Maple Ridge Townhouse Inspection Uncovers Flood Damage

Today’s featured inspection is a foreclosure Townhouse in Maple Ridge, BC.

Upon entering the home, it was obvious that major water damage had occurred in the upstairs bathroom. The plywood subfloor was brittle and couldn’t even be stepped on in some areas. The electric baseboard heater was badly corroded:

The floor around the bathtub and toilet was soft and badly damaged, and high water marks were seen around the base of the walls. Mold growth was heavy, and extensive repairs would need to be made. Here’s a photo of the rotting subfloor at the base of the bathtub:

A visual inspection of the piping revealed some “handyman” fixes. Also, the home contained Polybutylene pipe, which is a problematic material that was still being used when this building was constructed. Overall plumbing was very poor, and it had been neglected in many areas, such as this leaking, bent drain line:

There was a small crawlspace area below the bathroom, above the garage stairs. A strong odor was coming from the area. Further inspection showed mold growth and serious moisture damage – you can see the box disintegrating in the photo:

Water began pouring from above, and we ended up shutting off the water to the property completely to stop the leak. A plumber was called right away, but not before the water reached the garage ceiling and caused staining in the drywall.

The buyers negotiated a nice amount off the purchase price and will be taking on this “Fixer Upper” in a month.

Call today for your Maple Ridge inspection – 604 395-2795