A building inspection is mainly concerned with the structural integrity of the house. This begins, as you would presume, from the foundation on up. Here are ten things you can expect a thorough professional building inspection will include.
1. The landscape around the house is usually the most important factor in assessing structural soundness. Consequently, much of a building inspection should focus on the surrounding area and its drainage habits to ensure there is no pooling effect adjacent to the foundation.
2. The gardens closest to building walls are always a source of concern when it comes to structural integrity and water intrusion, as the frequent flow of water to this area often has adverse effects. Gardens near the house walls are usually a special concern as they are an anomaly in the natural flow of water on the surrounding landscape.
3. Often, vents from the heating system or clothes dryers will be buried or discharge into a hazardous area such as dry bushes. Buried vents are usually the result of a gardener trying to improve his gardens ability to grow certain types of plants. These set-ups can often be detrimental if not designed properly.
4. The roots of large trees near the house can cause cracks and the building inspector will attempt to determine if this may be the case.
5. The gutters and down-pipes will be inspected for proper connections as any crack or bad joint can lead to water intrusion.
6. Inside, the inspector will look for a rising damp in the basement and outer walls. Warning signs are mildew or flaking paint.
7. The building inspector will pay special attention to all the wet rooms in the house, including the kitchen, the bathrooms and the laundry room. Any black spots or damp walls are causes for concern as are deteriorating seals around tubs and sinks.
8. Timber and frame work should all line up including all doors and windows.
9. The structure of most houses is susceptible to soil movements and settlement. A professional building inspector will be able to tell the difference between benign cracks, such as those around doors and windows from serious cracks, such as a crack that follows the brickwork.
10. The plumbing of any living space must be carefully examined as most dampness and mold is caused by leaky plumbing. The piping, the fixtures and the connections all warrant close inspection. Also, water pressure is a concern, and it is important to test the pressure with multiple fixtures in use. Often, a large pipe will split into two pipes of equal size, drastically reducing pressure. This is the kind of problem a professional building inspector will be searching for.
home-inspection
