Common defects found during a Tampa Home Inspection.
No house is perfect. Even the best built and best maintained homes will always have a few items in less than perfect condition. Below are some of the items we most commonly find when inspecting a home.
Structure
The most common structural problems include settlement, cracking and damage from termites. In older homes it’s not uncommon to find significant foundation problems and major damage from termites.
Roofing
The most common roofing problems include leaks, damaged shingles, broken tiles and roofs that are just plain worn out.
Exterior
Outside the home, common problems include rotted trim, rot at bottom of doors, water intrusion and doors and windows. Stucco on wood frame walls is often problematic with cracking, water intrusion and concealed damage.
Electrical
We find few electrical problems in newer homes. In older homes, we often find inadequate wiring and amateur work that creates hazardous conditions. Other issues includein missing or old smoke alarms and GFCI receptacles that don’t work.
Plumbing
The number one plumbing problem is leakage. Other issues include slow drains, water heaters that are not properly installed and fixtures that don’t operate properly. In older homes, older piping becomes problematic. Old cast iron drain lines are often leaking and at or near end of life. Older galvanized iron water lines are all at or near end of life.
HVAC
The most common problem with air conditioning systems is lack of cleaning resulting in mold growth inside air handlers. Other problems include poorly installed duct work and inadequate air flow. We often find systems that are not performing properly due to refrigerant leakage or other problems. Occasionally we find systems that are grossly oversized or under sized. I recently inspected a brand new home that was 5 tons oversized!