by CFBIBlog | Apr 28, 2019 | Home Inspection
It may sound strange, but an attic is essentially a health indicator for your home.
Issues in an attic could point to obvious problems around your home- such as roof leaks or a pest infestation. But an attic also holds the answers to more sinister issues that you may otherwise overlook.
Here’s why regular attic inspection is so important for the overall health of your home.
Attic Inspection for a Healthy Home
At most, an attic is inspected once every year, if that! Best practice, however, dictates that you should inspect an attic every 6-months- once during the spring, and once after winter.
If you’re inspecting your attic during spring, start by examining the underside of the roof for leaks in preparation for rain.
If your attic is unfinished, make sure to inspect visible areas near the rafters and sheathing. Look out for dark, crumbling, or peeling areas of plaster or wallboard.
If any of these areas are damp, this could point to an issue with roof leaks and replacement shingles.
Other than this, here’s why you should inspect your attic
1. Keep Your Home Warm
Attic insulation plays a major role in regulating the overall temperature of your home- whether it’s winter or summer.
An inspection of the state of your attic insulation could point to why your home is warmer than usual, or perhaps colder than you’d like! This is especially important at the change of major seasons i.e. spring and autumn.
2. Prevent a Nasty Build-Up of Fungus
Your attic is a hot-spot for the build-up of dampness, which, in turn, could become a breeding site for mold to grow and thrive.
Even if it’s just the smallest of leaks, mold growth can be toxic. It contributes to the flare-up of allergies and can even cause major illness.
Believe it or not, even standing water in your basement can contribute to high moisture levels in your attic. So be sure to check both areas during your inspection.
3. Keep Critters at Bay
An attic is another hot-spot for small critters looking to escape the cold of winter or even the heat of the day. If your attic is uninhabited, it’s almost guaranteed this area will attract some form of life.
These critters range from rats, mice, bats, raccoons, and even birds. If there’s a way in, they will find it! Bi-annual inspections are important for avoiding a pest or critter infestation.
4. Prevent Electrical Disasters
This is especially important if you’re the new owner of a home with an attic. You may inspect your attic only to find a number of electrical shortcuts, junction boxes, and uncovered wiring snaking through your attic.
This poses a major fire hazard and could also lead to numerous electrical issues throughout your home. Make sure all wiring is properly covered with insulation and if an electrician is needed for re-wiring- it’s worth splashing the cash!
5. Regulate Condensation Throughout Your Home
Got a leak coming from your attic? In some cases, this is not actually caused by loose roof shingles, but condensation build-up. So, the question is: where is this moisture coming from?
Very often, condensation build-up could point to a major issue in your home that you otherwise may not have noticed. This includes issues with incorrectly installed insulation, HVAC leaks, and major leaks in your basement. All of these issues could cause a very humid attic environment.
In Need of a Building Inspection Specialist?
At Central Florida Building Inspectors we are experts in attic inspection and all other major areas of the home.
If you’re looking to prepare your home for sale or think you’ve found your dream home, we’re here to offer you a trusted home inspection service.
Contact us today for a building inspection quote!
by CFBIBlog | Apr 16, 2019 | Home Inspection
The purchase of a new home is exciting, but it can also be a little scary. You want to make sure you are making the right decision.
Part of that decision process is knowing the home is structurally sound and free from termite damage.
Termite inspections are not required in all home buying cases, but it is still a good idea for peace of mind and a solid investment.
Why Is a Termite Inspection Important?
A termite inspection if different from the home inspection that is standard to determine the overall condition of the home for the buyer.
A WDO (wood destroying organism) specialist will check for signs of termites from the foundation to the attic. It takes about an hour and they will provide a detailed report of any damage and the cost of treatment.
Early termite damage can be difficult to spot for anyone other than a trained professional. Termites are small, but they move in large numbers and work silently to create damage in your home.
This damage can mean expensive repairs and many insurance companies do not cover this type of destruction. They believe it to be preventable and many homeowners have to pay out of their own pocket.
