Home inspector in Ridgewood, NY

What the Ridgewood reports found

Lou’s four summaries flagged 28 items Repair or Replace, most for the rooms (10), roof, chimney and attic (6) and exterior (5). Each report, newest first, as Lou wrote it up.

2022, a town home, about 112 years old, a two-family house: 12 items flagged: 4 roof, chimney and attic; 3 exterior; 3 rooms. As recorded: flat roof, asphalt/fiberglass; full brick, masonry and cement stucco siding; brick and poured concrete foundation; (2) 100-amp service panel circuit breakers (Crouse-Hinds), BX wiring, copper supply pipes, public water, window AC. Flagged, in Lou’s words: “Roof is about 12years old”; “Holes in roofing front section to hatch both sides”; “Roof hatch metal cover is cracked, very heavy, difficult to open and can not be locked from the inside”; “Hole in right rear chimney cover”; “Attic vent will keep house cooler in summer and cut your a/c electric bills”; “Rear stucco wall stained from leaking leader pipe”; “Front wall, left side of stoop. limestone band, cracked”; “Front wall, right center, brick wall cracked from stone lintel over doorway to middle window stone sill”; “Rear wall stucco cracked over basement entrance”; “Space around front basement door frame”. Also noted: “Safety Item: Roof ladder is not fire proof, not secured and very flimsy”; “Sink faucet handle is loose”; “Both gas cook top and oven are over 50 years old”; “Left side burners gas knobs are stripped”; “Left side burner do not ignite with matches”; “Pilot lights are not working”; “Wall oven does not ignite, pilot light is out”; “Safety Item: Old lead paint chips if ingested can cause lead poisoning”; “Pantry ceiling paint peeling”; “Ceiling tile water damaged 1st floor kitchen above pantry entrance”.

2021, a colonial, about 111 years old: 10 items flagged: 4 rooms; 2 kitchen; 1 exterior. As recorded: flat roof, asphalt/fiberglass; vinyl, shingles and asphalt fiberglass siding; rock foundation; (inadequate) and 30-amp fuses (General Switch), conduit and BX wiring, copper supply pipes, public water, window AC. Flagged, in Lou’s words: “Trip hazard, front stoop first step 10" high”; “Skylight leaking water inside”; “Planks placed over dirt floor in barn”; “Rat droppings all over floor in barn”; “Scrap wood stored on barn floor and in loft area”; “No locks present on doors”; “Laminate floors throughout house are worn an damaged in places”; “Safety Item: Second floor railing is very loose”; “Windows throughout house are very difficult to open”; “Tile falling of wall in tub area”. Also noted: “Not safe, roof had a layer of slush over it”; “Yankee gutter was full of ice and slush”; “Water seams to be trapped under roofing between front wall and skylight”; “Flashing around skylight is torn”; “Wood columns do not have footings”; “Front wood column, under seam in wood main beam, wood spacer is bending”; “Whole house trap vent in side of front basement entrance”; “Whole house trap in basement floor right front”; “Fuel oil fill pipe right side exterior wall”; “Main gas shut off cock, on basement front wall above water meter”.

2021, a town home, about 96 years old, a two-family house: 6 items flagged: 3 rooms; 2 roof, chimney and attic; 1 exterior. As recorded: flat roof, rubber membrane; full brick and cement stucco siding; poured concrete foundation; steam boiler heat; 70-amp x 2 circuit breakers (Square D), BX wiring, copper supply pipes, public water, window AC. Flagged, in Lou’s words: “Roof is 4 years old painted silver with one layer”; “A lot of tree debris on roof from large sycamore tree on front sidewalk”; “Right side chimney, boiler flue needs rain cap”; “Old fireplace flues needs to be covered on both left and right side chimneys”; “Left side chimney white stucco is peeling off”; “Left side chimney, dish antenna has damaged chimney”; “Roof hatch is very heavy and is a weak anti-burglar deterrent”; “Front stoop has two broken limestone treads”; “Safety item: Front main sidewalk near large sycamore tree has lifted causing trip hazard”; “Concrete driveway leading edge is trip hazard”. Also noted: “Whole house trap in pit of basement floor front wall to left of entrance”; “Main oil shut off vales on floor between oil tanks”; “Main gas shut off cock behind plastic access panel left front wall in basement”; “Junction box hanging from BX cable on ceiling in boiler closet”; “Main breaker panels in basement right front wall cabinet”.

2017, a contemporary, about 2 years old, a condominium: 3 items flagged: 2 kitchen; 1 bathrooms. As recorded: flat roof, asphalt/fiberglass and rubber roof tiles for walking; full brick and stucco siding; poured concrete foundation; 70-amp (apartment only) circuit breakers (General Electric), BX wiring, cast iron supply pipes, public water, heat pump forced air. Flagged, in Lou’s words: “Not vented properly, exhausting into kitchen”; “Left side bedroom window won't open”; “Closet pole too long without supports”; “Ceiling has rough area in apartment hallway above breaker panel”; “No Shower door or curtain installed”; “No toilet paper dispenser installed”. Also noted: “Skylight over stairwell in new condition”; “Fire Sprinkler heads installed on ceiling for parking under building building”; “No dryer vent pipe located in laundry closet”; “Whole house ground wires on water main”; “Main panel in electrical room in basement”; “No codes on fire sprinkler system”.

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

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