A Comprehensive Home Inspection Begins with the Structural Components

A house would not be a house without a structure. Structural components of most homes include such elements as frames, beams, foundation, roof, joists, and rafters. If you can visualize these components as the skeletal system of a house in comparison to a human skeletal system, then you have a better understanding of their importance.

The outside of any skeleton is covered with fully functional muscle and skin. In our metaphorical concept of a home’s components, you might think of underlying plumbing pipes, electrical wires and insulation to be the musculature. The exterior cladding or siding, as well as the interior walls, ceiling and floor might be imagined to be the “skin” of the home.

As with a human being, when any of these structural components fails, then major problems may exist and compound over time.

The Structural Inspection

A home inspector is expected to visually examine all structural components of a home. He examines exterior walls and cladding, interior surfaces, the roof (if possible) and attic space, the basement and foundation walls, and all visible support systems. The key term is “visible.” A home inspector is required to inspect those components that are visible to him. But this does not mean that he is not well trained to recognize the clues that may indicate problems in areas where he has no ability to see.

Possible Structural Problems

Remember, a home inspector does not have x-ray vision. He cannot see through walls or into concrete. He relies on his senses and visible clues to lead him to decipher the condition of a home’s structural components. When he discovers a potential problem, such as a sagging foundation, he may suggest you consult with a structural engineer who would be trained to investigate further.

The home inspection report will detail your home inspector’s ability to visually observe structural components, along with notes on condition and any repair and replacement recommendations.

Strictly Business Home & Commercial Inspections serves New Jersey, the Greater New York Metropolitan Area, and Eastern Pennsylvania. They provide the most comprehensive inspection services in the region, including general home inspection, property inspection, commercial inspection, radon testing, mold inspection and carbon monoxide testing. Strictly Business Home & Commercial Inspections is licensed or certified with the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), American Home Inspectors Training Institute (AHIT), FEMA, Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.