Top Faults to Expect During Building Inspections

A quality building inspection goes a long way in helping property owners to make changes that may save them a lot of time and money down the road. Not only that, but property buyers also benefit a lot from a thorough inspection. As a licensed building inspector, understanding the common faults to look out for can make your work easier and help you become more effective at what you do.

And when you combine such information with the knowledge from your building inspector continuing education (CE) programs, you’ll create the foundation to become an authority in this field. With that in mind, here are the most common faults you should expect in your inspection trips.

1. Roof Damage

In a harsh climate, even the sturdiest roof in the world will start to deteriorate over time. The arguably worst part about roof damage is that the faults aren’t usually obvious from the ground. Still, this doesn’t take away the fact that if left unchecked, such issues typically lead to serious problems. When inspecting roofs for damage, some of the things you should check for are broken tiles, sagging areas, leaks, and poor insulation.

Never underestimate the seemingly less serious issues, as these are often the ones that lead to a disaster when storms and other harsh weather conditions hit. Encourage property owners to conduct preventative maintenance such as replacing broken tiles and clearing gutters regularly to keep their roofs in good condition for a long time.

2. Damp Spots

This is another common fault found in properties throughout the United States, and it comes in three major forms: rising, penetrating, and condensation damp spots. Rising dampness is commonly found on walls as it comes from ground moisture that manages to rise through a damp-proof course. Penetrating dampness is similar to rising damp in that it also occurs as a result of structural weaknesses. In most cases, such water enters your house through windows, walls, and even the roof.

Condensation damp spots are the only type of damp spots here that occur as a result of moisture that’s in the house. Seeing these when inspecting a structure often means there isn’t enough ventilation or insufficient central heating to stop the condensation.

3. Ventilation Issues

Good ventilation is not just crucial for maintaining excellent air quality in homes, but it also prevents dampness and other problems caused by poor ventilation, like toxic mould and wood rot. Unfortunately, some inspectors often overlook this problem, especially in older buildings, so it’s passed on from one owner to the next.

Make sure to always check for blocked air vents, missing or broken extraction fans, and inadequate airflow in all your inspections. Though this may sound like a tedious process, which is probably why some inspectors avoid it, the good news is that some of these issues are unbelievably easy to fix. Sometimes, all it takes is clearing a vent, installing a new extractor fan, or adding trickle vents to windows.

4. Plumbing Issues

You should also expect plumbing issues such as leaky pipes and mould in structures that haven’t been maintained regularly. The good news is that such issues are fairly easy to track with the right tools. While some are considerably easier to fix, there are those that may require closer attention. As a building inspector, however, the good news is that your work ends at identifying these issues and recommending the best solutions.

5. Structural Movement and Cracked Foundations

These two are considerably the most serious inspection faults that you can come across as a building inspector. Structural movement simply means the building’s foundation or framework is shifting. Of course, this is a serious problem that leads to cracked walls, misaligned doors and windows, sloping floors, and in serious cases, total collapse.

Cracked foundations are also serious, as they often indicate underlying issues like soil movement, poor drainage, or even substandard slab construction. Most of these issues can be solved through targeted repairs, but some may require a total reconstruction.

Become a Better Building Inspector

Succeeding in your building inspection career is always a matter of being keen and understanding what you should look out for and why. With the top faults mentioned in this post, it should now be easier for you to run your inspections more effectively. Of course, however, there are other faults to pay attention to, and the best way to get more information is to take your CE course.

If you ask us, the best place to get such courses is rocketcert.com. With expertly written courses that are also fully narrated, professional development has never been easier.