just dirt. They are the result of the failure of the built-in gutter that is directly above.
Siding
Wood composition siding should never be in contact with the roof, and this is why. To protect the siding material from persistent water contact, there should be a capillary space of at least 1 inch between the siding and the shingles.
Stairways
All of the steps in a stairway should be the same height (within 3/8-inch). A tall step at the top of the stairway is a significant trip-and-fall hazard.
Plumbing
This is what can happen when a garden hose isn’t removed from a frostproof hose bibb during the winter months. Water is trapped in the copper tube, and it freezes and expands until the tube ruptures. This is only visible inside the foundation space.
Crawlspace
This is just about as bad as it gets. This crawlspace was very damp, which allowed mold and wood-rot fungus to grow on the floor trusses. The damage to the trusses was extensive, and it could have been avoided by controlling the surface drainage around the house.
Attic
The faded tag on one of the trusses in this attic was intended to notify the installer that continuous 2x4 bracing is needed to prevent this web and all similar webs from buckling, but it didn’t work. The required bracing was not installed, and the roof structure is not as strong as the truss designer intended it to be.
Electrical
Buried in the ceiling insulation of this old home Bob found active knob-and-tube wiring. This wiring system was intended for use only in open spaces, and covering it with insulation created a very real fire hazard.
This is not ok.
Foundation
This new luxury home had several serious problems, including a beam that is resting on the edge of the piers (except for the end of the beam, which is resting on nothing). Loading the edge of a pier can cause it to rotate, so the beam should always be centered.