Scary Building Blunders - Reader photo gallery

Load Bearing? Where?
Some of thethings found in a couple of pre-drywall inspections. One of our regional builders whose goal is to build to code and and not a dollar more.
Cricket? What’s a cricket?
I was asked to inspect this roof before its sale. There was evidence of leaks on the inside ceiling, but the owner assured the buyer that they had just had…
Some flimsy metal with some shims stuck in the gap is weather tight for a new door, right?
I thought by buying a high end patio door through the showroom and using their recommended installer, the installation would be then best. The door they replaced was rotted (which they said...
Attempting to install a skylight
This chap apparently was attempting to install a skylight in the roof of his house, failed to follow the instructions and got a little carried away when he started stipping…
hard to drive or walk home to take a leak
I always try to imagine the exact moment that it dawned on someone that something might be wrong.
If You Cover Up Rot, It Goes Away . . . Right?
Normal 0 . . . uhh, no – not so much. I periodically run into this sort of lapse in judgment while doing inspections. This is a load-bearing roof…
Talk about inefficient…
Credit for finding this gem goes to Andy Engel. He sent it to me awhile back as a two part email. The first photo is the clue - showing a…
Truss Bracing? We Don’t Need No Stinking Truss Bracing!!!
Truss Failure Recipe: Take one truss package, and install hastily on Friday; add one weekend, and whip with high winds; Serve up to builder's risk insurance company
Log Cabin Nightmare
Here is a great big black eye for the building trades. These photos are all from the same home that I inspected for the Homeowner. This is a Cape style, Log…
OMG! Another beam repair with the customary “Tail Light Guarantee”
This is a load-bearing roof beam on a mid-century modern home. The beam is exposed on the interior and spans from, and is framed into, opposing exterior walls. The cantilevered…

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Scary Building Blunders - Reader photo gallery

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