Most home inspectors know that we need to objectively report our findings. For me this includes not mumbling “what the heck?” under my breath, and being mindful of my body language such as facepalms. However, when I walked into this bathroom, my tact fled, and my face and palm met with a loud smack. […]
As any good home inspector does, there I was explaining to my client that his particular roof style typically lasts 15-20 years. As the old adage goes, no good deed goes unpunished. The realtor comes storming out and says “Oh! its not a 25 year roof?” After I explained that it did not appear to […]
It’s Been Like That for Years One response we hear a lot to observations in our report is, ” Mr. Inspector, you don’t know what you are talking about, it has been like that for years.” One time we had an agent go as far as to tell us that we should not have reported […]
Dry stack, or groutless stone veneers are becoming very popular. However, I often seem them installed poorly, and not according to the manufactuers recommendations. In the photo on the left you, see the underlayment (blue) and and the scratch coat. In the photo on the right, you can see the scratch coat is still exposed. […]
As a home inspector, it is not uncommon for me to get asked if I will sample the home for mold. I was taught early on in my career that it was not necessary, so I never sought mold sampling credentials. Eventually, after many inquiries, I decided to look into becoming a mold sampler. This […]
We recently performed a home inspection in Chesterfield, VA. As with all of our inspections, we found some deferred maintenance such as deficient caulking, clogged gutters, and trees in contact with the roof. Trees in contact with with the roof should never be taken lightly. We have found significant damage from tree branches scraping the […]
Ventless fireplaces, more accurately known as duct-free fireplaces and room-venting fireplaces, are a type of residential gas-heating device. Ventless fireplaces are preferred because they burn at nearly 100% efficiency, release far less harmful gasses than most other heating alternatives, and their installation is restricted little by architectural constraints. They are controversial, however. Despite their name, they […]