A home inspection in Yonkers is intended to reveal hazardous defects and serious malfunctions in the essential systems and components of a living space. To guard yourself against an inaccurate or cheap "walk through" home inspection, it is important to understand what you can expect from a professional evaluation. Moreover, you should know what kinds of defects the inspector is looking for and how the problems can be resolved.
While every problem is unique, there are general categories of defects that are recognized by home inspectors. All defects, including structural integrity, mechanical or electrical defects, framing and timber problems, water and plumbing faults, thermal and moisture seals, and finishes fall into one of the categories.
Often, a construction defect has its roots in the design phase of construction. Workmanship and materials can all be up to snuff, but if the design was flawed to begin with there can be serious consequences in the near future. A typical design deficiency is a design that is out of line with the building code. A professional home inspector will observe and attempt to identify any design or modification that falls outside the traditional building code.
A home inspection in Yonkers will take special interest in the building materials of the home. All too often, inferior materials are used in construction or repairs and the result is a serious defect. Windows that leak or do not seal up are usually due to inferior materials and workmanship. Often, shoddy building papers or poor quality plywood will result in water intrusion. Low-quality shingles are a common roofing problem.
The quality of workmanship can affect the whole construction process and is one of the most common sources of defects found by home inspectors. Workmanship most often affects individual areas of the house, particularly when an area has been renovated or modified. Improper installation of wood flooring is a common workmanship defect and is often discovered by a professional home inspector.
Finally, problems that occur under the ground are often attributable to the design phase of the building process. They are not, however always concerned with the structure itself, but often with the landscape and the soil. Since sub-surface deficiencies often lead to water intrusion or unsound structural integrity, thorough evaluation of the conditions of the ground in which the foundation is to be set must be carried out to ensure stability.
Keep in mind, ancillary services such as radon gas testing and mold detection are not included in the standard home inspection process and these must be hired separately. Also, do not assume that public inspections carried out by the city or state will be adequate to protect you from costly defects. Hire an inspector you trust and clearly define the inspectors mandated responsibilities.
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