The Plumbing Pipe Advocate is pushing for a home inspection team of experts instead of one inspector to do the job. While their point is well taken, it opens a new conversation about what a home inspector should know, what home inspections should cover, and how many experts are really needed in a general home…
DetailsDo you know the difference between clapboard and board and batten? What’s the average lifespan of vinyl siding? Do cedar shakes ever rot? For that matter, why do some homes have shakes on the roof? Home siding takes a lot of different forms and comes in all shapes and sizes. Here’s a little background information…
DetailsIt’s been said that home inspectors take on unnecessary liability if they step too far into referrals and recommendations. The home inspection is all about giving customers information about the condition of a house. Recommend a system replacement or estimate costs and the customer could make a buying decision based on your opinion. That said,…
DetailsWhat’s cool, powerful and fits all over? High-velocity air conditioning, that’s what. This system is robust, compact, and in many homes, can cool more efficiently than a traditional air conditioning system. If you’ve never encountered one before, here’s what you need to know. High-Velocity Systems Have Unobtrusive Vents Like any conventional air conditioning system, a…
DetailsRetirement doesn’t mean what it used to. Now, many people approaching retirement are stepping off the end of one career onto the beginning of something brand new. Some even take early retirement to get a head start on the next life stage. Whether you gradually ease out of your current line of work or take…
DetailsThe most common roofing material in America is the classic asphalt shingle. But even they have variations that you might not know about. Pan out for a wider view and you’ll find a wide range of roofing in so many colors and designs that it boggles the mind. Some materials are only suitable in specific…
DetailsSome homeowners think it’s a trend. Other homeowners don’t know how they’d live without it. Hydronic home heating systems can warm a whole house or just the coldest part of a floor. As a certified home inspector, you might only find hydronic systems in a few homes here and there. Learn how they tick now…
DetailsDefects and material defects aren’t necessarily the same thing to a certified home inspector. Generally, inspectors focus on locating material defects. But what’s the difference, and does it matter? Defects mean something isn’t as it should be. It’s broken. It’s damaged. It’s defective. But a material defect takes the idea one step further. It refers…
DetailsStucco has taken a lot of hits over the past decade or so, but it’s still in the running as a preferred home cladding. Applied the right way using proper materials and with skilled hands, it can protect a home from the elements for many years. The problems started to emerge with exterior insulation and…
DetailsProbably, most of the homes you inspect will be sound, secure and healthy within reason. But every once in a while, you’ll inspect a house with lurking hazards. Home buyers and other customers will hire you to tell it to them straight. If there’s a problem, they’ll want to know about it. While you look…
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