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Most Common Defects Found
- Roofing defects: Problems with roofing material, due to aging, wear, or improper
installation, are likely to be found in the majority of homes. This does not mean that most
roofs require replacement, but rather that most could use some type of maintenance or repair.
- Ceiling stains, indicating past or current roof leaks: Unfortunately, you often can
not tell if the roof still leaks unless you inspect on a rainy day. Some stains are merely the
residual effects of roof problems that have been repaired, while others may be related to
leaky plumbing.
- Water intrusion into basements or crawlspaces due to ground water conditions: Faulty
drainage can be pervasive, difficult to resolve, and sometimes very damaging to buildings.
Correction can be as simple as re-grading the exterior grounds or adding roof gutters.
Unfortunately, major drainage improvements are often warranted, requiring costly ground water
systems such as french drains designed by geotechnical engineers.
- Electrical safety hazards, especially (but not always) in older homes: Examples
are ungrounded outlets, lack of ground fault interrupters (shock protection devices), faulty
wiring conditions in electrical panels or elsewhere in a building, etc. Such problems may result
from errors at the time of construction but often are due to wiring that was added or altered
by persons other than qualified electricians.
- Rotted wood at building exteriors and at various plumbing fixtures: In areas where
wood remains wet for long periods, e.g. roof eaves, exterior trim, decks, around tubs and
showers, or below loose toilets, fungus infection is likely to attack, resulting in a condition
commonly known as dry rot. If left unchecked, damage can be quite extensive.
- Building violations where additions and alterations were constructed without permits:
Homeowners will often tell a home inspector, "We added the garage without a permit, but it was
all done to code." This is a red flag to most inspectors, because no one could possibly know the
entire building code, let alone the average person without construction knowledge. Whenever an
owner offers code assurance, problems are likely to be found.
- Unsafe fireplace and chimney conditions: Problems with wood burning fixtures can
range from lack of maintenance to faulty installation. Most common are missing spark arrestors
and faulty placement of freestanding fireplaces. Wood-burning stoves are typically installed by
homeowners and handymen, persons without adequate knowledge of fire safety requirements. Common
violations involve insufficient clearance between hot metal surfaces and combustible materials
within the building. Fire hazards of this kind are often concealed in attics, where they remain
undiscovered until a roof fire occurs.
- Faulty installation of water heaters: In most localities, less than 5% of all water
heaters are installed in full compliance with plumbing code requirements. Common violations include
inadequate strapping, improperly installed overflow piping, unsafe flue conditions, or faulty gas
piping. Today's water heaters are designed to have shorter longevity than in years past. Leaks
can develop in units that are only five years old.
- Hazardous conditions involving gas heaters: Most gas-fueled heaters are in need of
some maintenance, if only the changing of an air filter or a long-overdue review by the gas
company. In some cases, however, gas heaters contain life-threatening defects that can
remain undiscovered until too late. These can range from fire safety violations to the
venting of carbon monoxide into the building. A cracked firebox, for example, can remain
undiscovered unless found by an expert or until tragic consequences occur.
- Firewall violations in garages: Special fire-resistive construction is required
for walls and doors that separate a garage from a dwelling. Violations are common, due to
faulty construction, damage or alterations to the garage interior, or changes in code requirements
since the home was built. In older homes, where firewalls are not installed, sellers and agents
will often suggest that the building predates the code. However, the fire separation requirement
for residential garages dates back to 1927.
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