Roof
Attic, Insulation and Ventilation
Exterior
Attached Garage
Interior, Doors, Windows
Kitchen
Laundry
Bathroom
Bathroom 2
Plumbing
Electrical
Water Heating Equipment
Heating
Cooling
Mold Inspection
Premier Partners
Structural Crawlspace
The roof covering material was damaged/deteriorated in some areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
Some of the shingles appear to be de-granulated in areas. Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The roof covering had minor damage from hail, wind, and/or foot traffic. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The roof covering is nearing the end of its life cycle.
Recommend a qualified contractor to evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
One or more combustion appliance exhaust flue(s) is located in an unsafe location relative to the swamp cooler. Swamp coolers need to be installed at least 10 feet from the fireplace, furnace, and hot water flues or chimneys to minimize the possibility of the cooler circulating products of combustion, like carbon monoxide, throughout the house. The same 10-foot rule applies to drain/waste vents. When the 10-foot rule cannot be maintained, the vents, etc. must be extended 3 feet above the top of the cooler. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair/replace as necessary.
The attic access hatch was damaged. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
Signs of previous water penetration or intrusion into the attic. Watermarks or stains were observed. Recommend asking the seller if there are any recent incidents that have been documented or mitigated.
Further evaluation is recommended.
Rusty nails often signal excess condensation build-up due to poor ventilation. Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate further to repair or replace as needed.
The insulation is thinner than current thermal resistance (R-value) standards.
Recommend a qualified contractor to evaluate and repair or replace as needed.
The driveway showed signs of heaving and/or settling in areas. Heaving is often caused by soil that has expanded in volume due to increased moisture content, or by wet soil which has expanded as it became frozen. Settlement is when the soil below a concrete slab is loose, or it can no longer support the weight causing it to sink or crack. This condition could potentially cause a trip hazard.
A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.
The exterior of the garage door has one or more damaged panels. A qualified contractor should inspect and repair as necessary and according to current standards.
The siding and/or trim were damaged in areas of the exterior.
A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.
The exterior wall covering is beginning to deteriorate or has deteriorated.
Recommend a qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as needed.
The siding/trim has lifted nails and needs to be tightened.
Recommend a qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as needed.
The walkway(s) showed signs of heaving and/or settling in areas. Heaving is often caused by soil that has expanded in volume due to increased moisture content, or by wet soil which has expanded as it became frozen. Settlement is when the soil below a concrete slab is loose or it can no longer support the weight causing it to sink or crack.
- This causes cracks in the concrete.
- This creates trip hazards that could result in injury.
A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.
Grade has eroded or was poorly back-filled near the foundation wall, patio, or stairway. This may allow moisture to pool near the structure, and this may allow significant cracking if not corrected.
Recommend a qualified contractor to evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The property had areas of neutral or negative drainage, which will route runoff from precipitation to the foundation. Excessive moisture content in soil supporting the foundation can cause foundation and other structural damage from undermining, heaving, or settling, depending on soil composition, moisture content, and other conditions. The ground around the property should slope away from all sides, ideally 6 inches for the first 10 feet from the house foundation perimeter. Downspouts, surface gutters, and drains should also be directing water away from the foundation. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary according to current standards.
The tree limbs that are in contact with the roof or hanging near the roof should be trimmed. Evaluating trees lies beyond the scope of the general property inspection.
Recommend a qualified contractor to evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The foundation had vertical cracks in areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair as necessary before your inspection objection deadline.
One or more downspout extensions were not properly positioned. Extensions should be properly attached with a proper slope to guide run-off 5 feet away from the foundation structure.
Recommend a qualified contractor to evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The inspector was unable to verify that the door was fire rated. This may be considered a fire safety hazard. The door between the garage and the house should be a solid wood door at least 1-3/8 inches thick, a solid or honeycomb-core steel door at least 1-3/8 inches thick, or a 20-minute fire-rated door. This means that should a fire occur in the garage, the occupant door does not afford protection until firemen arrive. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The door between the garage and the living space failed to close by itself. Modern safety requirements require that the door between the home interior and the garage be self-closing for safety reasons related to fire hazards and toxic fumes. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
Garage walls showed signs of current or past moisture intrusion. Moisture intrusion is visibly noted by the presence of water stains or efflorescence but can not tell whether the issue is active without further water testing.
Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate, and if active, make repairs as necessary to prevent further damage and/or mold.
Indications of movement from the heaving/settling of the concrete floor were present in the garage. Significant movement may compromise the structural integrity of the foundation or structure of the garage which only a qualified structural engineer could comment on after further analysis.
Recommend a qualified structural engineer to inspect further and provide a professional opinion related to this observation.
Axium recommends our premier partner – Level Engineering. They can be contacted at 720-400-8148 or online at www.axiuminspections.com/structural-engineer.
The garage had one or more outlets without GFCI (or ground fault circuit interrupter) protection.
GFCI protection is required for all 15- and 20-amp receptacles, including outlets for refrigerators, sprinkler systems, garage door openers, and washing machines – some items may not be protected on purpose due to the potential for them to go unnoticed and cause damage. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
I observed a cracked glass windowpane.