Taking the step to have a termite inspection prior to buying the home gives you valuable information on whether to proceed and can also save you thousands of dollars down the road.
What Type of Damage Do Termites Cause
Termites feed on wood. They can cause severe damage to the walls and foundation of a home. Ceiling beams are also a big target.
Termites can access your home through the foundation or anywhere that wood touches the dirt. They also can come in through damp crawlspaces.
Even if the home is not made of wood, termites can still cause damage. They can work their way in through vinyl siding or plaster and go to work on wood inside your home such as cabinets and wood flooring.
Destruction from termites often looks like water damage. The floors or walls may buckle like they have become wet. In some cases, the tunnels and mazes that they build can be seen.
Unfortunately, by the time it becomes noticeable, the impact is pretty significant. Having a termite inspection is often the only way to catch an early infestation.
When Termite Inspections Are Required
Before a home loan can be secured, most lenders require proof of homeowner’s insurance. A termite inspection requirement falls with the insurance or lending company. They determine if one is mandatory.
Even if the homeowner’s insurance policy does not require a termite inspection for a home purchase, many lenders will take that extra step and request one.
If your loan is through the VA (Veteran’s Affairs), the home is required to have a termite inspection.
An FHA loan (Federal Housing Authority) also requires one.
Routine Inspections
Even if the home you purchases passed the initial inspection, you should schedule routine inspections to avoid any problems in the future.
Termites are very small and quite abundant. Just because your home did not have them when bought, they can easily come in from a neighboring building and start on your home.
Left undetected, your home will be open to all kinds of devastation.
A yearly inspection will keep your peace of mind and your home intact.
Preventative Maintenance
Once you have moved into your termite-free home, there are things you can do to keep it that way.
Keep the moisture to a minimum. Repair all leaks to faucets and water pipes.
It is also important to keep confined areas like the attic, basement or crawl space well ventilated and moisture-free.
Keep your gutters and downspouts in good working order and faced away from the home.
Store any excess wood or firewood at least 25 feet from the exterior of your home and 6 inches off the ground.
Keep all mulch at least a foot from the foundation.
Finally, just keep an eye on things. Watch for any changes to the wood on the outside of your home. If anything looks suspicious, contact a termite professional right away just to make sure everything is protected.
The Right Choice
Having termite inspections before buying a home is the right choice. Even if it is not required, you will go into this decision with all the information to keep your home safe.
If you have any addition questions or need inspection services, please contact us.
by cfbi1 | Jun 2, 2017 | Home Inspection
The reason it’s important to think about radon gas is a very simple one; Radon gas is dangerous to your health if you live in a home with high concentrations of it. Therefore, it is essential for anyone in a home to look into radon testing. Take the time to check your home’s air quality and be confident it is free of radon gas emissions.
For those of you who don’t know, Radon gas is known to be the second largest cause of lung cancer in the U.S. just behind smoking. Florida is a hot spot, and Uranium is found in soil all around the state. Uranium in soil is natural, and the breakdown of that uranium is what causes radon gas.
You just need to be sure that the levels of Radon Gas emitted in the area you live is not putting your health at risk.
There are a few ways to go about checking into radon gas emissions. Department of Florida Health website includes helpful information for your local area. Another option is to contact a home inspection company that is state-certified to test for radon gas.
Give yourself peace of mind, and know the levels of radon in your home are low. Most professional home inspection companies offer radon testing as part of a specialist service.
It is worth being concerned about radon gas, as it is colorless and odorless. Data shows that many Florida homes have an above average level in the air quality, which is why it is important to test it.
In most cases radon gas, can be reduced. A radon technician will be able to assist in the best methods to decrease the risk level. If you are thinking about buying a property, it is smart to test for radon prior to purchasing.
Stay in touch, connect with Central Florida Building Inspectors, Inc. on our Facebook Page
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by cfbi1 | May 15, 2017 | Home Inspection
Any homeowner, or anyone looking at buying property needs to be sure that they learn a thing or two about Radon Gas—it’s as simple as that. Radon is the second common cause of lung cancer in the United States of America, Radon gas is created by the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil found all over the U.S.
