Structural Issues?

Serious structural problems in houses are not very common, but when they occur they are never cheap to fix. Some can't be fixed at all. This report won't turn you into a home inspector, but it will give you some of the common indicators.

Uneven Floors: Uneven floors are typical, particularly in older homes. Here is a trick to help distinguish between a typical home with character and a structural problem.

Leaning House: While no house is perfect, this is one area where you should be very careful. Take a look at the house from across the street. If the house appears to be leaning one way or the other, there may be a structural problem. It may help to line up a front corner of the house with the back corner of an adjacent house just for reference. The corners should be parallel. Stepping back from the house to take a look is always a good idea. It is easy to miss something major by standing too close to it! If there is a lean that is detectable by eye, don't take any chances, get it checked out.

Horizontal Foundation Cracks are Bad: It is not uncommon to find cracks in the foundation. This goes for new houses as well as old ones. While there is a great deal of engineering that goes into "reading" these cracks, there is one rule that you should never forget. "Horizontal cracks are a problem". Of course not all vertical cracks are acceptable, but they are generally not as serious as a horizontal crack.

Harmless Cracks: Shrinkage cracks in a new house: Most new foundations will develop small vertical cracks. These cracks are a result of the concrete shrinking as it cures. These cracks are about 1 /8 inch wide or less. They don’t affect the structure. The only concern is leakage. If you see small cracks in a new foundation, don’t panic. In fact, in a new home, some builders will pre-crack the foundation and fill the crack with flexible material.

Plaster Cracks: Few things are more misunderstood than plaster cracks on the inside of the house.

The following crack types are not generally related to structural movement:
• a small crack (less than 1 /4 inch) that follows the corner of the room where two walls meet 
• small cracks that extend up from the upper corner of a door opening

Every home has its secrets. A thorough home inspection will not only reveal these secrets, but provide the home buyer with a degree of confidence in the purchase. In addition to the home appraisal, required by most mortgage lenders, the home inspection will help justify the selling price of the home and, in fact, can be a large factor in negotiations.

Unlike a home appraisal, which only provides a cursory market value for the property, a home inspection offers a detailed analysis of the home’s condition. These inspections, when performed by professional contractors, should include an analysis of the home’s major mechanical systems such as furnace and air conditioning systems, plumbing and electrical components, as well as an overall analysis of the roof.

I continue to receive complaints from readers about problems that they discover after closing their home purchase. Most complain about sellers who fail to disclose defects or home inspectors who fail to find them. The system is far from perfect. However, there are steps that buyers can take before and during a home inspection to protect their interests.

Look under any area rug or bed and behind any picture to check for cracked tiles, missing floor covering, stained carpets or walls. Lift anything on the kitchen counters to look for defects. Do any of the appliances show any rust? How old are they? If they are discontinued models, you will likely have to replace them if they break down because of the difficulty of finding replacement parts.

You could spend lots of money fixing moisture-damaged areas, so it's essential an inspector finds all sources of water trouble. Make sure your inspector uses proper moisture-detection devices such as hand-held meters and infrared cameras. A competent inspector will also report on poorly sloped yards, old water stains and even musty smells.

It takes time to do a thorough, comprehensive home inspection. You should have serious reservations about hiring any inspector who says the job will only take two or three hours.

Some inspectors will only cover one door or window in a room. Insist that your inspector look at all doors and windows. Also, find out if the home's heating and cooling systems are functional and adequate.

But first, allow me to congratulate you on your new home purchase. Buying a home is often the largest purchase a person will make in their entire lifetime. It's a very exciting time and I would imagine that you are very anxious to finish the process and get moved into your new home and on with your life.

Your life has probably been pretty crazy lately with all the house hunting, paperwork, dealing with the banks, mortgage companies and the real estate people. It's enough to make you start pulling your hair out. It can be downright stressful.

As a home inspector I work with home buyers all the time. I understand what you've been through to find and get the right home for you. But I have to ask you this important question - With all the effort you've been through to get your home, don't you want to be sure that the home you're buying is safe, sound, and secure for you and your family?

Purchasing a new home is a large investment. Not only will you pay for the home, but also for the furniture, appliances, clothes, and food that you will need to live in it for the rest of your life. Thus, the last thing you need is a home with significant damages that you will have to cover in out-of-pocket expenses. The following factors to look for in a home inspection will help you know what a home inspector does and will help you check these same areas from year to year in your own home.

