Between 2016 and 2019, Lou Rubino inspected two homes in East Norwich — two jobs, each with a written report, and the photographs below come from them. The reports describe a colonial and a high ranch, from 36 to 58 years old.
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Lou’s two summaries flagged 15 items Repair or Replace, most for the roof, chimney and attic (5), exterior (4) and garage (3). Each report, newest first, as Lou wrote it up.
2019, a high ranch, about 58 years old: 5 items flagged: 2 roof, chimney and attic; 2 garage; 1 exterior. As recorded: gable roof, architectural and asphalt/fiberglass, seen from: ground, framed with 2 x 8 rafters; attic: light in attic and no storage, fiberglass and r-30 or better insulation, gable vents, soffit vents and thermostatically controlled fan ventilation; brick and clapboard vinyl and full brick siding, chimney: brick; poured concrete foundation, 2 x 8 and 2"x 10"x 3ea main wood beam floor framing, steel lally columns and decorative white columns in front; forced air heat on natural gas, 50 gallon (2-3 people) gas (quick recovery) water heater (basement and utility room); 150-amp circuit breakers (Siemens), romex wiring, copper supply pipes, public water, air conditioner unit; double-hung, thermal/insulated and awning windows, hardwood t&g, tile and asphalt asbestos like tile floors, wood cabinets, granite counters. Flagged, in Lou’s words: “Could not climb roof, covered in snow at time of inspection”; “Right rear observed raised section to left lower of skylight”; “Left front upper leader pipe needs to extend down to lower gutter with elbow”; “Sloped area near left side parking space is very dangerous in icy conditions”; “Paver steps left front have sunk down”; “Door safety switch not working”; “Sheet rock damaged where old thermostat was mounted in 2nd floor hallway”; “Safety Item: Asphalt asbestos like tile, on basement utility room floor”; “Both 2nd floor baths vent into attic”; “Bathroom fans should exhaust to the outside”; “Rodent dropping found in jacuzzi access compartment”; “Water damage to wall and ceiling at corner above toilet”; “Moisture level normal on moisture meter”. Also noted: “Too cold to test thermostaticly operated attic exhaust fan”; “Middle middle and left bedrooms floor pitch toward front and left side”; “Front left column has dropped in elevation causing floors to go out of level”; “Water spraying from rear of shower head”; “GFCI outlets on either side of vanity won't reset”; “Safety Item: Jacuzzi outlet is not GFCI protected and outlet is at least 7' away from access opening”; “Cesspool system in driveway”; “Gas fired water heaters last about 12 years on average”; “Black wire cable running from left rear of house to left rear of wooded property”; “Metal ductwork is not insulated, large heat loss in basement”; “See infrared photos of duct work”. On the day: 19°F, clear, frozen ground; the house faces NE. Not inspected that day: ceilings; chimneys, flues and vents; insulation under floor system; plumbing water faucets; ventilation fans and thermostatic controls; visible electric wiring in attic. Not present in this house: fence; food waste disposer; gas/lp firelogs and fireplaces; range hood; sump pump; trash compactor; vapor retarders; windows.
2016, a colonial, about 36 years old: 10 items flagged: 3 roof, chimney and attic; 3 exterior; 1 garage. As recorded: gable roof, architectural and asphalt/fiberglass, seen from: walked roof, framed with 2 x 6 rafters; attic: attic hatch in master closet, fiberglass and r-19 insulation, gable vents, ridge vents and soffit vents ventilation; wood shakes and cement shingle cement-fiber and cedar siding, chimney: brick; poured concrete foundation, 2 x 8, 4"x 8" steel i beam and 5"x 8" steel i beam floor framing, steel lally columns, crawlspace: from entry; forced air heat on natural gas, 50 gallon (2-3 people) gas (quick recovery) water heater (basement); 100-amp and (inadequate) circuit breakers (General Switch), romex wiring, copper supply pipes, public water, air conditioner unit; double-hung, sliders and casement windows, hardwood t&g floors, wood cabinets, laminate counters. Flagged, in Lou’s words: “Cement chimney cap is cracked and worn thin, allowing water to penetrate in between flue pipe and eroding brick joints”; “No steel rain caps present”; “Right rear leader pipe elbow is too low and needs splash block to direct water away from foundation”; “Left rear leader pipe elbow is too low and needs splash block to direct water away from foundation”; “Rear gutter has standing water filled with debris and support spikes pulling out”; “Front leader pipe has standing water and support spikes pulling out”; “This will stop drafts in winter”; “Front stoop blue stone treads are loose with open cross joints”; “Rear deck handrail open at corners nail rusted”; “Rail seat broken at corner”; “Deck and rails need to be cleaned with deck cleaner and sealed”; “Fascia right rear is dry rotted and falling