What is an inspection?

What is involved?

What should you expect?

Most often missed

Sample inspection

4 Point Inspection

Out-of-state inspection

New home inspection

Mold

Termites

Radon

Damaged water shutoff	Holes in vent cover
Missing shingle and granuals	Crack in condo lanai slab
Electrical - conduit damage	Electrical - loose light fixture
Deteriorated framing board testing active for moisture	Plumbing - damaged sink trap
Abandoned wiring	Deteriorated roof support
Electrical - unsecured wiring	Damaged wiring box
Cracked seawall

Gutters:
Frequently gutters are installed without spacers to compensate for the angle of fascia. This can cause "sheeting" or water shooting over the gutter. This in turn causes a wash out around the foundatiion of the house which can lead to movement in the wall and foundation resulting in cracks and water penetration.

Roofing:
Roofing installations often force the metal drip edge under the first course of shingles. This bows the shingles up at the eaves. Water in these troughs runs to the left and right rather than over the edge of the roof, eventually causing the eaves and fascia to rot out.

In Florida roof vents are covered with a lead shield to protect the plastic pipe from the intense sun. The lead shield is crimped into the pipe and often cracks in that area. This allows water to run between the lead shield and the pipe. The result is water running into the attic.

Roofers often install a new roof without bothering to tell homowners that the Main Electrical Service Mast Cap is rusted out. This cap keeps water from running into the Electric Meter Box. Water intrusion in panelboxes can caused corrosion at electrical connections which in turn cause hot spots where elecricity flow is restricted. This is a fire hazard.

Reroofing is unusual in Florida. Usually the old roofing materials are removed before the new roof is installed. When reroofing the roofer frequently uses the old vent covers and does not seal around the new shingles at these vents. He is relying on the old roof seal. The new roof should include new lead shields and stand on its own merit rather than assuming the old seals are acceptable.