A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.
A window in the garage had a sash that was difficult to open or close. Recommend having a qualified contractor repair or replace as necessary.
The property had ceiling materials that may contain asbestos. Ceiling tiles or popcorn textures were manufactured or installed using asbestos as late as the early 90s.
In the past, asbestos fibers were added during production to strengthen and increase durability. Materials that contain asbestos, when intact and in good condition, are generally considered non-friable and not hazardous. Heat, water, weathering, or aging can weaken asbestos materials to the point where it is considered friable. Friable material includes any material containing more than 1 percent asbestos that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder with hand pressure. This includes previously non-friable material which has been damaged to the extent that it may be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure and can also be made friable during its removal. Friable materials can release asbestos fibers into the air. Once in the air, asbestos fibers present a health hazard to people who inhale those fibers.
The walls showed signs of minor damage and wear. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
A window had a sash that was difficult to slide or operate to get opened/closed. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
Windows installed in the home appeared to be worn or aged. This apparent condition can mean the windows are deteriorated or difficult to operate, and can also mean they are not consistent with current efficiency standards. They were possibly original and were either at or near their serviceable lifespan. Recommend further evaluation by a qualified contractor and budgeting for potential future replacement.
Some windows had damaged or missing screens. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
No ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection was provided for kitchen electrical outlets. Although GFCI protection of kitchen circuits may not have been required at the time in which this property was built, as general knowledge of safe building practices has improved with the passage of time building standards have changed to reflect current understanding. The inspector recommends updating the existing kitchen electrical circuits to provide GFCI protection. This can be achieved by:
1. Replacing the current standard outlets with GFCI outlets.
2. Replacing the first circuit outlet located closest to the main electrical service panel with the GFCI outlet
3. Replacing the breaker currently protecting the electrical circuit that contains these outlets with the GFCI breaker.
A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
An outlet did not provide Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection. Although GFCI protection of circuits may not have been required at the time in which this home was built, safe building practices have improved with the passage of time and building standards have changed to reflect current understanding. The inspector recommends updating the existing electrical circuits to include GFCI protection. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
No ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection was provided for the bathroom electrical outlets. Although GFCI protection of bathroom circuits may not have been required at the time of in which this property was built, as general knowledge of safe building practices has improved with the passage of time building standards have changed to reflect current understanding. The inspector recommends updating the existing bathroom electrical circuits to provide GFCI protection. This can be achieved by:
1. Replacing the current standard outlets with GFCI outlets.
2. Replacing the first circuit outlet located closest to the main electrical service panel with the GFCI outlet
3. Replacing the breaker currently protecting the electrical circuit that contains these outlets with the GFCI breaker.
A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The base cabinet was damaged. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The toilet was loose on the floor. This condition typically is caused by loose bolts or nuts and/or missing floor seals. The loose toilet can result in leaks, water damage, and mold, as well as damage to the toilet, water supply lines, bolts, and drainage pipes. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The toilet continually “runs” after flushing. This generally means the interior tank components are not working properly. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The combustion air supply for this appliance was not present. A qualified contractor should evaluate and make necessary corrections according to current standards.
The fresh air supply is recommended by manufacturers for the efficient operation of fuel-burning appliances. Years ago, the air could come from inside or outside the building, however, more recent standards prefer for combustion air to come from the outside only.
Flames were not entirely burning a blue color. Orange and yellow flames may be an indicator that the fuel-air mixture is not right and gas may not be burning as efficiently as possible. Recommend a qualified contractor evaluate to adjust, repair, or replace fuel-burning components as necessary.
The HVAC system air filter was dirty. Clogged filters can restrict airflow and increase internal temperatures. A clean air filter will help increase the efficiency and prolong the life expectancy of the system. Due to the damage that can be caused by dirty or clogged coils, recommend replacing the filter, as well as cleaning, servicing, and evaluating the HVAC system by a qualified HVAC professional and repair or replace as necessary.
The exterior compressor unit was not level. Over time, this may result in noisy fan operation, damage to the fan bearings, and a shortened fan lifespan, or it may result in movement of the compressor housing which can cause leaks in refrigerant lines resulting in expensive service. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary and according to current standards.
The fan was loud or making an unusual noise coming from the cooling system when it was operating. This may mean the unit is overcompensating and working too hard or there is damage to the fan in the unit. A unit working too hard may have multiple issues affecting its performance and should be evaluated.
Recommend a qualified contractor to evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
The crawlspace vapor barrier was damaged in some areas, which compromises its effectiveness in reducing moisture and/or radon levels. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
There were water stains or water-damaged areas in the crawlspace at the time of inspection. Recommend a qualified contractor to evaluate and repair or replace as necessary.
Evidence of a possible mold-like substance was observed. We did not inspect, test or determine if this growth is or is not a health hazard. The underlying cause is moisture. It is recommended to consult a mold inspector or mold remediation specialist to determine if further action is needed. Further analysis by a mold remediation specialist is recommended. Axium recommends our premier partner – Mold Removal Express. They can be contacted at 720-464-1555 or online at www.axiuminspections.com/mold-removal-express.
