What do you inspect ? (Garage)

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Yes thank you Bob for bringing me back to the important post. Kinda got tangled in some of the other not so Home inspection posts . Keep up the good work!

[ldapkus]

Originally Posted by mcyr

I agree Wayne and now if we could convince the rest of the Membership to participate in more threads like this one, we would all learn a few tricks here and there and help ourselves in the interim.
Thanks Bob for starting this one.

Maybe some will get the hint.

He's helpful just like the Chicagoan he voted for!!!

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

He's helpful just like the Chicagoan he voted for!!!

You must mean Jesse White the secretary of state.

I knew him personally and he is the only politician I ever met that I"d vote for if running for any office.

Too bad he is getting old as he really does care about people and shows it with how he opened up all the express locations.

We used to need a camp permit to renew a drivers license before he took over.

(sorry off subject)

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Originally Posted by belliott

Reading another thread discussing how a fellow member accidentally damaged a garage door during testing has me wondering what should you be looking at in a garage ?

How do you pressure test?Stand in center of door and apply reasonable pressure with two fingers.

When checking electric do you put it in the electrical section or do you have a special garage section in your report ? It's part of the exterior.....it is a door that happens to have an electric opener...... but again we are checking the operation of the door.

Most door closers seem to be plugged in rather than hard wired, so do you consider that an issue ? No, why should I.....they all have emergency releases.

How bad do slabs need to be cracked before they also become an issue.
> 1/8 inch with any displacement

If the garage is a separate structure do you feel a gutter is always needed ? Since when are gutters required.........if there is not a grading issue its moot point.

Do you test remotes ? Nope............nor do I test radios, stereos or TV's.

If a garage is attached, what extra issues are there to find ? Insulation issues, slope issue, fire stop issues, etc. etc. etc.

If there are no windows does the garage need ventilation ?

Do closets need to be vented since they do not have windows..........what's the point other than when you may have garages that are insulated yet are not conditioned.....that presents a problem in regards to energy efficiency however not a venting issue since no room is air tight.

Some times inspectors like to create potential problems just to make their clients feel they earned their fee.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Be careful inspecting garage doors and operators, this could happen to you.
Up my street, had to stop and take a picture.

Wonder what happened.? ha. ha.

A little fuzzy, but get the picture.

[James F. McKee]

when pressure testing I'll only use minimal hand pressure...if a child could not reverse the door then it is not safe imho

[iniquette]

Great threads recently. I agree with you guys on the testing of the door. Do it by hand, wood block only means I may be writing out a check for a new door or panel. No thanks. Biggest issue I focus on is attached garage with proper fire seperation. Alot of attached garages were add ons at a later time, so most of the time are not up to snuff, but somehow got approved. I try to focus on the saftety factor and not get too worked up over 'code' if you know what I mean.

[Mark Thorman]

Originally Posted by belliott

Reading another thread discussing how a fellow member accidentally damaged a garage door during testing has me wondering what should you be looking at in a garage ?

How do you pressure test?
Yes, after I release the door from the opener and check it for proper balance and operation.

When checking electric do you put it in the electrical section or do you have a special garage section in your report ?
All electrical goes in the electrical section.

Most door closers seem to be plugged in rather than hard wired, so do you consider that an issue ?
Never seen them hard wired, but it wouldn't be an issue.

How bad do slabs need to be cracked before they also become an issue.
Displacement or moisture stains coming from underneath.

If the garage is a separate structure do you feel a gutter is always needed ?
No, depends more on lot layout.

Do you test remotes ?
Rarely.

If a garage is attached, what extra issues are there to find ?
Firewall, attic access.

If there are no windows does the garage need ventilation ?

No, not required here.