Common Home Defects, home problems and questions to ask during a home inspection about Common Home Defects.

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Common Roofing defects:  A common problem found during home inspections is problems with the roofing.  I swear people would rather sell a home than replace a roof.  Roofing removal and replacement can cost $8,000o or so for an average home.  The money is well spent because if the roofing is not changed before it fails expensive problems are just about guaranteed to occur.   

Common Ceiling Stains: All stains are indications of an active leak unless corrective actions have been taken.  As home inspectors we lack crystal balls.  If stains exist the owner and or contractor must tell you in writing what was done to cure the problem and when or you are taking an open ended risk.   

Common Cause of Water Intrusion Below Grade: 
Water in the basement is bad.  It can create high moisture conditions conducive to mold and damage storage.  Usually surface water is the problem.  Installation of gutters, downspouts and improving drainage away from the home are ways to solve may problems.  Installation of basement perimeter drains should be a last resort, not a quick fix. 




Common Electrical Hazards:
I have been to thousands of homes and can not tell you why or how some did not have a major electrical fire.  Many have such poor wiring and lucky owners (no fire yet)
that I feel like asking the owner to go out and pick some lottery numbers for me.  Do not play with electricity, you can cause a fire or electrocute you or others.  

Common Rotted Wood Under Plumbing Fixtures: 
A water stain or two under a bathroom can cost $15,000 or so to fix.  If there is a stain under bathroom assume it is active till proven otherwise and keep in mind additional latent damages must be expected to exist.  

Common Building Biolations Additions and Alterations Without Permits: 
Houses are seldom built perfect.  Beware of those who tell you all the work in the home was performed by craftsman who pulled all the permits and dealt with all the difficult municipal inspectors. I am sure there are many great municipal inspectors out there.  I find it hard to believe the only ones the owner tells us about are the strict ones.  I also find it hard to believe they only used the best contractors.  If there were that many great contractors out there I would still be a construction project manager.  

Home Inspection Books NJ home inspectors - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - Partners - stoop settling steps cracked - trip safety concern - concrete cracks concrete movement - asphault seal coat asphault maintenance - expansive soil / clayey soil - alkaline soil corrosive soil - sandy soil - rocky soil - flat yards are difficult to drain - hillside / cut and fill lot (slight / moderate / steep) - home above grade home below grade - yard drains - planter against siding / stem wall - enclosed plant area next to foundation - retaining wall - retaining wall weep hole - retaining wall / bulkhead or seawall tilted / cracked - downspout extension - gutters and downspouts - yard drain, yard drain damaged - geologist soils engineer - flood irrigation - drip system irrigation - pop-up / conventional lawn sprinkler heads - impulse or moving lawn sprinkler heads - automatic / manual sprlnkler system - landscape drainage site drainage - grade not sloped away from building water ponding at foundation - water in basement and water in crawl space are common problems - subsidence / slipping / slumping noted - soil subsidence soil sinking - soil errosion potential - stucco or eifs coated fence - stucco or eifs coated fence - masonry fences block, brick, stone, cast concrete - gfci protection not provided at exterior outlet - yard light(s) / post light(s) inoperative / need maintenance / repairs - low voltage yard light(s) inoperative / need maintenance / repairs - retaining wall / bulkhead materials - wood retaining wall / bulkhead - retaining wall / bulkhead is part of foundation or fence - concrete / masonry retaining wall / bulkhead - faucet(s) inoperative / damaged - pipeline broken / not supported / unprotected - sprinkler coverage appears inadequate / incomplete / excessive - lawn sprinkler wetting building - lawn sprinkler repairs, maintenance, adjustments - sprinkler heads broken - electric valve control wires - lawn sprinkler system inoperative - anti siphon valve - lawn sprinkler valves - tennis court / other type court - storage shed outbuildings - satellite dish - ornamental flame pit - bar-b-q gas outlet - waterfalls / fountain / pond - step hand rail stair guard rail - stair hand rail deck guard rail - wood deck - wood walkway damaged - planter wood and masonry planter - concrete installed against wood siding - soil errosion potential - tub / shower enclosure / door glazing cracked / does not appear to be safety glaze - roman tub / shower pan damaged / leaks - flood irrigation - finding not covered in narratives - unexpected repairs and maintenance - access impaired - tree root problem potential existing - tree / limb / shrubbery against building / electric wire - scrap wood / firewood against / near building - earth separation from wood / building inadequate - animal pen / barn / other outbuildings in need of repairs / maintenance - shed / detached garage / carport in need of repairs / maintenance - timer / photoelectric / motion detector controlled lighting - gas exterior lighting - post lights metal / masonry / wood post or frame) - 110 / 120 volt exterior light systems and outlets - solar powered lights - low voltage exterior lighting - fence problems - gate not secure / damaged / not latchable / drag / amiss - metal fence corroded / damaged / in need of maintenance - indoor / outdoor carpet - gravel / dirt drives - low voltage malibu type yard lights - concrete / brick / asphalt decks and patios - wood deck - masonry fence cap(s) loose / missing / amiss - fence moves when pressure exerted - masonry or concrete fence cracked / tilted / settling / damaged - fence slat(s) / covering / runner(s) loose / missing / damaged - fence post loose fence post broken - automatic gates are generally the type which roll to one side - metal / chain link / wire fences - wood / vinyl fence - sauna - steam shower - hydrotub - hydro jet or jacuzzi style tub - drain access for bathtub - pop up drain stopper - diveter valve tub diverter - washer type compressionm faucet - washerless faucet - tub diveter valve - shower head extension shower head loose in wall - shower head damaged missing shower sprays backward - tub drain access not available/ access not opened hydro tub / regular tub - drain stop inoperative / needs adjusting / parts missing - drain screen damaged - tub overflow cover damaged / missing - soap tray / grab bar pulled from wall - tub / shower porcelain / enamel cracked / chipped - refinished or repainted tub or shower - concrete shower floor - terrazzo shower floor - ceramic tile / marble tub / shower floor - cultured marble / acrylic tub / shower pan - fiberglass pan insert is a prefabricated fiberglass shower pan - fiberglass tub / shower combination - pressed steel tub / shower pan - cast iron tub / shower pan - tub / shower surround material damaged / worn / - tub / shower tile / grout cracked chipped missing loose - tub / shower door removed / parts removed - tub / shower door / enclosure damaged / corroded - tub / shower door fails to latch / latch - tub / shower door difficult to operate / vinyl sweep -

			File last updated March 22, 2010 * Copyright © 2010 All rights reserved by: Accurate Inspections, Inc. A New Jersey home inspection firm 56 Woodland Drive, West Paterson NJ 07424 973-812-5100 providing New Jersey Certified Home Inspections in NJ, by New Jersey Licensed home inspectors. Inspector of record Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector License GI 0121. NJ Real Estate Lawyer - Local Home Inspector - New Jersey Mold Test - Home Inspection Checklist - New Home Inspection Checklist - Home inspector training - How to become a home inspector - Home Inspection Business - NJ home inspections New Jersey Certified Home Inspector Del Greco