Dr. Tom, LLC. Website: Common defects and Information
Home problems, home defects and common questions to ask before, durring, or after a home inspection.
Roofing defects:
A problem commonly found during many home inspections is roofing problems. By gosh there are some people that would rather get rid of or sell a hfile:///home/ubuntu/DrTom/Website/commondefects.htmlome than dare to replace or repair the roof! Replacement and removal of roofing materials can cost over $9,000 or so just for a average house. The capital would be very well invested because if the roofing is not changed before it partially or completely before it fails very expensive problems are almost guaranteed to happen.
Ceiling stains:
Any ceiling stains are indications of a previous or active leak. If there are stains that exist the contractor and or homeowner must in writting notify you what will be or has been done to remedy the issue and when you are taking an uneeded open end risk.
Water intrusion below grade:
Any water in any basement is always a very bad thing. The high moisture created conditions which are very conducive to mildew and mold that will damage storage along with the moisture itself. Usually the surface water is the culprit. Installation of downspouts, gutters and also improving all drainage away from the house are great ways to solve many problems. One very good way to solve the problem is having a French Drain installed around your home to greatly improve drainage and prevent water from accumulating. Installation of basement perimeter drains are not a fast repair and should be considered a last resort.
Electrical hazards:
I have been to tens of thousands of houses not only as a home inspector and contractor but also as a Fire Fighter and can not tell you how or why some did not burn completley to the ground from having a major electrical fire. Alot have very terrible devices and wiring and very lucky home owners (still no fires yet).
Sometimes I feel like asking the home owner to go out and pick me some lucky lottery numbers. Whatever you do, DO NOT play with electricity, you will or could electrocute you or others or worse cause a fire.
Rotted wood under plumbing fixtures:
Under a bathroom one or two water stains can cost $16,995 or much more to properly repair. If there is a stain under a bathroom unless proven otherwise assume it is activly constant and keep to heart all the additional latent damages one must be expect to have as well as the additional cost if untreated.
Building violations where additions and alterations were constructed without permits:
Homes are very seldomly built perfect or actually correct! Beware of those who tell you crafstmen completed all the work in the home whom pulled all the required building and specialized trade permits and deal with all the difficult municipality inspectors. I am sure there are many great inspectors of various municipalities out there. It is hard to phantom that the only ones the builder or seller tells us about are the tough ones. I also find it hard to swallow that they only used the best materials and contractors. If there were that many great builders out there I would still be a construction operations director or a project manager.
Dr. Tom, LLC. would like to take a moment to thank you for your time and efforts to visit our site espically through our transition and look very forward to your next visit.
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