Ray Wilson's Blog

If you can grab the wires from the window, they are too close and must be moved, or covered in conduit. This is a serious hazard especially when the jacket decomposes and leaves exposed wiring – which is a common issue in older homes. See my 180 plus 5 star Google reviews, and Angi, Yelp and FB. ...

Railings in modern construction must be at least 36 inches high and have no more that 4 inches between any two spindles, but this brand new home does not have this common feature.How did they get the CO? That I cannot answer, but 36 inches is the number.  NOT 31 inches like this builder.So if you...

Mold is a problem that must be remediated by a licensed mold contractor, and no one else, and is caused by moisture, plumbing leaks, water entry through foundations, and moisture coming through concrete.   Water and moisture causes mold, but when taken to this extreme is a health hazard.   Since...

The wrong way is usually the easy way, which is not the right way. This poor bathroom exhaust fan installation can cause mold growth and moisture conditions in the attic, and was found at a recent home inspection in St. James NY. Venting through the side wall of the house would be the best way to...

Home Inspection East Hills: This home was built on a slab in 1950 and as you can see the whole corner of the house has shifted due to rainwater runoff along the side of the house undermining the foundation.Unlike a full basement foundation cracking is not usually that prevalent with slabs but thi...

Home Inspection Sayville: At the beginning of every home inspection I go to great lengths to let the client know rainwater runoff must be directed away from the house. Flower bed walls and railroad ties trap water against the foundation and causes foundation cracks and other issues.Spalling is a ...

A bathroom exhaust fan is meant to remove humidity (and smell) but should not be vented to the gable vent like in this home at a recent home inspection in Holbrook. The vent can be installed through the roof - preferably the vent cap should be installed with the new roof.The vent can be installed...

When you renovate your kitchen you should installed GFI receptacles for all kitchen countertops and islands, even if no sink is present as this is how its done these days.But someone was not thinking when the kitchen was redone years ago. Splashing water may short out the receptacle, and it won't...

The vapor barrier or retarder on fiberglass insulation is meant to keep some (but not all) of the water vapor from passing up through the floor or basement slab through the house and all the way through the roof, which is a natural occurance 24/7  365.When you install it backwards you didn't read...

This very light material was used as insulation in the 70’s mostly in attics, and was used as a substitute for fiberglass, but is a poor choice. Also known as Zonolite, there is a trust fund known as the Zonolite Attic Insulation Trust to help homeowner have it removed from their attic. Once or t...