Water Damage

Water can cause problems if it gets into the foundations of a house and doesn’t drain out. These problems can be a red flag when considering buying a property. Standing water under the house can cause damage to the foundation, which can lead to instability in your home. An unstable foundation can cause movement and affect the whole house.

Additional problems can be caused by dampness in your crawl space or water not draining away from the foundation. This is not something that you need to be an expert technician to see.

High repair costs are one of the major reasons water damage is considered a red flag.

Structural damage

Structural integrity issues should be alarming. A home inspection’s most important aspect is assessing the property’s structural integrity. This determines whether the property will be strong and durable. It also evaluates the safety of its inhabitants.

Every residential building has foundations, walls and floors. A home inspection in Gadsden AL will be triggered if these important features are damaged. These are some things you should be aware of when inspecting your home’s structural integrity and condition.

• Cracks in the walls
• Uneven flooring
• Doors and windows that aren’t closed or fitted properly
• Foundations issues
• The front steps leading to the property are misaligned and have a porch that is not aligned
• Brickwork and mortar gaps

You should report any of these issues to your home inspector so that they can negotiate a repair. It is important to determine the severity of the problem and whether it poses a safety risk.

Roof Damage

You should inspect your roof before you buy a home. It is an important part of protecting your home from the weather, water damage, and heat loss, as well as denying pests easy access to the house.

It’s impossible to quickly check a roof’s strength and structural integrity from the outside. Therefore, it is important to conduct a thorough roof inspection. Although a roof that is falling apart from the outside may seem fine, things can change once you enter the attic.

These are some things you should be aware of when assessing the roof’s condition:

• The roof’s surface may show dark streaks or water spots.
• A sagging roof: This could also be a sign of a foundation problem.
• Roof leaks. It can look like an onion. There are many problems that can occur, including hidden damage to walls and attics.
• Issues with gutters and drainage systems: Gutters are often the most neglected area of roof maintenance. It can be a difficult and messy job to clean gutters. If gutters become blocked and water doesn’t drain correctly, they can overflow and cause roof sheathing and eaves to rot.
• Curling or cracked shingles: Shingles can literally bake in direct sunlight as they age. The shingles will crack along valleys and ridges as they shrink as the materials dry. Water can seep through the shingles if the edges curl. Wind and hail can cause severe damage to older shingles.