View Full Version : The previous owner...
SteamWake
08-09-10, 12:25 PM
Just a short rant about 'the previous owner' my house and the plumbing.
Feel free to add your own. Dont even get me started on the electric time clock over the hot tub thing :haha:
The other day the critters running around under my house tore an AC duct loose. So I crawled under the house to inspect the damage and came face to face with a hidous sight...
The plumbing stack to the toilet was leaking right at the floor line. :o Wood floor thourghly soaked and rotting in some places. Water dripping from the floor like I was in a cave or something. :oops:
It hadent got noticed as the vynil flooring covered it up and there were baskets and crap on the sides of the toilet.
Well I knew immediatly that the wax ring that seals a toilet to the stack had gotten blown out. Just requires removing the toilet, cleaning up a little, and replacing the wax ring / toilet.
After much toil cleaning the water out of the toilet and removing the tank I set out to remove the bolts that secure the toilet to the flange. Except... there not bolts :doh: well they were lag bolts. Yes lag bolts wood screws long ones ...WTF ?! :nope:
Got the bolts off and removed the toilet base bent over to examine the flange and existing conditions and... oh... my...
Whomever installed this toilet just ran a piece of 3" led pipe up from the stack, through the floor, and litterally hammered it over into a flange of some sort then just plopped the toilet on top of his hand hammered 'flange' dents holes and all and bolted it to the flooring. No wonder it failed.
The fix is easy too they make a fitting for just this type of condition (no flange on a metal stack) but 'the previous owner' or his 'plumber' thought it easier and cheaper to just play blacksmith with the stack.
By the way the fitting... about 20 bucks.
Rotted flooring and new floor covering.... god only knows.
Bloody hell, talk about bodge. Hope you manage to get a cheap deal on the flooring.
AVGWarhawk
08-09-10, 12:54 PM
I have run into the same shoddy arse construction on my house as well. The basement toilet flange was never set properly. It eventually broke. The house was evidently partly finished and completed by the person who purchased the shell. The insulation sucks. The siding looks like hell and has been installed like hell. As far as the kitchen....if they guy had a level he sure did not know how to use it. What a disaster when I replaced the counter top. Meh...don't get me started. :stare:
danzig70
08-09-10, 01:13 PM
Well I am in an apartment and finally had enough. If it wasnt one mile from work, I would be gone already.
Phone line didnt work. I called the phone company and they sent someone out. He informed me the problem was inside the building and billable at $100/hour. I asked the apartment manager to fix it. After a week of nothing he came by and said he was going to run a new wire from the box to my apartment. I wasnt really comfortable with this so I paid for the phone company to fix it. The problem was with a wire from a phone closet to my apartment. The apartment isnt reimbursing me for the repairs.
The apartment offers free utilities. "ice cold" air conditioning. The air conditioning can only be felt if you place your hand two inches from the vent. I had to buy two fans. The windows have painted burlap screens over them which reduce the air flow to zero. I live in Phoenix with normal summer temps at 100-115 degree F.
I have had the lock replaced on my door four times. There are gaps of almost an inch around the door. It is a hollow door intended for interior use.
The refrigerator runs so hot it heats the kitchen. The stove top also appears to stay warm when off. I know: if you cant stand the heat...
I come home from a weekend trip to find water leaking through the a/c intake vent onto the sink and floor. Luckily tile floor. It appears to be associated with the a/c as it stopped when I turned it off.
On the plus side, it does have a gas stove.
Im moving.
SteamWake
08-09-10, 01:17 PM
Older gas stoves feel warm to the touch because of the pilot lights in them. Be glad that it does the alternative is catastrophic. ;)
Newer stoves use an electronic ignition and you should not have this issue.
On the bright side you can move... I 'own' this mess... :D
I'm surprised your house inspector didn't catch that.
papa_smurf
08-09-10, 01:42 PM
Thats a bodge job and a half. Ain't going to be cheap to replace the flooring, any chance you could claim it on your house insurance?
SteamWake
08-09-10, 01:44 PM
I'm surprised your house inspector didn't catch that.
Only way you could have seen it would to be to rip the toilet loose. It did not leak when the house was purchased.
SteamWake
08-09-10, 01:45 PM
Thats a bodge job and a half. Ain't going to be cheap to replace the flooring, any chance you could claim it on your house insurance?
