Location of the water damage near car garage door (right hand side of small door)
This is the section that the inspection report describes. The defect has been identified as "minor" and the inspector said it was a less than $500 repair.
Yes, inspector mentioned that possible unseen damage underneath and recommend a qualified person to do the repair. However it fails to warn us here since there are over 105 places say the similar sentences in order to cover his liability. Also he has failed to recommend a further inspection.
This water leaking obviously indicates probably inside damage, unfortunately inspector failed to warn us.
Then we asked contractors to look at the damage. They all agree that the damage would be bigger than what I was told by the inspector, and how big it is will depends on for far the damage extends (celling, upsiding). A good faith estimation can only been done by open garage door. So we opened it....
Inner studs and beam over the door are rotten
Wall (plywood) behind brick is 100% rotten
Beam is rotten and infected due to long period of moisture exposure
Both side of the OSD plywood walls are totally rotten and collapsed. Studs (upright posts) are rotten