Maryland Home Inspection Blog

Pre-drywall Inspections

People often ask, do I really need a new home inspection or a pre-drywall inspection? There was a code inspection isn’t that sufficient? I teach a class on new home construction defects and until you see what we as home inspectors see you would never ask that question again. We are performing more pre-drywall inspections and new home inspections than we have in a few years.

Five significant inspection concerns.

Deferred maintenance:

One of the most common issues is deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance can be present in the exterior or interior systems and components. These can include rotted trim, paints, old failing siding, failing gutters, and poorly maintained roofs. Algae, wind, and tree branch damage are common roof culprits. Overgrown vegetation and dead tree growth can be an unexpected expense for a buyer.

High winds and heat loss.

Have you ever felt cold air around exterior wall receptacles, doors, windows, or other surface penetrations? With a blower door, you can feel air coming from the interior door striker plates due to air movement throughout the building. On windy days, high winds pass over and around your home, creating negative air pressure inside or depressurizing the house. These higher winds can be equivalent to a blower door used in a home to locate air leaks that simulate a 30mph wind over your home.

What is a home inspection and how to get the most from one?

That is an excellent question we often hear, and most people have differing opinions. A home inspection has been defined as a limited evaluation of the building and its major systems, as observed on the day of the inspection.

Zinsco electrical panels safety hazard in your home?

Zinsco electrical panels are known and documented to be unsafe to use because of problems with their breakers. One of the most commonly reported issues with these panels is that their breakers do not trip during over-current or short-circuit situations, which can pose a severe risk.