First, the home inspector will check the home structure. The structure includes both the frame and foundation of a home. Inspectors will look at the structure to see if there are cracks, holes, water damage, or looseness. If the foundation of a home is in dire straits, it would mean life or death to inhabit the home.

Next, the home inspector will check the outside home environment. Porches, windows, doors, decks, patios, and driveways are the common elements to check. If there are holes in the windows, or an opening in the windows that allows air and other elements to seep in, it would be best to refrain from buying the home.

How often have buyers been left holding the short stick when it comes to problems with a house? Who’s to blame?; you, the agent, the seller, or the attorney? Ultimately, it’s you for paying attention to the agent or worst the actual homeowner. Never, never buy a home without having a professional inspect it first. It’s perhaps the best money you’ll ever spend even if you don’t buy the home. Here are a few items I would look for if I was buying a home for myself.

Long horizontal cracks in the foundation. Cracks are normal, but horizontal/vertical cracks may be a form of movement by the house. They’re caused be settling or movement of the house. It’s bound to happen… homes are heavy.

White wrapping around the pipes in the basement. Look for the wrapping that looks like an old cast used when you break bone on your arm or leg. This is typically asbestos. Asbestos was used during the 60′s as a fire retardant. This thing won’t catch on fire no matter what, but it can be hazardous to your health. When in doubt, have it tested. Most home inspectors can determine what it is without having to touch it.

Just another example of why you should get a home inspection prior to spending your hard earned money on your dream home. As you can see by the picture, a shoddy repair job would have given a few clues something wasn’t right. As a buyer of a house, what would you have done next?

Part of my passion as a Hespeler area home inspector is to get to the bottom of little things that others wouldn’t think to observe. My first move was to look at different areas located around this particular area, ie, laundry room, bathroom, etc. When looking in a very small linen closet next to this room I came across another ceiling issue the present homeowner failed to look at or hide and the next pic shows what I had found.

As you can see, we got a little growth going on. Although the growth hasn’t been tested for mold yet, we can come to our own conclusions. So we know this is a moisture problem and the next step is to isolate where the moisture was coming from. Above the area in the attic, there was only the vent pipe for the dryer coming up through the ceiling and going up and discharging through the roof. As you can see by the next picture, someone definitely had come and repaired a previous leak from the dryer vent that penetrated through the roof.

Home inspections are now considered so routine that an estimated 77%  of all home buyers invest in one. Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Like any investment, you will want to know as much information about your purchase as possible. A comprehensive, professional home inspection is designed to help you with that effort.

A home inspection is not a to-do list for the seller. Over the past quarter-century two of the most common questions asked of home inspectors are "Who should make the repairs?" and "Should I buy this house?" The role of the home inspector is to provide the buyer with their opinion of the home's condition at the time of inspection. Because each real estate sales contract and transaction is different, a buyer's real estate sales professional or lawyer is better qualified to answer these type of questions. A home inspection is not a pass/fail test. "It is up to the buyer to determine whether or not the home passes his own test. A couple looking to totally renovate a home may realize that the need for lots of repairs to the mechanical systems doesn't matter to them. Conversely, a young couple buying a 'starter home' in which they plan to live only a few years may find a home with many problems is just not for them." It does not make a home purchase risk-free. Most home inspection companies utilize an inspection contract that outlines the specifics of the home inspection, as well as its limitations. But it's important to remember that while a home inspection is designed to reduce the risk in buying a home, it cannot eliminate that risk.

Choose wisely when it comes to selecting a home inspector. Even in areas where there is mandatory licensing, credentials among inspectors can vary dramatically. Price should not be the reason to select a home inspector. Make sure that your home inspector carries insurance and is up to date with their ongoing training programs from the National Institute of Building Inspectors. It is also important to make sure that an inspector provides a written inspection report that includes pertinent details on the condition of major elements of the home. Look for a home inspector that encourages you to go along on the inspection. The inspection is a terrific introduction to a home. A professional inspector can answer questions, demonstrate how to operate various systems in the home, and provide helpful maintenance suggestions. Heed the inspector's advice. Deficiencies found on an inspection will continue to deteriorate through usage and age. Plan on addressing any outstanding concerns as soon as possible. A professional home inspection is the best investment a home buyer can make.

