Inspecting the Exterior (including the house, carport, attached ... - NAHI
Inspecting the Exterior (including the house, carport, attached ... - NAHI
Inspecting the Exterior (including the house, carport, attached ... - NAHI
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<strong>Inspecting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Exterior</strong><br />
(<strong>including</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>house</strong>, <strong>carport</strong>, <strong>attached</strong>, and detached garage)<br />
A professional Home Inspector will look at:<br />
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Visible structural components.<br />
Wall covering, trim, and protective<br />
coatings.<br />
Soffits, fascia, and related trim.<br />
Windows, doors, casings, sills,<br />
thresholds, and installed screens.<br />
Attached porches, decks, balconies,<br />
steps, stairs, handrails, guardrails,<br />
<strong>carport</strong>s, and garages.<br />
Crawl space skirting.<br />
<strong>Exterior</strong> portions of chimneys.<br />
Photo credit: seier+seier / Foter / CC BY<br />
But when <strong>the</strong> Home Inspector looks at <strong>the</strong>se features, what is he or she looking for:<br />
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The inspector should look at structural components for signs of:<br />
o Cracks, settlement, heaving, rotation, leaning, buckling<br />
o Loose, missing, rusted, or damaged structural components and fasteners.<br />
o Moisture, insect, or fire related damage.<br />
o Age related deterioration.<br />
o Additions or significant modifications.<br />
o Excessive wear and tear, neglect, or abuse.<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r visible conditions which, in <strong>the</strong> opinion of <strong>the</strong> inspector, may affect <strong>the</strong><br />
integrity of <strong>the</strong> exterior components.<br />
The inspector should look at wall coverings, trim, and protective coatings (paint, stain,<br />
and caulk) for signs of:<br />
o Cracks, gaps, splits, spalling, drilled or cut holes, delamination, nail pops,<br />
efflorescence, rust, rot, organic growth, and dented, broken, or missing<br />
components which could allow moisture or vermin to enter <strong>the</strong> structure.<br />
o Loose, slipped, or out of plane components.<br />
o Spalling, rust, or moisture related damage.<br />
o Insect or fire related damage.<br />
o Dry, cracked, or missing sealants or caulk.<br />
o Peeling, flaking, blistered, or chalking paint or stain, and unsealed surfaces.<br />
o Missing or loose fasteners, or fasteners set too deeply.<br />
o Age related deterioration.<br />
o Soil, mulch, or landscaping too close to <strong>the</strong> siding.
o Blocked or buried weep holes.<br />
o Missing drip screed.<br />
o Excessive wear and tear, neglect, and abuse.<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r conditions which may affect <strong>the</strong> ability of a component to perform its<br />
intended function.<br />
The inspector should look at soffit, fascia, lookouts, and rafter tails for signs of:<br />
o Loose or missing components.<br />
o Moisture, fire, or insect damage.<br />
o Missing fasteners.<br />
o Missing flashing.<br />
o Vermin access.<br />
o Neglected maintenance.<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r similar conditions which may affect <strong>the</strong> ability of <strong>the</strong> roof to shed water<br />
away from <strong>the</strong> exterior walls while providing for low side attic ventilation.<br />
The inspector should look at windows, doors, and o<strong>the</strong>r wall openings for signs of:<br />
o Cracks, wracking, and binding.<br />
o Moisture, insect, and fire related damage.<br />
o Dry or missing sealants or caulk.<br />
o Missing or damaged flashing.<br />
o Neglect and abuse.<br />
o Torn or missing screens.<br />
o Cracked, broken, punctured, torn, or missing glass, plastic, or vinyl panes or<br />
panels.<br />
o Gaps at stops, sashes, or sills which could allow moisture intrusion.<br />
o Peeling, flaking, chalking, or missing paint or stain.<br />
o Loose, damaged, or missing thresholds.<br />
o Non-fire rated doors between <strong>the</strong> <strong>house</strong> and garage.<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r visible conditions which in <strong>the</strong> opinion of <strong>the</strong> inspector may affect <strong>the</strong><br />
integrity of <strong>the</strong> components which are required to be inspected.<br />
The inspector should look at porches, decks, and balconies for signs of:<br />
o Visible support on all four or more sides.<br />
o Secure anchoring at all ledger boards, posts, piers, or columns.<br />
o Excessive wobbling, shaking, bouncing, vibration, flexing, sagging, and slanting.<br />
o Missing, loose, or damaged fasteners, anchors, or o<strong>the</strong>r components.<br />
o Wood components in direct contact with soil.<br />
o Loose, missing, damaged, out of plane, or widely spaced joists or beams.<br />
o Loose, missing, damaged, or unconventional spacing of railings and landing<br />
components which could result in personal injury.<br />
o Moisture, fire, or insect damage.<br />
o Excessive age related deterioration.<br />
o Excessive wear and tear, abuse, and neglect.<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r conditions which in <strong>the</strong> opinion of <strong>the</strong> inspector could affect <strong>the</strong> integrity<br />
or safety of <strong>the</strong> structure.<br />
The inspector should look at steps, stairs, handrails, and guardrails for signs of:
o Secure support.<br />
o Loose, missing, or damaged components or fasteners.<br />
o Loose, missing, damaged, out of level, or unevenly spaced treads, risers, and<br />
stringers.<br />
o Excessive wobbling, shaking, bouncing, vibration, sagging, or slanting.<br />
o Trip or fall hazards.<br />
o Infant or child protection.<br />
o Excessive wear and tear, abuse, or neglect.<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r visible conditions which may, in <strong>the</strong> opinion of <strong>the</strong> inspector, may affect<br />
<strong>the</strong> integrity or safety of <strong>the</strong> structure.<br />
The inspector should look at <strong>carport</strong> posts for signs of:<br />
o Cracked, loose, bent, broken, or missing components <strong>including</strong> fasteners and<br />
anchors.<br />
o Moisture, fire, or inspect damage.<br />
o Abuse or neglect.<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r visible conditions which might affect <strong>the</strong> integrity of <strong>the</strong> structure.<br />
The inspector should look at garage and <strong>carport</strong> floors for signs of:<br />
o Cracks, heaving, settlement, or rotation.<br />
o Poor slope<br />
o Trip hazards<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r conditions which may affect <strong>the</strong> safety or integrity of <strong>the</strong> floor.<br />
The inspector should look at crawl space skirting for signs of:<br />
o Openings which may allow access by small animals.<br />
o Water, insect, or fire damage.<br />
o Loose, missing, or neglected sections<br />
o Age related deterioration, excessive wear and tear.<br />
The inspector should look at chimneys for signs of:<br />
o Cracks, deteriorated parging, spalling, settlement, rotation, heaving, leaning,<br />
separation, moisture intrusion, surface deterioration, and loose, missing, or<br />
damaged components.<br />
o Missing or damaged rain caps or spark arrestors.<br />
o Missing or damaged flashings.<br />
o Clearance to <strong>the</strong> roof ridge and o<strong>the</strong>r structures.<br />
o O<strong>the</strong>r similar conditions which may affect <strong>the</strong> integrity of <strong>the</strong> chimney