Common Problems Found During Home Inspections

Over the last decade, we’ve inspected many homes in Bucks and surrounding counties. Let’s take a look at a few of the more common problems we find during an inspection.

Grade Sloping Toward The Home

This could cause your crawlspaces to be damp or wet, foundation movement, cracking or settlement. Water wicking up the foundation could lead to rot in the walls, framing members, and mold. A few signs of foundation movement include windows that are out of square; interior doors that have large, uneven gaps at the top when the door is closed; or floors visibly out of level.

Stucco

Homes with stucco exterior surfaces, when applied correctly, will last a lifetime. At the base of exterior walls, where the foundation and the bottom sill plate meet, a part of a stucco-surfaced wall called a weep screed is applied. We know water can enter stucco through cracks, around unsealed light fixtures, outlets and the like. The water then hits the house wrap and sheds down to the weep screed and out of the building. This is brilliant, but when concrete additions have been poured too high and the weep screed is buried, the system cannot work and water may enter the walls and living space.

Roofing Materials

As homes age, so does the roofing material. This is the component of the house that keeps us and the insides of the house dry. As the roofing material ages, it becomes easier for water to intrude and can lead to expensive repairs or even replacement. If roofing material is improperly installed, it can prematurely aging. There are many types of roofing materials used to protect us from the elements. The most common, starting with the most economical, are asphalt shingles, wood shakes/shingles, terra cotta tile, concrete tiles and slate, just to name a few.

Asphalt shingles have a life expectancy of between 15 and 40 years. With age, asphalt roof shingles will begin to cup either up or down. They will blister and have granular loss. Next, the matrix (material holding the product together) will be exposed.

Wood shingles and shakes will show similar symptoms as asphalt when aging. Cupping, curling, lifting, splitting, insect damage, rotting and missing sections are all possible.

Terra cotta, concrete and slate tiles have a life expectancy of about 20 to 100 or more years. These materials are very brittle. Expansion and contraction caused by the changing seasons will cause these tiles to crack or become loose. Walking on these tiles can be deadly to the material. Cracking and the signs of aging can be difficult to see from the ground. It will usually take a good pair of binoculars and a solid ladder to get a bird’s eye look at the condition of the roof. Any signs of previous substandard repairs should be a warning sign that water may have been leaking into the property.

Electrical Wiring

Faulty wiring is a common cause of house fires. While modern homes have an ample supply of power and electrical outlets, some older homes do not.

It’s typical to see extension cords running from room to room in older homes. This places a burden on the electrical system, outlets and cords and thus could lead to a fire. Another common electrical problem found in all ages of homes is exposed electrical wires. Any wire that is exposed is susceptible to physical damage. If this occurs, it’s sure to do damage. Open splice wire is a typical do-it-yourself job and is common in garages, attics and crawlspaces as well as above dropped ceilings. This is high priority and should be corrected by a licensed electrician as soon as possible.