Roy Kelley Sells Maryland Homes : In And Out Kitchen Vent

A recent new construction walk through was scheduled intentionally a day before the final walk through with the builder.  My client had said they wanted to do our inspection after the final with the builder!  To that I said , "No, no, no!  You need them to include anything we find on the list of repairs they will sign and give to you."  My client emailed me back a simple, "Good point."  So he asked and they agreed to have us come earlier.

The kitchen vent was one of those powerful commercial types.  It has five speeds and at the highest setting could suck out a small child ... or even a squirrel. 

My client asked me if it vents outdoors.

I said, "These are very powerful and designed to only vent outside."

Then I opened the cabinet.

Wow, was I wrong!

This is the new, very special, In And Out Kitchen Vent!  Silly me...

It vents inside AND outside!

Now there is so much wrong here it is hard to mention it all.  But look:

1.  The vent hole in the wall was obviously an after thought.

2.  They cut through the cabinet, then wall, then exterior sheathing, then the Tyvek wrap.

3.  The exterior vent opening is apparently screwed into the siding.

4.  The insulation is no longer there and no work-o.

The kicker?!  The agent emailed me back after their walk through with the builder to say the gentleman who walked through with them was "surprised" at the number of items I had identified.  And as to this vent?  She wrote, "the guy that did the walk through with us agreed entirely about the need to do something to improve the aesthetics of the area around that vent!!" 

Well, praise, praise!  And just the AESTHETICS??!!  He "agreed??"

My recommendation:  On a final walk through check the inside of all cabinets!  I always do...