I'm going to try but there are clauses in there about existing construction and 'concealed' conditions and crap.
I will do the flooring myself its not to hard just plywood in that area none of the hardwood was affected.
papa_smurf
08-09-10, 01:47 PM
I'm going to try but there are clauses in there about existing construction and 'concealed' conditions and crap.
The insurances company's way of saying "no way in hell are we paying for this"
SteamWake
08-09-10, 01:52 PM
The insurances company's way of saying "no way in hell are we paying for this"
Well of course there going to say that. There hoping that once you weigh the cost of the repair vs hiring an attourney and taking them to court you will end up saying screw it. Damn attourney costs more than the repair.
AVGWarhawk
08-09-10, 02:05 PM
You probably have a large deductible as well.
Ducimus
08-09-10, 04:20 PM
:hmmm: If i ever buy a home, me thinks i'll be inspecting every nook and cranny.
:hmmm: If i ever buy a home, me thinks i'll be inspecting every nook and cranny.
Hire a professional inspector. The one we got took over three hours to inspect the house and found stuff I never would have thought to look for.
SteamWake
08-09-10, 05:05 PM
Even then there is always something hidden :doh:
I got the vynil flooring up and what do I find... effing chipboard :haha: I dont know wether to laugh or cry. That stuff acted like a sponge and sucked the water clear under the sink and sink cabinet. So now I have to take the sink and cabinet as well. Probably have to replace nearly half the flooring in the bathroom.
On an amusing side note there are stop valves at the sink however they were placed too close to the sink to be able to turn them :damn:
I have some pictures now Ill post them tommorow.
Ducimus
08-09-10, 05:10 PM
Hire a professional inspector. The one we got took over three hours to inspect the house and found stuff I never would have thought to look for.
How much does one of those guys cost? I like to think having been trained in the military as a carpenter, mason, sheetmetal frabrication and wielder all rolled into one MOS (AFSC), id be harder to fool then your average joe. Of course that was years ago too.
Platapus
08-09-10, 05:22 PM
Our home inspector charged us $300 when he did our new construction inspection back in 2001 in Virginia
SteamWake
08-09-10, 05:28 PM
How much does one of those guys cost? I like to think having been trained in the military as a carpenter, mason, sheetmetal frabrication and wielder all rolled into one MOS (AFSC), id be harder to fool then your average joe. Of course that was years ago too.
Dont rely on yourself hire a professional. As said they look for things you would have never thought of.
In fact alot of mortgages specifically require a professional.
Platapus
08-09-10, 06:01 PM
And it is not only about recognizing poor workmanship, it is also about knowing the codes for your state/county/locality.
Ducimus
08-09-10, 06:22 PM
Hmm ok. so hire the inspector AND do your own. :O:
How much does one of those guys cost? I like to think having been trained in the military as a carpenter, mason, sheetmetal frabrication and wielder all rolled into one MOS (AFSC), id be harder to fool then your average joe. Of course that was years ago too.
Three hundred dollars is what I paid. Worth every penny too imo.
SteamWake
08-10-10, 08:43 AM
Some pictures of the 'before'
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh312/UlteriorModem/DSCN2418.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh312/UlteriorModem/DSCN2417.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh312/UlteriorModem/DSCN2416.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh312/UlteriorModem/DSCN2419.jpg
AVGWarhawk
08-10-10, 08:45 AM
That is a damn mess. I would pull that entire floor out and start fresh.
SteamWake
08-10-10, 09:07 AM
That is a damn mess. I would pull that entire floor out and start fresh.
Well I will end up taking out at least half now that Ive seen the extent. the damn sink cabinet is a stumbling block I had not anticipated. I got frustrated last night when I realized I had to take the sink out as well and just stopped right there and had a drink :haha:
Im not sure if I will remove both the flooring and the subfloor yet. Ill see when I get more cleared out.
Particle board... in a bathroom... stupid ! :nope: If I had my way that damn particle board would be prohibited for use in construction.
AVGWarhawk
08-10-10, 09:17 AM
That is the issue..the particle board. This and moisture do not mix as you have found out. The bathroom does not look very big. Consider good subflooring for some nice tile. Looks nice and increase the value of your home. :03:
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