Inspecting the Exterior (including the house, carport, attached ... - NAHI

Inspecting the Exterior
(including the house, carport, attached, and detached garage)
A professional Home Inspector will look at:
Visible structural components.
Wall covering, trim, and protective
coatings.
Soffits, fascia, and related trim.
Windows, doors, casings, sills,
thresholds, and installed screens.
Attached porches, decks, balconies,
steps, stairs, handrails, guardrails,
carports, and garages.
Crawl space skirting.
Exterior portions of chimneys.
Photo credit: seier+seier / Foter / CC BY
But when the Home Inspector looks at these features, what is he or she looking for:
The inspector should look at structural components for signs of:
o Cracks, settlement, heaving, rotation, leaning, buckling
o Loose, missing, rusted, or damaged structural components and fasteners.
o Moisture, insect, or fire related damage.
o Age related deterioration.
o Additions or significant modifications.
o Excessive wear and tear, neglect, or abuse.
o Other visible conditions which, in the opinion of the inspector, may affect the
integrity of the exterior components.
The inspector should look at wall coverings, trim, and protective coatings (paint, stain,
and caulk) for signs of:
o Cracks, gaps, splits, spalling, drilled or cut holes, delamination, nail pops,
efflorescence, rust, rot, organic growth, and dented, broken, or missing
components which could allow moisture or vermin to enter the structure.
o Loose, slipped, or out of plane components.
o Spalling, rust, or moisture related damage.
o Insect or fire related damage.
o Dry, cracked, or missing sealants or caulk.
o Peeling, flaking, blistered, or chalking paint or stain, and unsealed surfaces.
o Missing or loose fasteners, or fasteners set too deeply.
o Age related deterioration.
o Soil, mulch, or landscaping too close to the siding.

o Blocked or buried weep holes.
o Missing drip screed.
o Excessive wear and tear, neglect, and abuse.
o Other conditions which may affect the ability of a component to perform its
intended function.
The inspector should look at soffit, fascia, lookouts, and rafter tails for signs of:
o Loose or missing components.
o Moisture, fire, or insect damage.
o Missing fasteners.
o Missing flashing.
o Vermin access.
o Neglected maintenance.
o Other similar conditions which may affect the ability of the roof to shed water
away from the exterior walls while providing for low side attic ventilation.
The inspector should look at windows, doors, and other wall openings for signs of:
o Cracks, wracking, and binding.
o Moisture, insect, and fire related damage.
o Dry or missing sealants or caulk.
o Missing or damaged flashing.
o Neglect and abuse.
o Torn or missing screens.
o Cracked, broken, punctured, torn, or missing glass, plastic, or vinyl panes or
panels.
o Gaps at stops, sashes, or sills which could allow moisture intrusion.
o Peeling, flaking, chalking, or missing paint or stain.
o Loose, damaged, or missing thresholds.
o Non-fire rated doors between the house and garage.
o Other visible conditions which in the opinion of the inspector may affect the
integrity of the components which are required to be inspected.
The inspector should look at porches, decks, and balconies for signs of:
o Visible support on all four or more sides.
o Secure anchoring at all ledger boards, posts, piers, or columns.
o Excessive wobbling, shaking, bouncing, vibration, flexing, sagging, and slanting.
o Missing, loose, or damaged fasteners, anchors, or other components.
o Wood components in direct contact with soil.
o Loose, missing, damaged, out of plane, or widely spaced joists or beams.
o Loose, missing, damaged, or unconventional spacing of railings and landing
components which could result in personal injury.
o Moisture, fire, or insect damage.
o Excessive age related deterioration.
o Excessive wear and tear, abuse, and neglect.
o Other conditions which in the opinion of the inspector could affect the integrity
or safety of the structure.
The inspector should look at steps, stairs, handrails, and guardrails for signs of:

o Secure support.
o Loose, missing, or damaged components or fasteners.
o Loose, missing, damaged, out of level, or unevenly spaced treads, risers, and
stringers.
o Excessive wobbling, shaking, bouncing, vibration, sagging, or slanting.
o Trip or fall hazards.
o Infant or child protection.
o Excessive wear and tear, abuse, or neglect.
o Other visible conditions which may, in the opinion of the inspector, may affect
the integrity or safety of the structure.
The inspector should look at carport posts for signs of:
o Cracked, loose, bent, broken, or missing components including fasteners and
anchors.
o Moisture, fire, or inspect damage.
o Abuse or neglect.
o Other visible conditions which might affect the integrity of the structure.
The inspector should look at garage and carport floors for signs of:
o Cracks, heaving, settlement, or rotation.
o Poor slope
o Trip hazards
o Other conditions which may affect the safety or integrity of the floor.
The inspector should look at crawl space skirting for signs of:
o Openings which may allow access by small animals.
o Water, insect, or fire damage.
o Loose, missing, or neglected sections
o Age related deterioration, excessive wear and tear.
The inspector should look at chimneys for signs of:
o Cracks, deteriorated parging, spalling, settlement, rotation, heaving, leaning,
separation, moisture intrusion, surface deterioration, and loose, missing, or
damaged components.
o Missing or damaged rain caps or spark arrestors.
o Missing or damaged flashings.
o Clearance to the roof ridge and other structures.
o Other similar conditions which may affect the integrity of the chimney