| Home Inspection Tips from the Field � | | | | Are there drywall cracks > �� in |
| Scott Home Inspection | | | | size? Are there uneven floors near corners? |
| | | | |
| Five tips to quickly recognize serious | | | | Tip 5 � Basement Foundation Crack |
| structural problems | | | | |
| | | | Look for significant cracks both inside and |
| Serious structural problems in houses are not | | | | outside on the foundation, particularly near |
| very common, but when they occur they can be | | | | corners, around windows, and any cracks that |
| difficult & costly to repair. These tips | | | | run the full length vertically or a |
| won�t turn you into a home inspector, | | | | considerable length horizontally. |
| but it will give you some of the common | | | | |
| indicators of structural concerns. In these | | | | Summary: |
| cases, a structural engineer should be called | | | | |
| out to investigate further and provide a | | | | Tip1 � Is the house obviously leaning? |
| professional opinion. | | | | |
| | | | Tip 2 � Are there large external cracks? |
| Tip 1 - Leaning House | | | | |
| | | | Tip 3 � Are doors & windows sticking? |
| Take a macro-look at the home from across the | | | | |
| street � is the house obviously tilting | | | | Tip 4 � Are walls cracked or floors |
| or leaning, or one edge of the home | | | | uneven? |
| separating? | | | | |
| | | | Tip 5 � Are there basement cracks |
| Tip 2 � Exterior Walls & Entries | | | | present? |
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| Look for areas of wall separation greater | | | | Any of these may indicate a structural issue |
| than �� in size | | | | that should be inspected or reviewed by a |
| | | | structural engineer. Structural concerns when |
| Check the Chimney area well - is the chimney | | | | selling or purchasing a home are the most |
| separating from the home? | | | | costly items you can be faced with. Look |
| | | | closely at these areas, or ask you home |
| Tip 3 � Doors & Windows | | | | inspector to focus on these areas in a |
| | | | separate walk through of the home. If you |
| Do doors and windows open freely? Look for | | | | aren�t sure about something you see, |
| cracks around the edges of windows and doors, | | | | have a structural engineer look at it. The |
| and for sagging lintels on brick homes. | | | | cost of an inspection will be well worth the |
| | | | peace of mind in knowing the severity and |
| Tip 4 �Floors & Walls | | | | extent of the concern. |
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