Tyler Home Inspector's Blog

What Does A Home Inspector Look For? Part 3

Bruce Thompson (Tyler Home Inspector - Thompson Property Inspection, LLC) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:22:41 -0800

After climbing on the roof, I normally head toward the attic. One of the reasons is heat. On those typical, hot, Texas summer days, an attic can reach temperatures near 200 degrees! Personally, I want to have time to look over as much of the attic as possible, so it's best to get in there while it's still early in the day.

The structure of the attic can tell a great deal about the framing contractor. If I see sloppy construction methods for the roof structure, that may indicate the walls weren't framed well either; however, if good construction techniques are visible in the attic, that usually means the framing crew "cared" about providing a quality product. I do occasionally find a broken piece of attic framing or, in older homes, sagging rafters. These can usually be repaired with little fuss.

The attic also provides the best view for determining if leaks are occuring during rainstorms. I try to look around every single penetration (vent pipes, chimneys, etc...) for wet, stained or damaged wood.

Ventilation is another factor that is considered. One square foot of opening is recommended for every 150 square feet of attic space. Most homes fail here. One or two turbine vents are all that I generally see. Occasionally a home will have a ridge vent or gable vents. However, unless you are purchasing a home with the newer foam-sprayed insulation, you will want to ensure that your home "breathes" adequately.

Insulation should be compared to a sponge. There is only so much heat that your insulation sponge can hold. Once the insulation is "full", the heat has nowhere to go but into your home through the sheetrock. Hopefully the rest of the heat can pass back out through the ventilation openings. Becuase Texas has really hot summers, the recommended minimum amount of insulation is about an R-40. Whether the insulation is blown-in, batts or some other newer method, I want to be able to tell my clients what they should expect in the way of insulating performance.

If there is any HVAC equipment or plumbing equipment in the attic, I begin inspecting it as well. But I'll save that particular discussion for another day.

Stay Tuned,

Bruce

www.TylerHomeInspector.com

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Bruce Thompson

Tyler Home Inspector

What Does a Home Inspector Look For? Part Two

Bruce Thompson (Tyler Home Inspector - Thompson Property Inspection, LLC) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:55:39 -0800

Let's take a look at the roof!

I generally schedule appointments early in the day for a couple of reasons. One of those reasons is that the roof is cooler and I am less likely to damage the shingles when walking on them.

I look for many items but I always look for the "usual suspects". The most common issue I see are roof nails or staples that have not been sealed (with an appropriate roofing sealant). There are several other common issues that I continually see. I'm listing a few of them here in no particular order.

Missing shingles
Previous, unreported roof repairs
Roof jacks (lead sleeves that cover vent pipes) that have been chewed by critters
Shingles turned the wrong way at the edges or in the valleys
Chimneys that do not have adequate flashing
Hail damage
Gutters that are full of debris

This list represents only a few of the items that I have found during the course of a roof inspection.

I do try to walk on all roofs, but not all roofs are friendly for walking; some are downright hostile! Personally, I am able to walk on most roofs; however, I am unable to walk on very steep roofs, tile roofs or metal roofs. For these, I generally view them from the ground with binoculars or, if possible, from a ladder. Also, I never get on a roof during a rain or when the shingles are wet.

Ultimately the goal is to find any current or potential problems with your roof. While it is not always possible to find minor leaks with the naked eye (especially on a sunny day), I do work hard to examine the roof as thoroughly as possible.

Stay tuned,
Bruce

www.TylerHomeInspector.com

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Bruce Thompson

Tyler Home Inspector

What Does a Home Inspector Look For? Part One

Bruce Thompson (Tyler Home Inspector - Thompson Property Inspection, LLC) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:03:52 -0700

Hello,

This is the first in a series of what I look for when inspecting a home. Keep in mind, here in Texas, we are governed by the Texas Real Estate Commission and must use their Standards of Practice. Since these are really just the "minimum standards", I try to go above and beyond in several areas. So let's get started.

The walk to the front door....

As I get out of my truck, I begin looking at the grading of the home. What I want to know is: which way does the water flow? Does it flow toward the home or away? Are there low spots close to the foundation? Are there low spots that make walking along the sidewalk incovenient (and soggy)?

I also get an overall view of the roofing. Many times I can see that a roof has been previously repaired by noticing the slight shading differences of the shingles (or sometimes it's very blatant).

The closer I get to the home I begin looking at the siding or veneer for cracking, settling and any obvious signs of damage or disrepair. I look at the flower beds for cleanliness. Many times I am able to tell how well a home is kept by the appearance of the flower beds.

As I stand at the front door, I take in the door and any windows - again looking for obvious signs. Then I ring the door bell...

Stay tuned,

Bruce

www.TylerHomeInspector.com

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Bruce Thompson

Tyler Home Inspector

Buying A Home

Bruce Thompson (Tyler Home Inspector - Thompson Property Inspection, LLC) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:53:19 -0700

There is no question; the process can be stressful.

A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what the home inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do?

Relax. Most of your home inspection report will cover maintenance recommendations and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about.

However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:

1 Major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure.

2 Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing leak, for example.

3 Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy or insure the home.

4 Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel.

Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4). You should also realize that most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection.

Please realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair items mentioned in the report. No home is perfect, so keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over items that ultimately do not matter. It would also be inappropriate to demand that a seller address "nit-picky" items, deferred maintenance or conditions that are already listed on the seller's disclosure.

Please take time to read the following information and thanks for stopping by!!!

3 Deadly Mistakes Every Home Buyer Should Avoid

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Bruce Thompson

Tyler Home Inspector