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.