Home Inspection Reports for New Homes

Most people believe that a new home is a solid home. However, just because a home was built with all the latest technologies doesn't mean the home was built well. When prospective homeowners view a new home, they should always have a home inspection report conducted before making an offer.

What could possibly go wrong with a new home? A great example is in a small town in Colorado. There were 13 original townhomes that had been constructed in the 1970's. In the early 2000's new homes were built around the existing units. People were much more likely to purchase the new units than the old, outdated ones. Within two years the new units were having roof leakage issues. The builder decided to build quickly instead of building well. The result is that a lot of money was sunk into repairing problems that didn't exist in the homes built 30 years before.

This is just one example. Other examples of problems that crop up in new homes are water leaks. The piping should be inspected. Foundations tend to shift or settle over time. While a new home may not have any cracks under the doors, after a few years, if the house has been built on wetlands or in areas that see shifting, such as hills, the house may also shift and large cracks may be found under the doors and in the foundation itself.

One of the key features in new homes is better insulation, or creating an airtight envelope within the home, to increase energy efficiency. However, if there are toxic chemicals from carpets or mold from water leaks, those will not be vented out of the home, but will circulate in the air of the home, potentially aggravating allergies, or worse, becoming the cause of illness.

Wiring will also need to be inspected to insure there are no fire hazards in the home. Infrared thermal imaging systems can detect areas of heat and cold and alert home inspectors to potential fire hazards.

The benefit of having a good home inspection is that many of these problems can be identified before purchasing the home. During a home inspection report, both the inside and outside of the home are inspected. This includes the walkways, roof, foundation, windows and doors. The tendency to believe new is good, has cost many people money. Don't let that happen to you. Hire a licensed home inspector. Check references, both in person and on-line. Be sure that your investment is sound before you sign on any dotted lines.

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Knob Handle

Handles are attachments fixed on access portals such as doors and windows to facilitate pulling open the door or window to effect entry or exit. In many cases, the handle may simply be a knob which is attached to a locking device and helps to also lock the door simultaneously when it is closed. Knobs are essentially different in shape from handles as they are rounded whereas handles are linear in shape. Knobs and handles can be fixed at different points on the door. Some doors have the handle very high up on the door, to ensure that small children cannot access them, while others may have the handle lower down.

In many circumstances, knobs are more difficult to operate, especially for elderly and differently-abled people. They do not provide a firm grip and hence they could be slippery for an elderly person or someone with special needs to operate. In such cases, a lever-functioned handle would be more appropriate.

Some door handles are recessed into the body of the door as in automobile doors. This provides an aesthetically pleasing effect. However for more high-traffic doors, these recessed handles are not recommended, as their spring-lock mechanism may not take much wear and tear. Folding handles are good for balcony-doors and outside windows as they fold back into the frame when not in use.

Knobs and handles come in a variety of materials. Almost all metals can be used but if the knob or handle is to be facing outwards, it needs to be weather resistant, be able to repel rust and corrosion and also provide a good grip when wet. In such cases, highly polished handles may not be suitable, and metal handles may be textured, carved or decoratively embellished to provide some roughness. Brass and bronze knobs and handles provide a classic touch, while plastic handles can look stylish and contemporary.

Knurled or patterned knobs provide a good grip for turning, while lobed knobs are useful for lightweight turning operations. Domed knobs are installed on vertical surfaces and they help water to run off easily when exposed to rain or wet weather. Plastic handles are very effective when there is a need for a tough, non-conducting material which will not rust or corrode or react to aggressive chemicals. Ball-shaped knobs look decorative on drawers and cabinets especially when they're made of ceramic, painted wood or polished metals. T-shaped knobs are useful in moving levers and gas tanks.

Depending on your specific requirements, you can purchase the correct type of knobs and handles from your local hardware store or order them on-line from manufacturers.

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What's Involved In Inspecting The Roof During a Home Inspection?

The foundation and the roof of a property are two of the most expensive components of a property to repair if something goes wrong. Before buying a new home, having a home inspector conduct a thorough evaluation of the property has saved clients thousands of dollars in future repairs that they can take off the asking price of a home. The results of home inspections have even deterred potential buyers from making an offer on a home. Just because a property is new doesn't mean the roof is intact or free of leaks. New homes, poorly built, are just as likely to need repairs as older homes.

Each type of roofing comes with its own challenges. Roofs fall into one of two categories - low slope roofing and steep slope roofing.

Low slope roofing refers to slopes less than or equal to 14 degrees. This type of roof includes water impermeable types of roof membranes, such as metal panel roof systems, polymer-modified bitumen sheet membranes, single-ply membranes and spray polyurethane foam-based (SPF) roof systems, according to the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Within these types, there are three principles that need to be checked during a home inspection:

• Weatherproofing. If this element is compromised, expect leaks and water damage. • Strength and stability through reinforcement. Making sure the roof is going to stay intact during storms and high winds is important. • Surfacing helps protect against fire and hail and may help reflect the heat of the sun's rays. Hail damage can run into the thousands and tens of thousands of dollars for repairs depending on the storm.

Steep slope roofing refers to shingles, clay and concrete tile, metal, slate, wood shakes and singles and synthetic materials (source NRCA). Clay and concrete tile can crack or come loose. Extensive cracking will be looked for as well as missing tiles. Weatherproofing comes in two forms, the covering and an underlayment that acts as a secondary layer of weatherproofing. Again, damage here can mean expensive water leaks. Thermal imaging systems can help identify leaks in this area. In climates that receive a lot of direct sun and high altitude climates, wood components can warp and weaken quickly. Wood also may need to be stained regularly, and should be factored in as a home maintenance cost.

Once weatherproofing and the condition of the covering have been inspected, an inspector can assess whether the roof will need repairs immediately or in the near future. Roofing jobs are not cheap, so be sure to protect your investment by having a trusted home inspector perform your home inspection.

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