136 lines
7.3 KiB
HTML
Executable File
136 lines
7.3 KiB
HTML
Executable File
<!DOCTYPE html>
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<html>
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<head>
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<title>What is an Inspection?</title>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="main.css" />
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<link rel="icon" type="image/ico" href="favicon.ico">
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</head>
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<body>
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<div id="nav-bar">
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<br/>
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<ul class="float"><a href="index.html">Home</a></ul>
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<ul class="float"><a href="services.html">Services</a></ul>
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<ul class="float"><a href="inspection.html">What is an inspection?</a></ul>
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<ul class="float"><a href="about.html">About Us</a></ul>
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<ul class="float"><a href="faq.html">FAQ's</a></ul>
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<ul class="float" style="border-right:none"><a href="contact.html">Contact Us</a></ul>
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<br/>
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</div>
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<br /><br /><br />
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<div id='logo_div'>
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<img id="logo" src="inspect_logo.png" name="logo" />
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<br /><br />
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</div> <br />
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<div id="main">
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<p>
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<h3>What is a "Home Inspection"?</h3>
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A home inspection is an objective visual analysis of a homes
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structure and systems. An inspection will determine the areas of a
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home that are not performing properly, items that are beyond their
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useful life or are unsafe. Inspections will include areas of the homes
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interior and exterior from the roof to the foundation and the exterior drainage and retaining walls
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. If problems or symptoms are found the inspector may recommend further evaluation. A home inspection is a
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visual inspection to determine problems or conditions that exist at the time of the inspection. A home inspection is not a warranty.
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A warranty can be obtained separately.
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<h3>Our standard residential inspection includes:</h3>
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<ul>
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<li>Roof</li>
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<li>Drainage</li>
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<li>Exterior/Interior</li>
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<li>Foundation</li>
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<li>Basement</li>
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<li>Ventilation</li>
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<li>Insulation</li>
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<li>Plumbing/Pipes</li>
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<li>Electrical</li>
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<li>Cooling/Heating System</li>
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<li>Fireplace and Chimmneys</li>
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<li>Windows</li>
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<li>Doors</li>
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<li>Attic</li>
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</ul>
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<h3>Top Ten Home Defects</h3>
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<ol>
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<li class="bold">Roofing Defects</li>
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<div>Problems with roofing material, either due to aging and wear or to improper
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installation are likely to be found in the majority of homes. This does not mean
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that most roofs are in need of replacement, but rather that most are in need of
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some type of maintenance or repair.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold">Ceiling Stains, Indicating Past or Current Roof Leaks</li>
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<div>The problem here is that you often can't tell if the roof still leaks,
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unless it is inspected on a rainy day. Some stains are merely the residual effects
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of leaks that have been repaired. There is also the possibility that ceiling stains
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were caused by a former plumbing leak in the attic.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold">Water Intrusion </li>
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<div>Water intrusion into basements or crawlspaces due to ground water conditions: Such
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problems can be pervasive, difficult to resolve, and sometimes very damaging to buildings.
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Correction can be as simple as regrading the exterior grounds or adding roof gutters.
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Unfortunately, major drainage improvements are often the only practical solutions, requiring
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costly ground water systems such as French drains designed by experts such as geotechnical engineers.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold">Electrical Safety Hazards </li>
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<div>Electrical safety hazards, especially (but not always) in older homes: Examples are ungrounded outlets,
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lack of ground fault interrupters (shock protection devices), faulty wiring conditions in electrical panels
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or elsewhere in a building, etc. Such problems may be the result of errors at the time of construction, but very
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often they are due to wiring that was added or altered by persons other than qualified electricians.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold">Rotten Wood</li>
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<div>Rotted wood at building exteriors and at various plumbing fixtures: In places where wood stays wet for long periods,
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such as roof eaves, exterior trim, of decks, around tubs and showers, or below loose toilets, fungus infection is very
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likely to attack, resulting in a condition commonly known as dryrot. If left unchecked, damage can become quite extensive.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold">Building Violations Where Additions and Alterations Were Constructed without Permits</li>
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<div>Homeowners will often tell a home inspector, "We added the garage without a permit, but it was all done to code." This statement
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is a red flag to most home inspectors, because no one could possibly know the entire building code, and the average person without
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professional involvement with the code is likely to know very little of it. Whenever an owner offers code assurance, I know that problems
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are likely to be found.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold">
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Unsafe Fireplace and Chimney Conditions</li>
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<div>These can range from lack of maintenance, such as neglecting to hire a chimney sweep, to faulty installation of fixtures. Most common among
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these are the lack of spark arrestors and substandard placement of wood-burning stoves. Free-standing fireplaces are typically installed by home
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owners and handymen, people without an adequate knowledge of fire safety requirements. The most common violations in these cases involve insufficient
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clearance between hot metal surfaces and combustible materials within the building. Fire hazards of this kind are often concealed in attics, where
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they remain undiscovered until a roof fire occurs.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold">Faulty Installation of Water Heaters</li>
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<div>In most localities, less than 5% of all water heaters are installed in full compliance with plumbing code requirements. Violations can include inadequate
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strapping, improperly installed overflow piping, unsafe flue conditions, or faulty gas piping. It should also be remembered that today's water heaters are
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designed to have shorter longevity than in times of yore. In fact, leaks can develop in units that are only five years old.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold">Hazardous Conditions Involving Gas Heaters</li>
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<div>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,
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however, gas heaters contain life-threatening defects that can remain undiscovered until too late. These can range from fire safety violations to the venting
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of carbon monoxide into the building. A cracked firebox, for example, can remain undiscovered unless found by an expert or until tragic consequences occur.
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</div>
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<br />
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<li class="bold" style="margin-left:23px">Firewall Violations In Garages</li>
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<div>Special fire-resistive construction is required for walls and doors that separate a garage from a dwelling. Violations are common, either due to faulty construction,
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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
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agents will often say that the building predates the code. However, the fire separation requirement for residential garages dates back to 1927..
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</div>
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<br />
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</ol>
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</p>
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</div>
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<div id="footer"><p id="foot_p">Copyright © <span id="year"></span> Scott Monforte. Site built by <a href="mailto:hearmewhisper@gmail.com" style="text-decoration:none; color:black">Chris Edwards</a> </p></div>
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<script>
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var date = new Date();
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document.getElementById("year").innerHTML = " " + date.getFullYear() + " ";
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</script></body>
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</html>
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