Suffolk County · colonial

Home inspector in Lake Grove, NY

In 2018, Lou Rubino inspected one home in Lake Grove — one job, one written report, and the photographs below come from it. The report describes a colonial, about 15 years old.

Rated 4.9 on Google as of November 2026 · U.S. Army veteran owned · NY licence #16000039568 · 516-330-3870

What the Lake Grove report found

The report, as Lou wrote it up.

2018, a colonial, about 15 years old: 4 items flagged: 3 exterior; 1 roof, chimney and attic. As recorded: gable roof, architectural and asphalt/fiberglass, seen from: ground, framed with 2 x 10 rafters; attic: scuttle hole in closet, light in attic and no storage, fiberglass and r-19 or better insulation, gable vents, ridge vents and soffit vents ventilation; clapboard vinyl siding, chimney: vinyl siding; poured concrete foundation, 2 x 10 floor framing, supporting walls; hydronic heat on oil, hot water off the boiler; 200-amp circuit breakers (Cutler Hammer), romex wiring, copper supply pipes, public water, air conditioner unit; double-hung, thermal/insulated and awning windows, hardwood t&g, carpet and tile floors, wood cabinets, granite counters. Flagged, in Lou’s words: “Roof is original, 15 years old 30 year architectural shingle”; “Shingle missing left side upper, 10 rows down from peak”; “Holes in underlayment and siding as seen from attic, right side end wall”; “Rear glass door, right side won't open”; “Front dormer over garage left side fascia cover missing”; “Window screens are worn out left side and front”; “Middle bedroom window screen is worn”; “Safety Item: Sheetrock in boiler room is not fire-resistant (5/8" minimum)”; “Railing to 2nd floor is loose”; “Safety Item: Door to boiler room is not fire-resistant”; “Soap dish is broken and glued”. Also noted: “Garage cluttered with storage”; “Shower diverter valve in tub spout is leaking and stuck”; “Light over toilet bulb missing”; “Most covered with sheetrock in basement”; “Safety Item: Fire-egress window noted in right rear room of basement”; “Make sure to use probiotics for your cesspool regularly”; “No paper towels, wipes, cooking oils, hair, etc”; “Cesspool care will lengthen the time between cleanouts”; “Line will leak in time from lime in cement”; “Ground wires visible near concrete pump pad”; “GFCI outlet on pool power post has water damage, won't trip and cover is missing”; “Both pool skimmers are not bonded”. On the day: 45°F, clear, windy, damp ground, rain in the three days before. Not inspected that day: do steps or ladders exist on both sides of the pool; electric lights secure; floors; garage floor; garage walls; is the pool depth marked on outside area of pool; is there a depth of at least 8 feet to allow safe diving; pool heaters; pool liner condition; pumps for circulation of water; pumps for vacuum or cleaning; surface walls and floor of pool; vapor retarders; ventilation fans and thermostatic controls; water level should be within inches from rim to allow an easier climb out. Not present in this house: food waste disposer; gas meter; gas/lp firelogs and fireplaces; instant hot water; microwave cooking equipment; solid fuel heating devices; trash compactor; windows.

“Flagged” is HomeGauge’s Repair or Replace mark, not a verdict on the house. See a complete report.

What the inspection can examine here

Siding, trim, flashing, grading and drainage — where water is being sent, and whether it is being sent at the house.
The heating plant and any central air — operated in normal mode, dated from the data plate, with the flue and clearances looked at where accessible.
The roof, chimney and attic — how the roof was observed is stated in the report, as New York requires, and the attic is entered wherever a hatch allows.
Radon — a separate, optional test arranged alongside the inspection.

Photographs from Lake Grove reports

Basement water meter labelled — Main water shut-off valve and meter. On the same page, Lou noted the copper fuel line buried in concrete along the rear wall and recommended a licensed oil burner contractor.

The photograph is from Lou's own Lake Grove inspection report, chosen because it shows a building component and nothing that identifies a property or an owner.

Buying in Lake Grove: the questions with sourced answers

Each answer is built from Lake Grove’s own rows in public data — the Census, NYSDOH, NYSDEC, FEMA, the office that holds the permits — or from Lou’s reports, and cites its source. Data retrieved 1 November 2026.

How old are the houses in Lake Grove?

Median year built in zip 11755: 1970 (Suffolk County: 1970). Of 4,146 units, the 1960s built the most, 27%; 16% is from 2000 on. Next come the 1970s at 23% and the 1950s at 16%. 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: 15 years old. (ACS)

How are homes in Lake Grove heated? Is an oil tank likely?

52% fuel oil or kerosene, 42% utility gas; fuel oil 52% against 45% county-wide. NYSDEC logs 139 petroleum spills at private homes in Lake Grove since 1987, 43 since 2015. 6 were logged in 2012, the year of Hurricane Sandy. 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)

Is Lake Grove mostly houses or apartments, owned or rented?

81% detached houses, 6% buildings of 5 to 9 units, 4% buildings of 10 to 19 units; 80% owner-occupied (Suffolk County: 82%). Detached houses dominate, so most inspections here run from the roof to the foundation of one building. (ACS)

Is radon a concern in Lake Grove?

Town of Brookhaven: 153 basement tests, average 1.79 pCi/L, 8 at 4 or above (5%). Suffolk County: 8% of 576. First-floor tests there: 85, average 0.79. On the share at 4 or above, it ranks 6th of the county’s 10 towns and cities. The highest basement reading was 15.6 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)

Has Lake Grove flooded? Is the house in a flood zone?

18 flood-insurance claims from zip 11755 since 1979, most in 1980 (5): 155th 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)

Who holds the permits and certificate of occupancy in Lake Grove?

The Village of Lake Grove Building Department. 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.

How does Lake Grove compare with the towns around it?

By median year built, fuel-oil share and owner-occupancy: Lake Grove (zip 11755) 1970, 52%, 80%; Nesconset (zip 11767): built 1974, oil 57%, 91% owner-occupied; South Setauket (zip 11720): built 1969, oil 37%, 86% owner-occupied; Stony Brook (zip 11790): built 1965, oil 52%, 90% owner-occupied. (ACS)

Which code, water and sewer rules apply in Lake Grove?

The New York State Uniform Code, the Suffolk County Water Authority and private wells, and the Sanitary Code rules on cesspools (no in-kind replacement since 2017) and I/A septic systems: county-wide, written once. They are the same for every town in Suffolk County, so they are set out there with their sources instead of on each page.

How much does a home inspection in Lake Grove cost, and how fast is the report?

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.

Suffolk County, town by town

Every Suffolk County place with a page here, each with the real count from Lou's records. The Suffolk County page covers the county as a whole.

Where this sits in Lou's territory

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: Nesconset · South Setauket · Stony Brook · Farmingville · Saint James · Smithtown · all 250 towns.

Buying in Lake Grove?

His Lake Grove file goes back to 2018. Yours would not be the first.

Schedule an inspection Call 516-330-3870

Not sure yet? Read what New York requires of your inspector or see a real report.