Recommend further evaluation by Licensed Structural Engineer
We had a lot of snow this past winter and apparently the load exceeded the design specifications of this garage roof. Or maybe deferred maintenance caught up with structure. Whatever the case, it appears this garage is near the end of it’s useful life 
.
Saw this as I was passing by and couldn’t resist stopping and taking a picture.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
In the attached video of a cracked garage door top panel. I come across this defect quite often during home inspections. Improper adjustment of the garage door tracks and/or the drive chain can result in jerking of the door during operation. The jerking can result in flexure at the center of the door when the panel is in the horizontal position. There is a lot of stress at the connection point where the chain drive is connected to the garage door.
If your garage door is flexing or jerking during operation, contact a local Rochester or Southeastern MN contractor specializing in garage door installation.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Quite often during a home inspection I will note a gap between the concrete driveway and the garage slab on the inspection report. Taking the time to fill the gap will be worth the effort. Excess water under the slab will cause the slab to raise in the winter as the ground freezes. The gap can be closed using a filler/backer rod and a self leveling sealant filler material.
The first step is to clean the gap, blowing away all dust and debris. If there is any depth to the void you will need to fill it with a filler material, sometimes called backer rod, or backer rope. This is typically a closed cell synthetic material that looks like one of those float noodles that the kids use in the pool. But a size that is slightly wider than the opening you are trying to fill. Your local Rochester, or Southeastern MN building materials store will have these materials.
Next, force the backing materials into the opening using a putty knife until you have about ¾-1 inch below the concrete surface. The backer rod material will support the filler sealant and will expand and contract as the seasons change. It also provides a surface that will not stick to the filler sealant. If the filler sealant is attached to three surfaces, it may not expand and contract properly and pull away from the concrete.
After the backer rod is installed, add the self leveling concrete filler or urethane type caulk. This material will fill the void and is self leveling. This material is designed to adhere well to concrete and will expand and contract with the seasons. Always follow the manufacturers directions for installation and cure time. Proper installation will give you a great result that will keep the gap filled for years to come.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
At first glance, an old leaky garage door may not seem like something that would contribute to your rising home utility bills, but just might be worth thinking about. A new, insulated garage door can reduce energy loss through the garage door by up to 71%.
An attached garage usually shares one or two common walls with your home. Hot or cold air leaking through your garage door will affect the interior temperature of your garage, thus affecting the adjacent living areas of your home. An insulated garage door will stabilize garage temperatures, thus reducing the effect on common garage/home walls.
A well insulated garage, with a well insulated garage door, can result in your garage being 10-20 degrees warmer that the outside temperature on a cold Rochester and Southeastern MN winter day. That 10-20 degrees can make a big difference on the temperature of adjacent walls located above or next to the garage.
Did you know that thanks to the stimulus legislation, if you purchase a new energy efficient garage door for your home, prior to Dec 31, 2010, you will not only save money on your heating bills, you may also qualify for up to $1500 in federal tax credits.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
There are several recommendations to cleaning your concrete driveway. One of the quickest and easiest ways to clean it is using a high pressure water washer. You can rent a heavy duty model with a wide sweeping tip and get the job done quickly and efficiently. Dirt and grime are removed amazingly quick. You can also use the washer on your patio furniture, fence, car, even your house! Use caution when cleaning wood or aluminum siding with a pressure washer as damage can occur to the siding and caulk from the high pressure spray causing water to seep in behind the siding. The high pressure washer will not remove all mildew, rust, oil, or paint stains on the driveway, however. You must treat these stains before or after the big wash.
Removing Mildew
If dark stains remain on your concrete after washing, test a small area by dampening the stain with fresh laundry bleach. If the bleach lightens the stain within a few minutes, the stains are mildew and can be removed with bleach.
Bleaching the mildewed surface is recommended. You can use a product called “Jomax” with a laundry bleach and water solution. “Jomax” is a mildewcide and this along with the detergent will activate the bleach, creating a much more effective cleaning tool. Use eye and skin protectors and cover all plants in the area with a plastic. Spraying water on the plants in the area before and after the application can avoid damage to them. Follow label instructions, and use the cleaning solution within 2 hours after you prepare it.
Rick Erickson, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Most homeowners have automatic garage door openers to save themselves and their vehicles from the extreme Southeastern MN. weather conditions. It’s a great convenience and one that is often taken for granted until the day you lose all electrical power. You have somewhere you need to be and you can’t get in or out. Now what do you do?
Your garage door opener will have a short rope with a red “T” handle hanging near the drive unit. Pulling this T handle will release the door from the drive chain or belt, allowing you to manually operate the door.
Your home inspector suggests you test the emergency release from inside the garage, with the door down to make sure it works properly. It is VERY important to do this test with the door in the down position. If the springs are not adjusted properly, a released in the up position can crash to the ground! The rope with the T handle will release the door with a slight pull. The mechanism will re-engage when you move the door or run the opener.
When performing this test, have someone else outside the door. If there are any problems, they will be there to assist you. If you have questions, contact you’re your local Rochester MN, or Southeastern MN garage door company for details or to offer an explanation.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Very pleased with the inspection process from start to finish. Findings were very specific. We learned a lot about the house that we were not aware of. You are friendly and non intimidating, just the kind of person people are hoping to work with.
Marilynn C, Kasson, MN
The home inspection was very thorough! We learned a lot about the house, both good and bad. You were very approachable and answered all of our questions in a manner we could understand. Job well done!
Rhonda J. Rochester, MN
We were very impressed with the detail of the Inspection! There were many areas covered in the inspection report that we would never have suspected. Great Job!
Jerome & Shirley P, Byron, MN