A Home Inspector Idiot Abroad- Wenatchee and Quincy Home Inspections

Well I am cursed with and affliction that I cannot deny. When I am traveling I see things and make observations.

So here is a current episode of the “Home Inspector Idiot Abroad”.

I recently traveled to the “Big Apple”, (NYC or New York). The term "Big Apple" is credited to John Fitzgerald, who used it in his horse racing column in the New York Morning Telegraph in 1921.

Quote- "The Big Apple. The dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There's only one Big Apple. That's New York.”

It was later picked up on by Jazz musician and became a lexicon of Americana.

So I am standing there in the underground world of New York City(the subway) and start observing some paint that is peeling and cement that has spalled off exposing the steel beam inside.

                                                             (You can see the vent from the city above )

                                             (Here you can see minerals forming stalactites and efflorescence)

I step back and see that there are several air shafts above where moisture from the streets above are entering on the cement substructure.  As this moisture migrates through the cement it was causing the steel to rust and expand which caused the cement to break off. This is also why the paint will not properly adhere in this area.

This is a prime example of how porous cement is. When I am performing a home inspection I will look for the signs of moisture migration through the foundation cement or cement pads into stair stringers and other wood framing and materials.

Properly sealing the foundation and controlling the water from runoff is very important. For any wood that is in contact with cement a proper capillary break should be installed. This can be as simple as roofing felt or a closed-cell foam sill sealer.

So next time you wander around your home look at the wood structures such as deck stairs and posts. See if there is any capillary break installed. Most likely it will not be there. This is a prime area for wood rot. Even treated wood will rot in the areas where the treatment has not penetrated. (Most builders and home owners will not use "end cut" solution when building to protect the exposed grain).

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…       

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