Any home inspectors on board?

[Sho'Nuff]

Anyone on this board a home inspector? I have a number of questions I would like to ask you about fiberboard and the climate in new england. Obviously a New England based inspiector would be preferred, but if you know somethign about fiberboard and fancy yourself qualified to answer some questions, please let me know.

EDIT: We have LP siding, not fiberboard or masonite

http://www.siding4u.com/failing-sidi..._buy_lp_siding
__________________

 

[amdskip]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberboard

Are you sure that is the term you are asking about?

 

[drnickriviera]

you talking about masonite siding? That crap isn't good for any climate.

 

[Greenman]

List the questions. The one thing I can tell you right now is that fiberboard is good for sound insulation and expansion joints. If you're asking about Fiberboard siding, my opinion is that it's an inferior product.

 

[Squisher]

Fiberboard was also used in house interiors as a cheaper plaster replacement. Some even have asbestos in them like Celotex.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Sorry for the delay. I am in NYC attending na conference and have not had much access to e-mail.

My wife and I are selling our home. We purchased it in 2007 after receiving a clean inspection report. We have an offer on the home contingent on an inspection. The buyer's inspector inspected the home a few days ago, and reported that we have fully depleted siding on the home. I think the term he used was fiberboard, but it could have been something else. Apparently the stuff acts as a sponge and can rot away. Due to the inspection, the buyer is demanding that we compensate for replacing the sidfing or else she will walk from the deal. Estimates for rectifying the issue are between 10-15k, so we are talking about real money.

My question is, what if any recourse do we have against the inspector who inspected our home in 2007, and did not find this exact same issue? We would not have bought the home had we known of a defect this large.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Sorry, we don;t have fiber board on our house. We have LP siding. I mireported it as fiberboard because our inspector in 2007 identified it as such.

http://www.siding4u.com/failing-siding-help.php#should_I_buy_lp_siding

 

[BarkingGhostar]

What the heck is "fully depleted siding"? Do you mean dilapidated? How old is the side and what is it made of?

How about posting some semi-close up pics. You may also want to post over at Breaktime forums which is Fine Homebuilding.

Keep in mind there are some crazy so-called inspectors out there. I had one claim my roof damage was due to acid rain. Turned out to be hail and wind damage, with some tertiary mechanical damage. You would think acid rain would effect other things on my home like side, trim, neighboring homes (1/4 acre lot subdivision).

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I'll try to post some pics when I get home in a few days.

THe inspector we hired was from the 2007 best in boston rated home inspection company, i.e., tiger home inspection.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

as for fully depleted, see the link I posted. I think we might be in stage 1 or 2. Probably stage 1. The buyers HI is just being inflammatory.

 

[hanoverphist]

you talking about masonite siding? That crap isn't good for any climate.

masonite made a great skate ramp cover. very good speed, smooth and easy to apply. burns the shit out of you if you fall tho.

 

[edro]

http://www.siding4u.com/Example%20Homes/ranch_caught_in_the_act.htm

Check out some of the pics.
Apparently, this stuff soaks up water on the ends and expands.
http://www.siding4u.com/Image_Pages/mosi_b02.htm

I don't think it is a failed inspection, it is just a type of construction that has downsides.

The original inspector probably didn't think it was worth mentioning.

Would an inspector be obligated to list that you have single pane windows instead of energy efficient models? No.

Your siding is inferior to vinyl, but it doesn't make it bad.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Edro

Thanks for your comments. I agree that an inspector would not have an obligation to report a so called "inferior product." But this product is no just inferior, it was found to be a defective construction material in a legal proceeding. As I mentgikoned previously, there was a HUGE class action suit in the 90's on the issue, where all the manufacturers of this stuff lost.

Would you agree that an inspector is obligated to report defective construction materials? If not, then I would follow up that question with another, namely, "why would anyone hire an inspector in the first place?" If the don;t have to be accurate, if they don't have any liability for their reports, and they can be completely incmpentent, than what is the point?

 

[edro]

I had never heard of Louisiana Pacific siding before this. It definitely sounds like it should have been found by the inspector.

Interesting thread on liability of inspectors: http://activerain.com/blogsview/377524/home-inspectors-liability

It sounds like inspectors may have insurance, in which case, you might be able to get a settlement from them.

The timing really sucks for you though. I wouldn't be surprised if the buyer bails because of this.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

http://www.siding4u.com/Example Homes/ranch_caught_in_the_act.htm

Check out some of the pics.
Apparently, this stuff soaks up water on the ends and expands.
http://www.siding4u.com/Image_Pages/mosi_b02.htm

I don't think it is a failed inspection, it is just a type of construction that has downsides.

The original inspector probably didn't think it was worth mentioning.

Would an inspector be obligated to list that you have single pane windows instead of energy efficient models? No.

Your siding is inferior to vinyl, but it doesn't make it bad.

Probably because the glue is Hygroscopic and the edges expose this glue.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I had never heard of Louisiana Pacific siding before this. It definitely sounds like it should have been found by the inspector.

Interesting thread on liability of inspectors: http://activerain.com/blogsview/377524/home-inspectors-liability

It sounds like inspectors may have insurance, in which case, you might be able to get a settlement from them.

The timing really sucks for you though. I wouldn't be surprised if the buyer bails because of this.

Buyer almost bailed. We saved the deal by giving her a $10k credit at closing. Definitely going to seek a settlement with our old inspector. I have the old inspection report and all the email communications. Gotta love gmail.