It took some effort, but I found this.
A furnace room was newly finished, with improper framing, wiring, and they tapped a GFI in the nearby bathroom to create the circuit for the lights and receptacles in this new room. Really professional.
To give a word to the work, it was a MESS.
A new sort of chase was created, apparently to hide an HVAC duct.
That would not be uncommon.
But, I knew from my experience that this area was also where a builder would leave, or people would have, a light fixture.
I could just feel it.
Given what I had seen already, in terms of how, well, um, how professional a job this was, I suspected that light fixture was hidden also by the drywall.
There was only one small place where I could see that.
So, squeezing my ladder into the furnace section of the room, and peeking into a hole 8' high, I saw this!
Employing my cutest ballet move, and believe me, if you were watching it was cute*, I stretched out and was able to touch my voltage tester to the wires.
Behold and lo!
I'm pretty sure it's hot!
Prior to "finishing" the room, this professional had at some point replaced the builder's incandescent light with this fluorescent one. It's really well done!
My recommendation: sometimes new "remodeling" just speaks to you. Become a Remodeling Whisperer, and listen carefully! If what you hear doesn't sound right, or feel right, have it investigated. Hiring a bulldog home inspector with cute ballet moves doesn't hurt either. And be sure to watch his moves. Applause is always appropriate.
* Even Mighty Mo was laughing.
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
Ha, I can just feel the sarcasm with the word "professional"! This is why home buyers in Northern Virginia HAVE to call you for an inspection!
Good morning Jay. Pays to have a professional investigaate! Enjoy your day!
Thanks for this insight. I really do learn from your blogs.
Hope the Easter Bunny brings you a tutu or at the very least tights so that you can do your ballet moves more appropriately garbed Jay Markanich !
Woulda, coulda that everyone did, Kat!
It pays me, Wayne! And my clients, but in a different way.
Thanks Peter. As always.
I'll take both, S&D, and in burgundy and gold.
Good morning Jay Markanich,
The things you discover!! It pays to be able to use those ballet moves you learned to uncover some shoddy remodeling..what were they thinking??
Sometimes inspections require twisting the body into odd shapes and places Dorie!
I don't think it would be an unreasonable request to ask for one of your ballet videos, and if you can do it on a ladder... bonus!
Ballet. Please tell me there wasn't a tutu involved
I'm a regular monkey upping and downing, inning and outing, Fred.
It's really quite spectacular.
I would go tights and tutu if they were burgundy and gold, Stephen.
Maybe I'm being obtuse, but why the light behind the drywall? I know why they have them in Colorado
, but . . .
I can hear the extra emphasis on the word, "professional" in this post, Jay!
It didn't used to be behind drywall Mimi! They covered it! And inappropriately.
Myrl - can you? Dripping a bit with, oh, um, sarcasm?
So much for the thought that if it's hidden, no one will find it. They didn't expect to have Inspector Jay Clouseau on the job.
If I can see it, I will try, Ed. Sometimes Inspector Barishnakof shows up too.