apart”; “Front fascia board is dry rotted, won't hold gutter spikes”; “Chain link fence right rear is damaged”; “Hole in sheetrock wall left side”; “Wall cabinets are hung with nails”; “Right side bedroom door sticks at top”; “Hole in entrance foyer closet”; “Hole in door to basement steps”; “Laundry room door has dog damage and saddle missing”. Also noted: “Roof is about 10 years old with two layers of roofing”; “Left side corner of garage open seam of wood shingle”; “Front cedar shakes need paint”; “Holes in cement asbestos shingle in rear”; “Broken cement asbestos shingle near deck”; “Missing cement shingle right rear”; “Grass growing in driveway right side”; “Tree too close to house on right side”; “Fire wood should never be stacked close to house”; “Wrought iron railing is loose”; “Floor tile cracked and saddle is cracked”; “Exhaust fan hose laying on attic floor, should e vented”; “Stopper cover missing, unable to fill tub to test jacuzzi”; “Secondary in basement left front corner”; “Outside right rear, near gas meter”; “Areas near and around gas meter should be kept clear”; “Metal ductwork is non insulated, great loss of energy”; “Poor sheet metal repair job on air handler leaking air”; “Seams leaking in ductwork”; “Front door dropped out of square, locks don't line up”. On the day: 95°F, hot and humid, clear, damp ground, rain in the three days before; the house faces east. Not inspected that day: vapor retarders. Not present in this house: food waste disposer; gas/lp firelogs and fireplaces; instant hot water; insulation under floor system; microwave cooking equipment; occupant door from garage to inside home; range hood; trash compactor.
“Flagged” is HomeGauge’s Repair or Replace mark, not a verdict on the house. See a complete report.
Related: The Nassau County page · What an inspection costs · Schedule an inspection.
All three photographs are from Lou's own East Norwich inspection reports, chosen because they show a building component and nothing that identifies a property or an owner.
Median year built in zip 11732: 1960 (Nassau County: 1955). Of 1,504 units, the 1950s built the most, 39%; 0% is from 2000 on. Next come the 1970s at 16% and the 1980s at 12%. An older house is not a worse house, but its wiring, plumbing and roof were installed under different rules and replaced piecemeal, which is what the inspection looks for. Lou’s reports here: 36 to 58 years old. (ACS)
63% utility gas, 25% fuel oil or kerosene; fuel oil 25% against 28% county-wide. NYSDEC logs 40 petroleum spills at private homes in East Norwich since 1989, 13 since 2015. Ask about a tank, and for closure papers. A tank can be buried in the yard or sit in the basement, and a removed one should come with paperwork. Buried tanks are outside the standards New York sets for a home inspection, so the seller’s answer matters. (ACS, NYSDEC)
68% detached houses, 14% buildings of 5 to 9 units, 7% two-unit buildings; 66% owner-occupied (Nassau County: 82%). Detached houses dominate, so most inspections here run from the roof to the foundation of one building. (ACS)
Town of Oyster Bay: 231 basement tests, average 1.79 pCi/L, 20 at 4 or above (9%). Nassau County: 6% of 837. First-floor tests there: 65, average 0.92. On the share at 4 or above, it ranks 2nd of the county’s 5 towns and cities. The highest basement reading was 13.9 pCi/L. EPA’s action level is 4 pCi/L, and it advises testing every home whatever the area’s results. Radon testing is optional. (NYSDOH)
7 flood-insurance claims from zip 11732 since 1978: 179th of the 189 zips on these pages. A claim count describes the zip, not the house. Flood zones follow the address. Check the address on FEMA’s map. (OpenFEMA)
The Town of Oyster Bay Department of Planning & Development, Building Division. Your attorney usually runs the search. The inspection reports the condition of what is there and flags work that typically needs a permit, such as a finished basement, a dormer or a moved panel, so you know what to ask about.
The New York State Uniform Code, groundwater from 46 public water systems, the county sewer-connection rule and the Article XI heating-oil tank closure program: county-wide, written once. They are the same for every town in Nassau County, so they are set out there with their sources instead of on each page.
Lou quotes the actual property, not a flat rate — what drives the price is size, age and what is included. The written report arrives the same day as a rule; a large or complex house can run to the next morning. Call or text 516-330-3870.
Lou covers Long Island, the five boroughs and Westchester from his base in Wantagh, and the archive behind these pages shows where that work has actually concentrated.
Nearby towns Lou has inspected: Syosset · Oyster Bay · Upper Brookville · Glen Head · Brookville · Jericho · all 250 towns.
His East Norwich file goes back to 2016. Yours would not be the first.
Not sure yet? Read what New York requires of your inspector or see a real report.