Common Defects

No house is perfect. Even the best built and best maintained homes will always have a few items in less than perfect condition. Below are some of the items we most commonly find when inspecting a home:

Exterior Grading Generally we see areas near the home where water will pond against the foundation or exterior walls due to improper grading, lack of a complete gutter system on the house, which leads to a drip line and eventual erosion of soils near the home.

Roofing Problems with roofing material are the single most common defect we find. Usually it doesnt mean the roof needs replaced, simply that it is in need of maintenance or repair. The lack of gutters and rain divertors on a home in strategic locations especially are just not acceptable practice, but its very common here in Florida.

Ceiling stains Caused by past or present leaks, ceiling stains are very common. It can be difficult to tell whether the stains are from leaks still present, or were caused by leaks which have since been repaired. Generally related to roofing issues, but not always.

Electrical hazards Most common in older homes, but often found in newer homes as well. Electrical hazards come in many forms, from ungrounded outlets, non functioning GFI's, to wiring done incorrectly by the homeowner or contractor.

Rotted wood Caused by being wet for extended periods of time, most commonly found around tubs, showers and toilets inside, or roof eaves and trim outside.

Water heater installations Many water heaters are not installed in full compliance with local plumbing codes.

Furnace and A/C (Heat Pump) Most furnaces or Heat Pumps seem to be in need of routine maintenance such as new filters or general cleaning/servicing. Many have other issues such as faulty operation, corrosion, contamination, mold or fungal growth, or low freon charge. Another common and unfortunate condition is the placement of the Condensiong Coil or Heat Pump outside the home, generally it is located right under the roofline, witout a gutter or diverter, and rain water pours off the roof in a heavy rain and right into the units casing, causing premature wear on components, fungal growth on the interior portions of the casing, corrsion of the cooling fins, etc.

Plumbing defects Plumbing issues commonly found include dripping faucets, leaking traps or drains at fixtures, slow drains, improperly vented ducts and vent pipes, etc... Even in brand new or recently remodelled or replumbed homes, it is common to identify plumbing defects.

Garage Doors Garage vehicle doors are supposed to auto-reverse but many do not, or do not do so properly. These doors must be serviced, adjusted and repiared by a qualified overhead door specialist. Death has resulted around inappropriately operating doors or when a homeowner tries to adjust the door(s) themselves. We test these doors for not only the safety auto reverse, but 6 other general items. Don't do it alone - hire a professional to conduct the inspections and then if service is recommended by the Home Inspector, hire a licensed overhead door company.


AND THERE ARE OTHERS....

                    Call TODAY (941) 928-1018.

                                                             ..To find out whats going on in your home.