Nebraska (NE) and Iowa (IA) Home Inspection Photos

Foundation-2-Rooftop, Inc.’s – Gallery One

The photos presented in these Home Inspector Galleries pages are just a representative sample of various construction deficiencies that I have found on my inspections. Many of them are serious safety concerns or high dollar repair items that could have easily been prevented had proper construction techniques been followed or proper permits actually been pulled.

My view on new construction:

Just because a Builder has built hundreds of homes a certain way for years doesn’t mean it’s right. The sign of a good Builder is one who has good quality control. Usually, Builders who restrict themselves to building 5-6 homes per year are taking the time to do it right. Builders who are slapping homes up as fast as they can while looking out for the bottom line tend to sacrifice quality.

My view on the do-it-yourself mentality:

I’ve seen so many scary installations of electrical wiring, plumbing, and furnaces that it’s a wonder that more people haven’t been electrocuted, died of exposure to methane gas or carbon monoxide, or burnt their house down! For laughs, go to any of the big home improvement centers on the weekend and hang out in the Electrical Department. Not one of the customers will be a licensed Electrician, yet they’re buying main panel boxes, service wires, breakers…items they have no business installing themselves!!! Did you know that you can buy a furnace over the internet and have it delivered to your doorstep?

My view on hiring contractors:

You get what you pay for. Do your homework and get references before you hire anybody.

Photo #1 "Hot" shower

This is the #1 reason why permits should be pulled during remodel jobs. Here's an electric furnace with 120 amps running to it and the shower aimed directly at it! The shower is using the furnace as part of it's surround.

Photo #2 Backdrafting

The Sellers of this home were truly thankful I had inspected their home that day. With young children living in the home and 100% of the flue gases from the furnace and water heater backdrafting into their finished basement, they were extremely lucky no one died. A bird's nest clogged the flue pipe of this 3 year old home.

Photo #3 Skimping on Concrete for Driveways

Minimum required concrete thickness for a residential driveway is 4". The photo was taken of a driveway on a brand new home constructed by a large tract Builder in Omaha, NE. They had to pour a new driveway for my client.

Photo #4 Open hole in flue pipe

This large tract Builder in Omaha, NE forgot to close up the 4" hole in the flue pipe between where the furnace flues connect and the water heater connects. Carbon monoxide was spewing into the finished basement of this brand new home. Minor error...but thank God it was caught!

Photo #5 Duct tape fixes everything!

Need I say more. By the way, this furnace failed to operate.

Photo #6 Holy roof

Ever take a knife to an umbrella? You'll get the same impact as this new home's roof. The Roofer didn't have the nail gun set right and nailed the entire roof with nails poking up 1/4". I counted over 70 nails poking all the way through the shingles.

Photo #7 Your foundation is bad if...

...you can play lego blocks with the bricks!

Photo #8 A male dog is a man's best friend

...until it's 100 degrees F out and the air conditioner stops working because the acidic dog urine has eaten through the fins and coils!

Photo #9 Dumb, dumb, da-dumb!!!

The dryer was sitting in a pool of water when I found this during an inspection. The tenants had just finished doing a load of laundry!

Photo #10 Dumb, dumb, da-dumb!!!-part 2

The landlord needed to find a way to drain the washer, so...he punched a hole through the sewer clean out cap. You could taste sewage on your tongue within seconds of entering the home...not to mention it probably had unsafe levels of methane gas in it. Guess where the tenant's 10 year old son slept?

Home Inspection Photo Gallery 2 - Click