Everyone has heard the so-called ancient Chinese proverb, “One picture is worth ten thousand words”, but few know that Fredrick R. Barnard, advertising executive, coined the phrase as part of an ad for Street Railways Advertising Co. in Printer’s Ink magazine back in the March 1927.

What follows are photos of building defects and assorted problems uncovered by home inspectors from various parts of the country. Upon seeing these photos, I think you’ll agree that one picture is indeed worth ten thousand words. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Norm Duquette, Duquette Home Inspections, Ottawa

Roof trusses are engineered for a reason – too bad someone didn’t tell that to the plumber before he cut out the truss brace to make room for the plumbing stack.

Photo courtesy of Jerome Sidley, Homeplace Inspection Services, Elmvale.

If you ever wanted to work on your electrical panel while taking a shower, then this is the house for you.

I wonder if this is the company that put the electrical panel inside the bathtub enclosure? Who needs to waste money on quality when you can hire someone who is “good enough”?

Photo courtesy of Norm Duquette, Duquette Home Inspections, Ottawa

That galvanized steel bracket is called a gusset plate. It’s an integral part of an engineered roof truss. When it pulls away from the truss like that, you’ve got problems.

Photo courtesy of Tim Purtill, Canspec Homeservices, Newmarket

For everyone who stresses about racoons digging up their lawn, check out the damage they did to these roof vents. Imagine once they learn to use tools!

Photo courtesy of Norm Duquette, Duquette Home Inspections, Ottawa

Peek-a-boo! Things looked great from the street, but once up on the roof, the damaged side of the clay chimney liner could hide no longer.

Photo courtesy of Gord Perry, Gord Perry Home Inspections, Ottawa.

It wasn’t enough to cut out only one joist to accommodate the central vac run, this installer notched out a whole row of joists. The integrity of the floor structure may be compromised, but look how nice and neat he made his notches.

Photo courtesy of Bill Mullen, Bluewater Home Inspection, Sarnia.

Something’s cooking and it’s not good. Fortunately, this scorched wire was discovered by a home inspector rather than the fire department.

Photo courtesy of Brian Callaghan, Alert Inspection Services Ltd., Ottawa

This used to be a gas meter, now it resembles an ice sculpture. That’s what happens when you don’t install eavestroughs around your house.

Photo courtesy of Tim Purtill, Canspec Homeservices, Newmarket

Here is another chimney that looked great from the sidewalk. How the gaping hole got there is anybody’s guess.