The scary thing about Radon is that it is completely colorless and odorless, meaning a home’s occupants can easily breathe it into his or her lungs without noticing it. Radon can also enter into a house through cracks in the foundation, through the expansion joints, and other cracks and holes around the base of your home’s structure.
If you have never heard of Radon, you need to know that is dangerous!
As mentioned, Radon gas is odorless and colorless, you cannot taste it or even see it, and it is capable of filling your home, and becoming a silent killer if it continues to go unnoticed. The Surgeon General of the US has already said that Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer in the states, just behind smoking. If you are a smoker, and your home has high levels of Radon gas, then you are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Each year the EPA says that thousands of people die of cancer related deaths due to Radon inhalation. In average of 1-in-15 homes has serious Radon levels that need addressed.
How can I get a Radon Test?
To get your home tested for Radon, simply contact a local home inspection company. A home inspection is the safest way, and most professional method in which you can get your home tested for Radon. There are a few ways to test the home and surrounding area, and if any concern are found, suitable treatment plans can be discussed. This ensures that the air in your home is safe for you to breathe in.
Don’t delay any longer; contact your local home inspection company today! Ask if they offer Radon testing services that can help you.
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by cfbi1 | Apr 30, 2017 | Home Inspection
There are many benefits of a home inspection, and it’s important to understand just how beneficial a home inspection service can be. A home inspection gives an accurate, detailed report of the inspected property. It gives the buyer all the information they need in order to make a wise and sound decision, on account that this is a critical financial choice to purchase a property.
One area worth looking at is the risk of fire inside the home. A specialist home inspection includes the testing of all working appliances in the home and inspects the safety of electrical wiring that is in place.
Fire safety and the prevention of fire in your home are essential. You should be doing all you can to reduce the chances of a fire starting in your home. The problem is fires start from various sources, faulty electrical wiring, faulty appliances, and blocked heating vents, all are ways a fire can break out in your home.
Home fire damage statistics prove that there can be major damage caused or worse, the unimaginable situation where there is a life lost. So, what can you do to ensure that your home is fire-safe, and you or your properties, are not the next addition to the statistics?
The best way is to take a safety measure, and check the appliances in your house are in working order; also check the wiring in the house is up to safety code regulations. Hire a home inspection company to review both of these items.
A professional, qualified inspector is able to test, and evaluate any potential risks that these factors pose. They can give the correct advice on how to get the problems sorted out.
You can also visit a fire safety website and gather more information on how to make your home fire proof, set up a plan or escape, and ensure your safety levels are at high levels all of the time.
Related Post:
4 Things you Need to Know about Your Smoke Alarms
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by cfbi1 | Apr 29, 2017 | Home Inspection
Perhaps the time has come for you to remodel the home you are in, or it could be that you want to purchase a home, either way it’s essential that you know everything there is to know about the property in question.
In most cases, you might simply overlook small issues and see them as minor and irrelevant problems. However, it is the small issues that can have the most serious of consequences on your health.
Here is something significant for you to consider, if your home was built before 1989, there is a chance the home could have been built with materials made with asbestos.
Asbestos was widely used by many companies in their building materials in the past e.g. roofing materials, vinyl floor tiles, and drywall joint filler compound. It added strength and it provided excellent resistance to heat. It was unknown to them the long-term harm.
Asbestos has been found to be extremely harmful to your health, and could cause mesothelioma cancer via airborne spores inhaled into the lungs. Asbestos damage to your health is not noticeable right away; most cases sufferers feel the affects 20-50 years after actually ingesting the Asbestos fibers.
If your home is older and it concerns you, or you are concerned about the property you wish to buy, contact a licensed home inspector and ask about the next step to identifying if there is an issue. Remember, this is regarding homes built before 1989, since that time the use of Asbestos in materials has been banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
It is not easy to spot products or materials that have asbestos in them, speak to an experienced inspector. They have the industry knowledge needed to give the best advice to relieve your worries.
Make yours and your family’s health a priority; get in touch with a professional affiliated home inspection company today.
