What Are The Most Common Problems Found During a Wyoming Home Inspection?

There are many possible defects or problems that may be discovered during an inspection, but there are some that we encounter more commonly than others during home inspections in Wyoming.

Water Damage

Water damage is the most common problem that we find during Wyoming home inspections. In fact, water damage is such a prevalent issue that we have an entire article about Water: Destroyer of Homes. The bottom line with water is that it must be controlled or it will destroy any home or commercial building.

Site grading and drainage is something that we always look at during property inspections. Site grading should slope away from the building foundation, driveway, and walkways to allow water to drain away from these areas. Site grading that slopes toward the foundation, driveway, or walkways will cause water to drain toward these areas where it collects and always leads to serious damage.

The roof is a very large area that is designed to be impermeable to water. The roof is designed to shed water and to carry water off the roof. Gutters and downspouts are an essential part of the roof drainage system. Unfortunately, we often inspect homes that have inadequate or damaged gutter systems - or even no gutters at all.

Buildings that are not equipped with properly installed and maintained gutter systems dump water from the roof directly to the ground near the foundation. As this water collects near the foundation it may cause a variety of problems, including settlement, cracking, movement, and eventually failure of the foundation. Water collecting near driveways and walkways will cause similar problems. It is essential that water is controlled and not allowed to collect in these areas.

A properly functioning gutter system collects water that is draining from the roof and carries it safely away from the home or building. In addition to gutters and downspouts, downspout extensions are typically required to carry water further away from the building. Downspout extensions are cheap and easy to install, but they may literally save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Water damage to a home or building has the potential to be very expensive to repair. This is something you certainly want to be aware of whether you are considering purchasing a property or are interested in maintaining your existing property.

Electrical Defects

Electrical defects are also a common finding during Wyoming home inspections. While electrical defects are more common in older homes, they are found in homes and buildings of all ages.

One of the most common electrical issues that we encounter is missing GFCI protection. This is most common in older homes as GFCI may not have been required when the homes were built. Now GFCI protection is considered to be an essential safety feature in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages, basements, and crawlspaces. GFCI is a safety feature that literally saves lives and we always check for it during our inspections.

Damaged or loose electric receptacles are also commonly found during home inspections. Receptacles that are damaged or loose are a safety hazard that may result in electric shock or fire.

Outdated service panels (circuit breaker boxes) are commonly seen in older homes. Service panels seem to be one of those things that are “out of sight, out of mind” for many homeowners. As a result, service panels tend to be ignored until or unless there is an obvious problem that requires attention. While a quality service panel may last decades, over time they may become outdated and need to be replaced.

Electrical defects are safety issues that you need to know about in order to keep yourself and your family safe.

Roof Damage or Age

The roof is a critical part of any building that is responsible for keeping water outside while also helping to regulate heat and cold as an insulated barrier. Like the rest of a building, however, roofs age with exposure to the elements and may also be damaged over time. A properly installed roof may last for decades, but eventually all roofs will need to be replaced.

Old roof covering materials (shingles, metal, tile, etc.) are common depending on the age of the building. Of course, a building that was constructed in the past few years will not have an old roof. Older homes and commercial buildings may have old roof covering materials if the roof has not been replaced recently.

Exposed fasteners are commonly seen on roofs during home inspection. The term “exposed fasteners” refers to nails (or sometimes screws) that are exposed to the elements. While special roofing screws like those used to attach metal roofing are designed to be exposed to the elements, roofing nails are not and should be sealed if they are not concealed beneath shingles. Fasteners that are loose may rust and/or loosen over time due to daily temperature changes. As these fasteners loosen or rust, they will being to allow water to leak past and to damage the home.

Hail, wind, tree, or other damage is not uncommon on roofs. Damage from weather, tree limbs, etc. may shorten the service life of a roof, and may also lead to leaks and water damage. It is often difficult to see minor roof damage from the ground, but finding it early provides an opportunity to complete repairs before more damage occurs.

Roof inspections are included with our full home inspections. We also offer roof inspections as a standalone service for a reasonable fee.

Roof repairs are expensive, and delayed roof repairs often lead to even greater expenses are more damage occurs. The best strategy with roofs is to know their condition whether you plan to purchase a home or are trying to maintain your own home in the best possible condition.

Concrete Driveways and Walkways

Concrete is a wonderful material for driveways and walkways and is used at most properties in Wyoming. Concrete is, however, quite unforgiving of uncontrolled water drainage. While minor cracks in concrete are very common as it ages, large cracks and especially movement of concrete slabs is usually associated with poor drainage. Water that is allowed to collect around concrete will lead to settlement, cracking, and movement of the concrete walkway or driveway. Controlling water drainage is key to making your concrete walkway, driveway, or patio last as long as possible.

Decks

Decks can add to the enjoyment of your home and provide a nice space for enjoying outdoor activities. Improper or shoddy deck construction is, unfortunately, somewhat common. Even decks that are built well still deteriorate over time and require repair or replacement. We always inspect decks during our home inspections, and most decks have at least some minor defects in construction. Some decks were either built so poorly or have deteriorated to a point that they are not safe.

Before you have friends and family over for a barbecue or to hang out for an evening you want to be sure your deck is in safe condition. We inspect decks as part of our full home inspections, but also offer a standalone deck inspection for a reasonable fee.

We believe that knowledge is power. Knowing as much as possible about the condition of a home or property is essential for you to make the best decisions for yourself and your family. Whether you are considering purchasing a new home, preparing to sell a home or property, or trying to maintain your own property to protect your investment, you owe it to yourself to have the most complete information possible. A professional property inspection is the best way to gain the knowledge that you need to make important decisions.

Let's Connect

Thank you for considering Frontier Inspections, LLC as your Wyoming home and commercial property inspector! Please reach out to us if you have any questions.

We are available by email at frontierinspectionsllc@gmail.com or by text/phone at 307-670-3706.