The very nature of showers and bathtubs can create a real risk of leaks and also make them hard to spot until there’s widespread damage. Just how much havoc can a small leak create? Left unchecked, plenty. Water ruins drywall, warps subfloors, and can even lift tiles. If you’re inspecting a bathroom that doesn’t look…
DetailsAs landscaping grows and matures all summer, new home defects might arise and old ones may become obscured by all of the lush, green growth. When fall arrives and plantings die back for the season, foundation cracks, roof damage, and other defects become apparent. Fall is one of the best times for a home inspection…
DetailsThere’s no way to know everything that has happened in a home. If a house has survived a flood, there might be hidden damage that a new owner needs to know about. Although a certified home inspector doesn’t dig into walls or lift up flooring to see the bones of the house, certain indicators on…
DetailsA wet or flooded basement is anything but convenient and no homeowner wants to face the serious price tag of repairing one. When it comes to trying to fix a wet basement, many homeowners are not aware that certain “fixes” are actually not addressing the root of the problem. If you’ve tried any of these…
DetailsWood-burning stoves might seem like simple appliances, but numerous problems can lurk that put the health and safety of the homeowner at risk. The stove might have the wrong flue pipe, sit in an unsafe location, have a defective door seal, or a number of other problems. There aren’t many moving parts, if any, in…
DetailsAlabama residents have a straightforward path to home inspector certification and licensing. It all begins with a great education, which is what ICA School does best. Unlike many other states that have exhaustive licensing requirements, Alabama helps new inspectors get to work quickly. Here’s what you need to know about compliance in the Cotton State.…
DetailsCrosslinked polyethylene tubing (PEX) is an acceptable water supply piping material according to most building codes. Certain states and small towns, however, might frown on it. What if your area doesn’t allow PEX? Is it an automatic home inspection defect? Probably not, as defects and code violations aren’t the same. Whether or not you caution…
DetailsHomes are getting smarter each year, and even professionals have trouble getting up with tech advancements. Each of these items could become part of your daily routine as a home inspector, especially as technology allows for more convenience. Whether you are dealing with homeowners who use these gadgets or you carry some for yourself when…
DetailsAlthough many of them have long since been removed, Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) breaker panels with Stab-Lok breakers still exist in homes across America. What’s so dangerous about them and how can you identify a problem even if there’s no evidence of arcing, sparking or charring? If the panel was manufactured before 1982 and has…
DetailsAlthough some markets require a full tear-off, a new roofing installation over the old one could be a sensible option where code allows it. If the conditions are right and the materials are compatible, an overlay is economical and performs as well as stripping off the old materials and starting anew. That said, some roofs…
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