This blog is going to go over the most common defects found in a home inspection, the defects severity, and common recommendations made to correct these defects. Many defects may be found in your home inspection, from relatively small issues such as cosmetic defects or broken window seals all the way to major defects such as a dangerous electrical panel or a failing roof. Learning about these common issues is a great way to help understand your inspection report in greater detail! These details are provided in bullet point formatting below.

1. 
   Failed window seals, modern windows are constructed with 2 panes of glass with inert gas between the panes. This is done to help with energy efficiency and sound deadening, when a window seal fails moisture is allowed to get in-between the panes of glass. Over time this moisture has the ability to cause moisture damage to the window frame, and the areas surrounding the window frame. Beware of companies that state they can “fix failed window seals” the only option proven to work is replacement of the failed panes. This is not a major issue, but has the ability to damage the home over time.
2. 
   Single strand Aluminum wiring, aluminum wiring was substituted for copper wiring between 1965 to around 1975 due to a copper shortage. Aluminum multi strand wiring is still commonly used today and poses no problems, single strand aluminum is a different story. Single strand aluminum wires have the tendency to expand and contract as electricity flows through them and heats them up. This causes issues at connections such as at the panel or at receptacles, these issues include arcing which could cause an electrical fire. All aluminum wiring should be evaluated and corrected by a licensed electrician as this is a serious safety issue.
3. 
   Continuing with the electrical let's talk about dangerous electrical panels. Some of the most dangerous electrical panel defects include wires tapped into the mains, double tapped breakers, undersized wiring, and signs of moisture intrusion into the panel itself. Recalled panels are also a relatively common find, these include Pushmatic, Zinsco, and Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels. All of these issues have the potential to cause an electrical fire, and should be corrected by a licensed electrician ASAP. 
4. 
   Foundation/floor slab cracks, most concrete foundations and floor slabs will develop minor cracks at some point in their life. Most of the time these are not a serious issue, these cracks become a serious issue when there is major movement of the structure involved as well. When major movement is discovered it is best to consult a structural engineer.
5. 
   Improper deck construction, improper deck construction is one of the most common issues found during a home inspection. Decks should be constructed with a continuous load path taking the load directly down to the ground. Nothing should be through bolted, meaning beams should sit on posts, not be bolted into the side of them. The most common cause of deck collapse is an improperly connected ledger board leading to the deck pulling away from the home. Some issues can be easily corrected such as lack of joist hangers, others are more difficult to correct. Always consult a licensed deck contractor when having a deck improved for safety.
6. 
   Roofing issues, roofing issues can be very serious leading to water damage or even structural damage. Common issues include broken/cut trusses, trusses are an engineered roofing system, trusses cannot be modified in any way without consultation and approval by an engineer. Roofs near the end of their life may cause issues when it comes to getting the home insured.
7. 
   Plumbing issues, these range from very minor to very serious, common serious issues include lack of backflow protection, this could allow dirty water to flow backwards into your homes potable water supply. Polybutylene pipes were commonly used from 1978 to 1994 (gray in color with PB lettering), these pipes are prone to catastrophic failure due to chlorine in the water damaging the pipes. This issue caused many lawsuits! Any leaks or corrosion should be evaluated by a licensed plumber to prevent a potentially extremely damaging failure of the pipe and/or connection.
8. 
   Furnace issues, fuel burning furnaces have the potential to leak deadly carbon monoxide into the living space if improperly installed or damaged. Common dangerous issues include signs of back-drafting (where combustion products are pulled back into the living space) or an improperly colored flame that is yellow instead of blue, this means the air/fuel ratio is incorrect and may hint at a cracked heat exchanger. Any furnace defect should be evaluated by a licensed HVAC contractor due to potential safety issues.

Now that we have covered some common issues, let's talk about one final issue that I find to be the most common, Improper grading and/or drainage. Improper grading such as the ground sloping towards the home has the potential to cause major issues such as basement water intrusion, or even damage to the foundation due to hydrostatic pressure. This issue is compounded even more when gutters drain close to the foundation. Improving grading and drainage is a relatively inexpensive way to reduce chances of wet basements or foundation issues caused by water. And lastly NO downspouts should drain onto a roof below, this causes areas of localized wear that may need replacement much quicker than the rest of the roof.