InterNACHI


Go Back   InterNACHI Inspection Forum > Specific Inspection Topics > Exterior Inspections

Notices

Exterior Inspections Contains discussions about the exterior portion of a home inspection. This includes roofs, gutters, downspouts, decks, patios, windows, etc.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 1/14/08, 2:04 PM
msylvester's Avatar
msylvester msylvester is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Batavia, IL
Posts: 672
Send a message via AIM to msylvester
Default Sink Hole

Here is a brand new home that my client just moved into. We did a final punch list inspection on the home and found many issues but this one just appeared in the last week or so.

WOW!

Either bad backfill or worse a cracked sewer line...
Attached Thumbnails
sink-hole-img_3088.jpg   sink-hole-img_3089.jpg   sink-hole-img_3090.jpg   sink-hole-img_3092.jpg   sink-hole-img_3094.jpg  




Mark Sylvester
P.I. Home Inspection Services
www.pihomeinspection.com
mark@pihomeinspection.com
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 1/14/08, 2:12 PM
Marcel R. Cyr's Avatar
Marcel R. Cyr Marcel R. Cyr is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Winslow, ME
Posts: 18,917
Default Re: Sink Hole

Quote:
Originally Posted by msylvester
Here is a brand new home that my client just moved into. We did a final punch list inspection on the home and found many issues but this one just appeared in the last week or so.

WOW!

Either bad backfill or worse a cracked sewer line...
I thought sink holes were just in Florida!

Wow, is that where they excavated for the sewer line or water line?

I guess someone is going to remove the carpet lawn and start over.

These site Contractors, they are all alike, ha. ha.
Hope they go good for your Client.

Marcel
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 1/14/08, 2:12 PM
Joseph Hagarty,  CMI's Avatar
Joseph Hagarty, CMI Joseph Hagarty,  CMI is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Parkesburg, PA
Posts: 5,254
Default Re: Sink Hole

Poor backfill conditions generally.

Is this the area of the Water Supply and/or Sanitary Sewer run? Quite a common occurrence from what I see.



Joseph P. Hagarty, CMI
joseph.hagarty@comcast.net
Main Line Inspections, Inc.
Phone: 610-399-3675
Email: MainLineHI@comcast.net

http://pa.nachi.org/mainlinepa/about.html
http://www.householdinspector.com

National President / NACHI (2003-2004)
NACHI Education Committee Member
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 1/14/08, 2:17 PM
msylvester's Avatar
msylvester msylvester is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Batavia, IL
Posts: 672
Send a message via AIM to msylvester
Default Re: Sink Hole

This is defiantly where the sewer line runs. I told him to have the builder pay for a video scan of the line now just in case. Most likely a backfill issue.

At least I hope for my clients sake.



Mark Sylvester
P.I. Home Inspection Services
www.pihomeinspection.com
mark@pihomeinspection.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 1/14/08, 2:41 PM
Joseph Hagarty,  CMI's Avatar
Joseph Hagarty, CMI Joseph Hagarty,  CMI is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Parkesburg, PA
Posts: 5,254
Default Re: Sink Hole

Most likely backfill as the depression appears to be uniform accross the lawn.

If the sinkhole was in a single / isolated area, I would tend to believe a line failure.

Are Exterior Drains Cast or PVC in your area?



Joseph P. Hagarty, CMI
joseph.hagarty@comcast.net
Main Line Inspections, Inc.
Phone: 610-399-3675
Email: MainLineHI@comcast.net

http://pa.nachi.org/mainlinepa/about.html
http://www.householdinspector.com

National President / NACHI (2003-2004)
NACHI Education Committee Member
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 1/14/08, 3:18 PM
msylvester's Avatar
msylvester msylvester is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Batavia, IL
Posts: 672
Send a message via AIM to msylvester
Default Re: Sink Hole

In this case it is cast coming out of the home and into PVC somewhere outside the foundation wall. I usually see about 6' of cast coming out of the foundation into PVC. On newer homes of course.



Mark Sylvester
P.I. Home Inspection Services
www.pihomeinspection.com
mark@pihomeinspection.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 1/16/08, 9:32 AM
Brian A. MacNeish Brian A. MacNeish is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: CANADA
Posts: 4,638
Please Note: Brian A. MacNeish is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Sink Hole

Quote:
Originally Posted by msylvester
In this case it is cast coming out of the home and into PVC somewhere outside the foundation wall. I usually see about 6' of cast coming out of the foundation into PVC. On newer homes of course.
Interesting that cast iron pipe is still being used in your area. Haven't seen new used here for 30+ years. It's all ABS ( in house) and PVC to street.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 1/16/08, 9:53 AM
msylvester's Avatar
msylvester msylvester is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Batavia, IL
Posts: 672
Send a message via AIM to msylvester
Default Re: Sink Hole

They only use it in the section that comes through the foundation.



Mark Sylvester
P.I. Home Inspection Services
www.pihomeinspection.com
mark@pihomeinspection.com
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 1/16/08, 10:01 AM
ldapkus ldapkus is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,719
Please Note: ldapkus is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Sink Hole

I've seen cast iron and copper in new homes built in Cook County.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 1/16/08, 10:04 AM
msylvester's Avatar
msylvester msylvester is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Batavia, IL
Posts: 672
Send a message via AIM to msylvester
Default Re: Sink Hole

Ditto.

Although I don't see copper for waste in new construction. Way to expensive.



Mark Sylvester
P.I. Home Inspection Services
www.pihomeinspection.com
mark@pihomeinspection.com
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 1/16/08, 10:16 AM
Brian A. MacNeish Brian A. MacNeish is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: CANADA
Posts: 4,638
Please Note: Brian A. MacNeish is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Sink Hole

Quote:
Originally Posted by msylvester
They only use it in the section that comes through the foundation.
I had wondered about that. What's the reasoning?
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 1/16/08, 11:30 AM
cduphily's Avatar
cduphily cduphily is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Dingmans Ferry, PA
Posts: 2,486
Please Note: cduphily is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Sink Hole

Here's one from earlier this year. Poor planning on Gutter runoff and poor fill. Gutters at front and rear corner both terminated in same area.

Last edited by cduphily; 6/11/08 at 12:35 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 1/16/08, 11:41 AM
msylvester's Avatar
msylvester msylvester is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Batavia, IL
Posts: 672
Send a message via AIM to msylvester
Default Re: Sink Hole

My friend who works for a backhoe service will tell you it's to keep him employed fixing sheared off waste lines. When they are repaired they use PVC instead of cast. Not sure of the reason as to why they use such a short run.



Mark Sylvester
P.I. Home Inspection Services
www.pihomeinspection.com
mark@pihomeinspection.com
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Composite granite kitchen sink ... good choice? Bill Featherstone Plumbing Inspections 6 1/9/08 12:03 AM
Sink Clog dirtydishes Plumbing Inspections 25 8/27/06 4:48 PM
What's under the sink? jnicholson Plumbing Inspections 3 6/7/06 10:43 PM
Sink Holes May 13th zfackler General Inspection Discussion 0 5/2/06 12:01 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:59 AM.


Popular Sections

:

All Sections

Inspection News

InterNACHI Membership

Inspection Standards

Inspection Education

InterNACHI Inspectors

Inspection Links

 

 

 

NACHI.ORG Statistics

 

 

no new posts