Monday, November 20, 2006

When life gives you lemons... well, you've got lemons.

It all started innocently enough. You see - it always does.

We just wanted to have our fireplace cleaned. For years we had been aching to have a fireplace. Our last house was probably the only house on the block that didn't have one. Truthfully, we couldn't afford any of the houses that had them. We just felt lucky the previous owners had let the house fall into such disrepair that we could afford it at all. Every year - winter would roll around ( eventually - this is California after all) and the wonderful winter-ey smell of fireplaces would fill the air. We would always say "next house has to have a fireplace".

And so this is where we find ourselves today. With a fireplace. We were so happy.

With the impending holidays I booked someone to come out and clean the fireplace build-up that was listed on the housing inspection. And really to put my mind at ease about any back-draft problems. Since the bunnies live indoors I wanted to make sure smoke would not build up in the room and harm them.

The fireplace had also been outfitted with gas. I wanted to make sure we could have a rip-roaring wood fire and it not be a problem because we hadn't actually planned to use the gas. So you see... it was suppose to be really routine. I mean... how bad could it be? We paid for 9 million inspections on this place.

Apparently really bad.


Click to enlarge.

Look at Item B.

Oh yeah... I'm pretty sure I am going to freak out.

3 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for your input Shodan. My real-estate agent and I have been on the phone with each other since I got the report, and she was able to get someone to come in on Tuesday.

    We are both pretty ill about the whole thing because it was recommended that the fireplace not be used at all due to hazard.

    Re: the report - the issues in item B are structural, and not gas related. It is alleged that the clay flue liner is cracked and can not be bored out due to mortar cracks. Which is completely contrary to what the inspection done at the time of escrow says.

    Allegedly the fireplace is not brick but cinder block.

    I always assume contractors are going to pad the bill... but this guy said that a stove insert would be need or the fireplace torn down.

    While I admit it could be the case I am having a hard time accepting they would pad the bill in such the extreme. I know it happens.. But woudn't the guy think that for that kind of money people wouldn't look into it further?

    I have to admit I'm a little out of my element here with this problem, and this isn't my first ride on the horse. We completely renovated our old house.

    Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

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  2. That is incredibly kind of you to say. I am super touched anyone would want to spend their valuable time reading the stupid things I say, much less offering to help. I really cant thank you enough. Here should be a higher res version of the report. Again.. thank you. It was hugely helpful to even know to ask the new inspector about patching if the problem does exist.

    http://home.comcast.net/~snarkolepsy/ChimneyInspection.jpg

    FYI- I don't have a problem paying for good work. I respect hard working contractors immensely. The problem is that our city has a supply and demand problem.

    Since moving to the new house I have noticed a huge difference in the top end of what contractors are trying to charge. If you can even get a contractor to show up. For instance when I had the old house painted I called out 9 painters. 2 showed.

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  3. I just can't thank you enough for taking the time to write this whole thing out. I had the inspector in this morning, and probably will update tomorrow. Right now I'm attempting clever new ways to be in denial.

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