Foundation not inspected

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=CalgaryHome


Foundation not inspected at house with toxic mold

.topPhoto, .photo {width:440px;} Neil White's family became ill due to toxic mould in their home. A foundation inspection was not completed on his house.

Updated: Thu Aug. 25 2011 18:31:48

ctvcalgary.ca
Neil White is the second owner of this 7-year old home, a home that he says was making his family sick.

The problem is, air seeps in between his foundation and rim joist, and when the insulation was still here, it condensed, made the walls wet and fostered toxic mold growth.

"Day in and day out, we had nasal problems, eye problems, stuffiness, chest congestion and coughing," says White. "That was horrific."

White complained to the builder, but the company denied responsibility, for two reasons.

First, because White isn't the original owner of the home, and second, because the original owner developed the basement without a permit, and his contractor may have altered the moisture barrier the builder had installed.

White obtained the original home inspection records from the city and found a foundation inspection report bearing the notation "not acceptable". That report indicates the city never inspected his foundation because it had already been backfilled.

White thought that might mean the city is on the hook for his problems.

Lea Williams-Doherty took White's inspection records to the city's chief building official, Kevin Griffiths.

Griffiths wouldn't comment on White's case in particular but said that while circumstances like his were fairly rare, the lack of a foundation inspection is acceptable under provincial inspection rules and does not subject the city to liability.

"A city inspection is an auditory inspection," explains Griffiths. "It's not an exhaustive process of warranting the product as being 100% compliant."

Griffiths says provincial inspection regulations say there are three critical stages for home inspection:

• pre-backfill
• pre-board (before the frame is covered)
• pre-possession

Although it's preferable for all three stages to be done, it's acceptable to only do two.

"In most cases, I'd like to reiterate that we do all three stages of inspection," says Griffiths. "It's only been where we've had high demands on our resources that we've pulled back to the minimum."

Unfortunately for White, 'doing the minimum' meant missing his foundation inspection altogether.
"And that's ok?" questions White. "I have to live here in this house. I can't sell it, can't fix it, can't do anything with it. I don't understand that, I don't even know how to react to that."

Griffiths admits that inspectors were spread thin during Calgary's building boom in 2004 and 2005, and while it was always their goal to do all three inspections, sometimes that didn't happen.

When asked what a "not acceptable" notation means on a city inspection report, Griffiths says that may simply mean the site was not in an acceptable state for inspection.

[Rick Strand]

If this involved a home inspection, who do you think would be the fall guy? Sounds like the basement was finished when the home was bought by the current owner? This is in my new pre-inspection agreement, the new Alberta licensing requires the client to initial if I am not inspecting for mold / asbestos etc...

The written inspection report will indicate any features and components which were not inspected, or where the inspection of them was limited in some way. The following items are specifically excluded from the inspection: Mould, fungus, mildew, wood destroying organisms etc., asbestos, systems which are shut down or un-responsive to normal operating controls, lead, environmental hazards, pests, pollutants, toxic materials, regulations / zoning / building code / by-law / insurance compliance, ordinances or appraisal of value. (Initials) _____

[Michael Larson]

The story is totally irresponsible.

Toxic mold is a made up term used to scare people

http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

The term "toxic mold" is not accurate. While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous. Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. There is always a little mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Originally Posted by mlarson

The story is totally irresponsible.

Toxic mold is a made up term used to scare people

http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

So now trust government lolol
Here is more information
http://www.mold-help.org/content/view/429/;-)

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by wwilson3

So now trust government lolol
Here is more information
http://www.mold-help.org/content/view/429/;-)

Wayne, when you have something useful to say I will tell you.

Are you a "toxic mold" believer?

Posting the typical "killer mold" scare site is just as irresponsible as the article Roy posted.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by rcooke

Confirmed .

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f16/why-do-brick-spall-2017/index4.html#post817565



http://www.nachi.org/forum/f16/why-d...tml#post817559

Roy,

I commented on your post.

Gave my reason's why and all you can do in return is fling some more crap.

Get a life you old fart.

MY advice.

Put me on your ignore list.

I know you won't keep me there because you just can't stand not knowing what I might say about you.

Damn Psycho

[KEVIN WOOD]

Both Michael and Robert are getting close to be my ignore list.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Originally Posted by mlarson

Wayne, when you have something useful to say I will tell you.

Are you a "toxic mold" believer?

Posting the typical "killer mold" scare site is just as irresponsible as the article Roy posted.

I believe Mold can harm People Micheal . don't you? where did i say i was a toxic mold believer i just posted a helpful link. BTW i will not hold my breath waiting for your approval

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by kwood

Both Michael and Robert are getting close to be my ignore list.

Please hurry.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by wwilson3

I believe Mold can harm People Micheal . don't you? where did i say i was a toxic mold believer i just posted a helpful link. BTW i will not hold my breath waiting for your approval

You really need to read the post and your own links before commenting.

Your link was a mold alarmist site.

Some good information mixed with crap and scaremongering.

Do you think it is OK to scare them with the made up term "TOXIC MOLD" ?

Maybe "KILLER MOLD"

Or "BLACK DEATH"

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Micheal are you a certified Mold inspector? (Not just a sample taker ) or hold a biologist degree? Perhaps you worked in a lab for testing. Please fill me in on your expertise .

[Wayne B. Wilson]

I was Inspecting a home for a biologist who BTW was involve doing test on a young ladies brain after death , It was determine that mold had had contributed to her death . She lived in a single wide trailer with her Parents . Middle TN. so my question if you did the inspection on this single wide and didn't make it a Big deal . I would hope you have a lot of insurance.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Btw do you offer radon testing and Mold testing Micheal. And if so why?

[KEVIN WOOD]

Wayne don't wait to long for that response.
Remember his research is more up to date then any Air Quality Specialist.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

I cant wait i have 2 HI to go too , but check i will check later lol