Home Inspection - Examining an Attic

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs, Uncategorized

I know for a fact that buyers hardly ever inspect an attic but you there are a many good reasons why buyers require to check the attic or you could spare yourself from doing that and send a home inspector before finishing a home inspection. Attics should not be ignored because it reflects the story of a home. It can give clues to severe problems that might not be revealed or even identified by the present occupant of the property.

Rafter break or Supporting Truss

Roof checking would not automatically show up defects in the structural parts inside the attic. While the roof may appear secure and sound, when you look inside the attic you could discover trusses. Examining would show stress fractures that could direct to a loss of reliability and would also give buyers peace of mind that the dimension of the lumber was right and up to code.

Prior Fire Damage

If the support are any other shade than natural wood that could possibly be a sign that the home was on fire. If the wood is black, seared and dirty, that is a confirmed sign it had been burned before. Nonetheless, if the woods is painted white, that could point out that the smoke and burned damaged area was concealed because painting wood aid to eliminate the smell.

Sufficient Insulation

Attics can also be insulated in several ways, including blowing in insulation or placing fiberglass batts. Check if with your home inspector if the batts are facing the correct direction whether paper up or down.

Water Leaks

Water runs from the top down and hardly ever enters a home sideways. Home inspections will check for tarnishing on the support of the wood, or on the walls which could show proof that water had seep out or is pouring out through the roof somewhere. Condensation can appear around the pipes which can make the wood to decay.

Pipes

Definitely, one cannot check the inside of the chimney from the attic but an inspector can take down notes whether the structure is solid within the attic. That part of the chimney that is not showing to the component can also get worse and especially on older properties. Home inspectors will examine and look for cracks in the bricks and if the mortar has fall apart.

Damages on Rodents

The first signal that rodents have been living in the attic is often proof discovered in the form of small pellets. Raccoons or rodents and squirrels usually go inside an attic or even on loose boards and can cause big damages on properties. Squirrels can eat through insulation around pipes and chew plastic coatings up to the bare wires. Above that, this can be a potential cause of fire and health risk because of the exposed wiring which needs to be replaced immediately and not be the burden of the buyer.