September 8, 2023
Ms Nicole Nellis Cockrell RE: 8426 Grenoble Ct. Nellis Group Springfield, VA 22153Mris@nellisgroup.com
Dear Nicole,
Thank you for calling Nader Elhajj for our September 7, 2023, inspection of the townhouse referenced above. As you requested, our inspection was limited to a visual assessment of the wall cracks Our Findings and Recommendations are below. No legal advice is included.
Findings
1. The existing house is a two-story center unit townhouse constructed on a basement. The townhouse is located on Lot 57E and Section 3 of Charlestown in Springfield, Fairfax County, VA (Map# 0793 14 0057E). The townhouse is reported to have been originally built in 1970 and is zoned PRC.
2. The townhouse measures approximately 21 feet wide
3. The basement ceiling height is approximately 8’-2” .
4. The basement ceiling joists are framed with joists that appear to be spanning from front to back over an interior beam. The basement ceiling was fully drywalled
5. A vertical crack is noted along the concrete ledge under the rear sliding door. The crack varied in width from hairline to approximately 1/8”
6. A diagonal drywall crack is visible along the left side of the second-floor rear left bedroom window. The crack varied in width from hairline to approximately 3/16”
7. A diagonal drywall crack is visible along the right side of the second-floor rear right bedroom window. The crack varied in width from hairline to approximately 3/16”
8. A diagonal drywall crack is visible along the front wall of the second-floor front bedroom. The crack varied in width from hairline to approximately 1/8”
9. A vertical hairline crack is visible along the front side of the left CMU basement foundation wall.
Recommendations
1. The second-floor drywall cracks do not appear to be of structural significance and do not impact the structural integrity of the house. The cracks are caused by slight movements in the foundations. The cracks shall be repaired
2. The cracks in the rear foundation wall and the left-side basement foundation wall are insignificant cracks and do not impact the structural integrity of the house. The cracks shall be sealed though.
3. The ground around the house shall be re-graded to ensure that water drains away from the foundation walls.
4. Ensure that gutters and downspouts are clean, have adequate slope, and drain water away from the house.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please call me at (703) 615-2451.
With best regards,
Nader Elhajj, P.E.
All work and materials shall comply with the current building code and manufacturer’s instructions. Contractors are solely responsible for safety, protection, and restoration of property. Contractor shall obtain any required permits. Scaled plans, drawings, calculations, and other details may be required by the city/county/ jurisdiction to obtain building permits. Please contact us to provide you with an estimate for preparing such plans and documents.
This report is based on the conditions observed at the time of evaluation and information obtained from the investigation, including any information provided by the client and/or his/her agents/designees. The investigation was limited to nondestructive, visual observations of the portions of the structure included in the scope of the evaluation that were readily visible and accessible. We did not remove surface materials, furnishings, or equipment, undertake any digging or excavation, or perform any destructive or invasive testing. Accordingly, we cannot comment on the condition of components that we could not see. Hidden conditions may exist and there is no claim that all conditions were observed. We are not responsible for conditions that were not within the scope of our services at the time of inspection. We did not assess the stability of the building or the underlying foundation soil since this effort would require excavation and destructive testing. This report should not be considered a warranty of condition, and no warranty is implied. The opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this report are based on the findings of the evaluation, and the knowledge and experience of Mr. Elhajj and Mr. Elhajj has provided consulting services with the degree of care and skill ordinarily exercised under similar circumstances by reputable members of the profession practicing in the same or similar locality. No other guarantee or warranty, either expressed or implied, is provided.