Inspections Unlimited serves all areas of Northeast Ohio including Cuyahoga, Medina, Summit, Lake, and Geauga counties.
Virtual Inspection
The Home Inspection
The inspection of your home is a complete visual evaluation of all of its visible and accessible components. Take a look at the virtual inspection to see a snap shot of this process. We start with the roof and its components.
Roof Material
The roof material is the most important defense of the outside elements in avoiding moisture intrusion in to your home. We'll evaluate the installation procedures as well as any determining signs that your roof may be nearing of has ended ts useful life.
Flashing
Flashing helps prevent moisture intrusion around any roof penetrations. The visible flashing is inspected around all areas including the chimney, eaves, valleys, roof and plumbing vents.
Roof Ventilation
Roof ventilation is critical to your roof and attic structural components. An improperly vented roof can severly reduce the life expectancy of your roof as well as damage structural components such as roof sheathing, insulation, and roofing support systems. We will inspect the ventilation to see if current ventilation is functional and if more is needed.
Chimney
Your chimney needs to be plumb and square where no bricks are displaced or no mortar joints are delaminating. All chimney flashings should be sealed and secure to the roof and chimney. If accessible, the inside of the flue will be evaluated.
Gutters & Downspouts
The gutters need to be free flowing, clear of debris, and properly pitched to the downspouts. If not, water from your roof will pour over and send unwanted additional water down the foundation walls causing moisture issues in the basement.
Exterior Surface and its Components
Now let's look at the exterior surface and all of its components including the windows, doors, foundation wall, utilities, and the siding material.
The Siding Material
The siding material and its components are critical to help keep the home weathertight and to avoid invasion of unwanted pests. The siding, trim, soffits, and fascia are inspected for its durability, proper attachment, and current reliability.
Windows & Doors
Your windows and doors are interruptions of the siding and structural support framing of your home. Windows and doors are inspected for their structural integrity, current reliability and functioning. Windows and doors can severly reduce your energy efficiency if they are older or improperly installed.
Utilities
The utilities' components such as the electrical mast and gas meter are inspected for their structural integrity and proper attachment and entrance to the house.
The Foundation Wall
The foundation wall sit on the footer or other support mechanism and are the major components which hold the house up. The visible portion of the foundation wall is inspected for any cracking, displacement, and decomposition of its materials.
Lots & Grounds
Now lets take a look at components adjoining the home that perform critical functions to your home. positive grading and swales are essential in keeping additional unwanted water going down your foundation walls to your basement. The inspection evaluates for proper positive grading.
Driveways & Walks
The driveway and walks going to the home are inspected for their structural integrity looking for cracking and displacement. Displaced sections can create a trip hazard and even cause structural issues to the foundation of a home.
Porches & Decks
Porches and decks are inspected for their proper construction and structural integrity. Also, they and their components are evaluated, based on their visible areas, for their current reliability and checked for material decomposition.
Garages
Now lets look at garages. They can be either attached or detached from the home. Let's start with the door. The door and its components are inspected for its correct operation and safety including the springs, tracks, and rollers.
Garage Door Opener
The garage door opener, if present, is tested and evaluated for its overall operation including any unusual sounds it may make during operation. All safety reverse mechanisms are tested as well for safe operation.
Roof, Gutters, & Siding
The roof, siding, gutters, and downspouts are inspected in the same way as they were inspected for the main house structure. If the garage is attached to the home, care is taken when evaluating all the connecting points.
Garage Floor & Foundation
The garage floor and its supporting foundation are evaluated for their structural integrity and well as looking for significant cracks or displacement that can compromise its future use.
Garage Electrical
All lighting and receptacle components in the garage are inspected and evaluated according to modern electrical requirements including proper protection for wiring systems. Now, lets move inside the home to start looking at all of these components.
Living Space Components
When inspecting the living areas, certain components are present in most or all of the rooms. One is the windows. The windows provide light in to a room as well as emergency escape exit. However, they can also be a huge source of energy loss, entrance for moisture intrusion and if not properly supported, a structural issue. The windows are evaluated under all these considerations.
Ceilings, Walls & Floors
The walls and floors are evaluated for any symptoms of any potential structural issues including sagging floor areas, cracked walls or ceilings, and suspect areas of moisture intrusion. These type of issues can reveal much more serious issues related to the functionality of your home.
HVAC Source
Each room is inspected for a functioning heating & cooling source with supply and return air. In many older homes, there is no return source on upper floors. In these cases, doors should be undercut a minimum of 1 " for proper return air balance.
Electrical Source
A representative number of electrical receptacles ans switches are inspected for proper functioning in each iving space room including bedrooms. All three prong outlets require proper grounding methods. Three way switches should be in use at the top and bottom all all step areas.
Kitchen Area
The kitchen area components area evaluated including the walls, ceilings, floors and cabinets for any visible defects.
Kitchen Plumbing
All the visible plumbing components including water flow and drainage are inspected for proper functioning. The areas under the sink are evaluated for present or past moisture issues or leaking.
Kitchen Electrical
All electrical receptacles within 6' of water should be a grounded GFCI receptacle with the exception of a receptacle use for a major appliance. GFCI's are tested for their proper functioning.
Bathrooms
All bathrooms plumbing components are inspected including proper flow, drainage, and signs of leaks and areas of moisture issues. since bathrooms develop condensation, a proper ventilation source should be present.
Bathroom Electrical
All electrical receptacles within 6' of water should be a grounded GFCI receptacle. GFCI's are tested for proper functioning. It is also recommended to have an exhaust fan, especially if there are no windows for proper ventilation.
Electrical System
The main electrical service panel is inspected and evaluated for current electrical needs, updated safe wiring practices, and proper wiring methods. Electrical wiring methods have changed dramatically over the last 50 years. It is important to have your electrical system evaluated to meet current moder day electrical needs.
Branch Wiring
Branch wiring provides power to all living spaces. All visible branch wiring is evaluated for proper and safe wiring practices. Wiring material has changed as well over the last 50 years. Knob & Tube wiring was used mainly in homes built prior to the mid 1960's. Romex wire is the main material used in recent construction.
Heating & Cooling
Your furnace is a vital component of your home. Your furnace is inspected and evaluated for its age( if possible), and overall operation. Although dismantling your furnace is beyond the scope of any home inspection, it is evaluated for signs ans symptoms that may affect its opeartion and reliability. a carbon monoxide detector is used during operation as well. The average life expectancy of a heating system varies depending upon its type.
Air Conditioning
Your air conditioning system is a soure of comfort on hot summer days. The ac unit is evaluated for its age ( if possible ) and overall operation. The ac unit can not be tested if outside temp is below 65 degrees. However, it is inspected for overall condition.
Basement Area
The basement is an area where many critical structural components may be visible for inspection. These include all visible beams, piers, posts, girders, joists, subfloors, and foundation walls.Main girders supported by piers and posts carry loads from the structure to the main foundation walls.
Joists & Subfloor
The joists help carry the load from the structure to the main beams, girders, piers, and posts. They are evaluated for any potential issues involving the structure. Also, the subfloor is evaluated for any moisture issues and rotting issues.
Basement Walls
The foundation walls are a major structural component of a home. Cracks in foundation walls can be settlement or shrinkage cracksor they can be a sign of a structural problem. The visible foundation walls are evaluated for any signs of any problems. At times, they may need further evaluation from a structural engineer.