Home buyers looking at purchasing properties with structural issues should invest in hiring an independent home inspection engineer to assess them before buying, as a professional’s evaluation could save thousands in costly repairs down the line and avoid emotional stress and heartache.
Sloping floors, sagging walls and wet rot can lead to serious structural problems in older homes but also as the result of subpar construction practices.
Structural Issues
Structural problems in earthquake-prone regions can seriously compromise a home’s safety, leading to cracked walls, sagging roofs and shifting foundations – as well as make the property less appealing to potential buyers. For this reason, general home inspectors often refer their clients to professional structural engineers for further evaluations.new home inspections melbourne
Home inspectors and structural engineers generally differ in that a home inspector focuses on the overall condition of a house while structural engineers typically specialize in load-bearing elements like foundation and framing, moisture or rot, termite outbreaks or infestation, door/window alignment issues as well as identification and recommendation of repairs for specific loadbearing elements such as foundation and framing. They may also look for signs of termites. Finally, home inspectors provide services as part of home warranty programs while structural engineers specialize in loadbearing elements like foundation and framing that bear loads from outside sources like foundation and framing, often called loadbearing elements like foundation and framing elements like foundation/framing.
Electrical Issues
Home inspection engineers will take great care to assess the types of wiring present in your house as well as whether functional ground fault circuit interrupters (which prevent electrical shock and fires) have been installed in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and outdoors. Furthermore, they’ll check if there are any open breaker slots within panel boxes which could invite pests such as vermin into your home.
Home inspectors frequently identify aluminum branch-circuit wiring, which was once popular before copper prices skyrocketed but which can quickly overheat, leading to deadly fires. Furthermore, having such wiring may void some home insurance policies.
Home inspection engineers also inspect for GFCI outlets in rooms where moisture may be present (kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms). Designed to protect against electrocution and electrical burns, if these outlets don’t operate correctly it could signal a larger issue that needs further investigation.
Plumbing Issues
Home inspectors typically do not look for plumbing issues, but if they discover structural issues like wide cracking, warped flooring, sloping walls or foundation sinking that warrant further investigation they may recommend that a structural engineer evaluate the property. Furthermore, structural engineers provide invaluable expertise when inspecting heritage buildings to help ensure they comply with modern safety standards while staying intact.
Home inspections often include an examination of water heaters. Faulty heaters can lead to uneven water temperatures or even leakage, necessitating professional plumbing assistance in order to repair or replace the damaged components. A clogged sink or multiple fixtures could indicate a larger issue that requires dismantling your entire plumbing system in order to determine where exactly the blockage exists.
Galvanized pipes used to be commonplace in many homes; now however, they’re considered a serious defect as they can corrode and release lead into the water supply. A home inspector should check for galvanized pipes and advise whether to switch out for newer systems that provide more corrosion-resistance.
Termite Issues
Termites cause property damage by feeding on wood products and building material, but don’t always show visible evidence of damage. Spotting winged termites near the foundation could be a red flag, but that doesn’t guarantee an infestation already exists in a house.
Home inspectors will look out for moisture buildup around a home, as moisture is one of the main conditions conducive to termite infestation. They will also look out for signs of subterranean termites’ travel between their food sources and soil via mud tubes; and will check wood-to-ground contact as well as door frames and deck posts that could serve as potential entryways into homes where termites could enter.
Termite damage in a home can be a deal breaker; however, early detection can minimize damage and enable buyers to move forward with confidence in their purchase decision. Knowing the warning signs for termite infestation can help save both parties time and money in this regard.
