Comments on: Does FHA Allow Bare Wood? – A Tidbit for FHA Appraisal Inspections in the Sacramento Area

By: Ryan Lundquist

Ryan Lundquist — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:00:47 +0000

Hi Ryan. It shouldn’t matter how the shed is fixed (or not) to the ground unless there are some sort of county or city specifications or there is some sort of structural integrity or safety issue somehow. You should check in with HUD for the definitive word on paint. 800-CALL-HUD. They will be able to answer your question definitively. My guess is they will say any structure with a defective paint surface must be properly cured.

By: Ryan Hughes

Ryan Hughes — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 03:00:51 +0000

Hi Ryan two questions. Have a house built in 1903 and a shed that is bare wood. Does it matter if the shed is permantly fixed to property with footings or if you could lift it up and take it away is it still looked at the same. Nbr 2 question if you feel like the shed was built after 1978 is that still a condition? Thx

By: Ryan Lundquist

Ryan Lundquist — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:05:42 +0000

And there you have it…… the official word. It sounds like unless you are able to cure this issue before escrow somehow, that you’ll have to find another property. Best wishes Kelly.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:05:27 +0000

Official word from a very helpful FHA/HUD Santa Ana office: ALL bare wood MUST be coated with protective coating. Period. Moving on…

Thanks again Ryan!

By: Ryan Lundquist

Ryan Lundquist — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:45:56 +0000

The eaves may or may not have the same level of protection, but the key factor is what HUD says. All I am saying is that they may view eaves differently. What counts is what they say. It’s always a good bet to call HUD at the number I gave or even call your specific regional center, wherever that might be. They are the local authority for HUD issues, and anyone working in the field as an appraiser is likely familiar with calling them because there is much to know with FHA. There are surely some interesting property conditions, characterstics and circumstances out there that must be filtered through what HUD says about the particular circumstance found. Best of luck.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:30:18 +0000

The deck scenario I was thinking of would be on a multi level house where from the lower level patio i am looking up at the unpainted beams of the deck above me… not an unusual circumstance. I resepctfully disagree that the eves of a house do not have the same level of “protection” from the elements. I shall make that call to FHA for clarification. Thank you so much for your time Ryan!

By: Ryan Lundquist

Ryan Lundquist — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:33:36 +0000

The eaves are visible and exposed to the elements, and so they may be in a different category than underneath a deck. Hopefully mostly everything else has been completed and this one issue is all that is left. Have you had the house appraised yet? You may considering calling 800-CALL-FHA if you have questions regarding the deck (and of course ask about eaves).

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:15:44 +0000

“I wonder whey they would not”: It’s a REO…who knows what happened; possibly a different color was originally envisioned. My thoughts on this unpainted eve issue are similar to that of unpainted deck sub-structure in that this wood is protected by the structure above it; the 4×6′s typically seen under a deck are rarely painted, but are protected the decking. Does that mean that they should painted be for FHA?

By: Ryan Lundquist

Ryan Lundquist — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:05:02 +0000

Kelly, technically the wood should be “sealed”. This means that either the bare wood must be painted or some sort of approved sealant must be on the wood. Usually builders paint eaves. I wonder whey they would not.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:41:33 +0000

Does the “no bare wood” requirement apply to unpainted eves on a newer house?

Thanks,

Kelley C.