Imagine a hands-on career that will have you climbing over, under and through houses searching for any defects that could cause problems for the owner or prospective owner. Professionals in the home inspection field physically inspect the entire home or building and complete a detailed report on the condition of all components, mechanical systems and the overall structure. The report is then used as a tool for making important decisions regarding the purchase of the home or building or factors such as its insurability.

Home owners and home buyers rely on the home inspector to advise them on their biggest investment. Therefore, the home inspector must be knowledgeable in how to inspect a home’s major components and systems and what problems to look for. Being able to report on the condition of the home in a clear, concise manner is also important.

A home and commercial property inspection is important if you are addressing real estate. Many say that home and commercial property inspection might be one of the most crucial elements which may decide over your success in buying or selling. This text will talk over some of the numerous reasons you should have your home and commercial properties looked over prior to deciding to buy the property.

You will find vast variances between acquiring commercial and residential properties, however when it comes to having those properties inspected, the reasons for the actual examinations tend to be similar. The primary reason you have to have home and commercial property inspections is always to safeguard yourself. People who perform property inspections are usually highly skilled to find things that nearly all buyers wouldn’t normally think to look for in real estate. They are also trained to know the laws and building codes with regard to their region. This can be useful to the purchaser.

Whenever an inspector is performing a property inspection they will look at the building along with the property as a whole. They’ll examine the foundation, the roofing, the electrical system, the cooling and heating system, and they’re going to check for signs and symptoms of bug or some other problems. They’ll then record their findings to you together with suggestions in regards to what you should ask the seller to repair before you purchase the property. They might even recommend that you not buy the property based on their inspection. This may prevent you from getting a property that’s going to be a waste of money

Looking For a New Furnace: (Oct 19th 2012) AFUE means Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. To evaluate the energy use of furnaces / boilers, it provides a % measure of the energy used for heating versus energy wasted. AFUE ratings are displayed on all recent furnaces as per Federal Trade Commission requirements.

When shopping for furnaces / boilers, a higher rating means higher efficiency. Example, a rating of 80 percent means the furnace uses 80 percent of its energy to produce heat and the other 20 percent is lost. Note that the rating doesn’t include heat loss through the duct system or piping, which can be up to 35 percent of the heat being used, especially if ducts are in the attic.

Electric furnaces and boilers are the most energy efficient, with a rating of between 95 and 100 percent, partly because they have no energy loss through a chimney / flue. Despite these units’ efficiency, the cost of electricity per BTU (heating unit) may make the overall savings negligible.

The minimum allowed AFUE rating was established by the Federal Trade Commission. The rating for non-condensing fossil fueled furnaces can’t be below 78 percent, whereas a fossil-fueled boiler’s minimum rating is 80 percent. A steam boiler that’s gas fueled must be rated no lower than 75.

Even with these stringent requirements, older and less efficient furnaces still exist and may be rated as low as 55.

For the purpose of energy conservation and heating costs, knowing the AFUE of a furnace is important in effectively determining which brand or type of heating system will best suit your needs. These ratings are useful in evaluating the cost of a furnace relative to how much money it will save you in the long run

Tired of Weeding: (Sept 19th 2012) Zap Them With Salt:Salt will kill many weeds that can't be pulled up from the roots. Use a garden fork to scrape the soil away from the base of the weed and then cut the stem as close to the ground as possible. Pour salt onto the wound, trying your best not to spill any into the soil.

- 2 cups water

- 1½ cups vinegar (white or cider)

Using a funnel, pour all of the ingredients into a 1-litre spray bottle and shake well to mix. Spray the solution directly on weeds, taking care not to spray any surrounding grass or desirable plant

Mix a Poison Ivy Weed Killer
Poison ivy is one weed you don't want to mess around with. Kill it with a spray of vodka and water. Combine 2 tablespoons vodka with 2 cups water and pour the solution into a spray bottle. Vodka's dehydrating action will kill poison ivy soon after the leaves are saturated.

Newspaper and Plastic Smotherers:
If part of your garden seems a little too weed-friendly, try one of these mulches to keep undesirable plants from sprouting.

Newspapers: Wet several sheets of newspaper so that they cling together, and then set the mat over a

patch of weeds. Camouflage the mat by topping it with wood chips or other mulch. Remove it once the

weeds are kaput

Trash bags: Split the seams of black plastic trash bags to double their size and use them to blanket the problem spot. Spiff the plastic up with wood chips or such and leave it in place 10-14 days — by which time the weeds should be dead and gone.