Five Tips To Quickly Recognize Serious Structural Problems - Home Inspection Tips For Denver-boulder

Home Inspection Tips from the Field � ScottTip 4 �Floors & Walls
Home InspectionAre there drywall cracks > �� in
Five tips to quickly recognize serious structuralsize? Are there uneven floors near corners?
problemsTip 5 � Basement Foundation Crack
Serious structural problems in houses are not veryLook for significant cracks both inside and outside on
common, but when they occur they can be difficultthe foundation, particularly near corners, around
& costly to repair. These tips won�t turnwindows, and any cracks that run the full length
you into a home inspector, but it will give you somevertically or a considerable length horizontally.
of the common indicators of structural concerns. InSummary:
these cases, a structural engineer should be called outTip1 � Is the house obviously leaning?
to investigate further and provide a professionalTip 2 � Are there large external cracks?
opinion.Tip 3 � Are doors & windows sticking?
Tip 1 - Leaning HouseTip 4 � Are walls cracked or floors uneven?
Take a macro-look at the home from across theTip 5 � Are there basement cracks present?
street � is the house obviously tilting orAny of these may indicate a structural issue that
leaning, or one edge of the home separating?should be inspected or reviewed by a structural
Tip 2 � Exterior Walls & Entriesengineer. Structural concerns when selling or
Look for areas of wall separation greater thanpurchasing a home are the most costly items you
�� in sizecan be faced with. Look closely at these areas, or
Check the Chimney area well - is the chimneyask you home inspector to focus on these areas in a
separating from the home?separate walk through of the home. If you
Tip 3 � Doors & Windowsaren�t sure about something you see, have
Do doors and windows open freely? Look for cracksa structural engineer look at it. The cost of an
around the edges of windows and doors, and forinspection will be well worth the peace of mind in
sagging lintels on brick homes.knowing the severity and extent of the concern.