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New Home Budget - Get A Home Inspection Piggy Bank
Budget/Home Inspections/Home Maintenance/Moving

New Home Budget – Get A Home Inspection

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We are often asked at Top Inspectors, “how much does the inspection cost?”. This is a valid question, especially when you are saving or preparing to buy a new home. However, the question I like to ask in return is, “how much will it cost you if you DON’T get an inspection?”. One of the best things you can do to prepare yourself and to create a new home budget is get a home inspection.

Knowledge is power, and when you are buying a home, you want as much knowledge as possible. No one wants to live in a home they know nothing about. It can be nerve wracking to be in the dark. “How long will my A/C last? When will the water heater stop working?”. These are questions that every home owner struggles with at some point. But, you don’t have to be confused or in the dark. You can take care of your home and your peace of mind at the same time!

Every responsible home owner in a new home creates a budget. The first part of that budget should be a home inspection. Don’t walk into your new home blind, take control of your future.

Specific ways a home inspection can help you budget

Saving money is great for your budget!

New Home Budget - Get A Home Inspection Green Piggy Bank and Calculator

In one of my last posts, I spoke about how much money the home owner actually saves from getting the home inspection. The amount of money saved from the knowledge gained from a home inspection would surprise you (the average is around$14,000!). You can read that article here, as well as the Porch Analysis.

Plan for the future

Obviously budgeting is all about planning. Having useful knowledge about the current condition of systems in your home can help you create a plan to replace or service systems in the future. Knowing a rough estimate of system lifespans can help tremendously when saving.

New Home Budget - Get A Home Inspection Whiteboard

Create a maintenance plan with your home inspection report

New Home Budget - Get A Home Inspection Maintenance

A good maintenance plan implemented now can save enormous headaches and costs later. Most home inspectors have a very good working knowledge of your home systems and can typically recommend good maintenance practices or programs. It is better to maintain your home now than to have to costly repairs later.

These are just a few of the many ways that home inspections can save you money. A few years back, Top Inspectors had a client call in and ask a slough of questions about home inspections. But, in the end he decided to wave the home inspection because he was trying to save money. His Real Estate agent recommended strongly that he get the home inspection, but he would not be swayed and they went through with the purchase (after he signed a waiver refusing the inspection). Within six months his HVAC system failed and it ended up costing him thousands of dollars in repairs and updates.

Get a head start on your new home budget and don’t leave it up to chance. Get a home inspection before you buy!

Do I Really Need A Home Inspection
Home Inspections

Do I Really Need A Home Inspection?

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Do you really need a home inspection? Last time we talked about if you could do your own home inspection. While technically in some cases you can, it really isn’t recommended by most professionals in Real Estate.

This time, we will explore another reason why you should have your home inspected by a licensed inspector. I want to state again that all reasons are not equally important, so please don’t think one is more so than another. I just want to give you an idea of what home inspectors do and the value they provide.

#2 A Home Inspection Protects Your Investment

A Home Inspection Protects Your Investment

For most people, buying a home is the biggest investment they will ever make. Having a home inspection before purchasing is crucial! You don’t want to buy a “money pit”. It took a lot of work to get where you are and you want to make sure you are investing in something that will take care of you as you take care of it.

Most buyers will pay between $200 and $500 for a home inspection. An analysis from Porch.com reveals that price more than pays for itself in the long run. The report even states that a home inspection saves the average buyer around $14,000 on their purchase.

In the report it says, the average list price before an inspection is $226,600. After the inspection, the average closing price goes down to $212,400.

Home inspections are extremely prudent investments, and can save buyers from unforeseen fiscal challenges. Revealing necessary repairs, agents can negotiate thousands off the price their clients might have had to pay.

A professional inspection is very valuable and can definitely help you navigate through one of the biggest investments you will ever make. Don’t take the chance on your investment. Hire a home inspector!

Home Inspections

Why Do I Need a Home Inspection?

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Can I Do My Own Home Inspection?

Can you do your own home inspection? The simple answer is yes you can. However, we don’t recommend it, and your real estate broker or other professional most likely won’t either.

In the weeks to come, we will explore why you should have your home inspected by a trained professional. These reasons are not necessarily in order of importance, so please don’t think one is more crucial than another. This will just give you an idea of what home inspectors do and the value they provide.

#1 Home Inspectors Can See Problems You Can’t

The majority of home inspectors (with a few exceptions based on safety) will walk your roof, traverse through the attic and if you have an older home, army-crawl through the space underneath the home known as the crawlspace (yes I said army-crawl). Most home owners or home buyers are not willing to or even know how to enter and get through these spaces properly and safely. Home Inspectors are trained to do these things and do them on a daily basis. Many do this multiple times a day. Don’t worry about getting muddy and dirty in confined spaces or risk your safety walking your roof. Just let the home inspector do it for you, that’s what they’re paid for!

Why Do I Need A Home Inspection on My Roof?
Why Do I Need A Home Inspection in My Attic?

Another thing to consider when contemplating inspecting your own home, is that there may be issues that you can see wide out in the open that don’t require you to enter any confined spaces, but you may not know they are issues. Home Inspectors are trained and have a lot of experience “seeing” things that others can’t or don’t. Many people don’t know that certain conditions inside an electrical panel or forced air furnace can be serious safety hazards. Usually these conditions are not obvious to the casual observer.

Stay safe. Hire a home inspector!

Roof Shingle Degranulation
Roof

What Is Roof Shingle Degranulation?

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Did your roofer or home inspector tell you that your roof shingles are degranulating? What does roof shingle degranulation or granule loss mean and what are granules anyway?

Let’s talk about what roof shingle granules are, what they do and what happens when they come off your roof.

What are roof shingle granules?

Roof shingle granules are actually crushed rock mixed with ceramic granules. They are then colored and treated with other components and features to give the shingles enhanced functions. For example: copper granules are sometimes added into the mix to help resist blue-green algae.

The main purposes of granules is to help shed water and to protect against UV rays. The granules protect the material underneath from exposure by absorbing heat and moisture.

What causes roof shingle degranulation or granule loss?

We know nothing lasts forever, and shingles will eventually wear out. This is the most common reason for granule loss. Eventually, the adhesion to the asphalt and fiberglass underneath fails and the granules fall off. Other reasons for roof shingle granule loss is heavy rain, hail and high winds.

How can I tell if my roof shingles are degranulating?

Here are some ways to tell if your roof shingles are losing their granules:

  • Check your gutters and downspouts to see if there are excessive loose granules inside. The rain will wash granules into the gutters if they are loose. It is normal for some granules to come off from time to time, but if there are piles inside the gutter or at the bottom of the downspout, that could be an indication that the roof is degranulating.
Roof shingle granules in gutter
  • Walk around the perimeter of your home and stand back far enough from the house so you can see the roof. Look for discoloration or a “shiny” look. Sometimes you can see “bald spots” on your roof even from the ground. This usually means that the roof is missing some granules.
Degranulated roof shingles

When do I need to replace my roof shingles?

Granules help to make sure that your roof is holding up against the weather. Degranulation does not always mean you need a new roof. When the degranulation is from weather damage, it can be sporadic and only the damaged shingles need to be replaced.

Very worn and degranulated roof shingles
Very worn and degranulated roof
New roof shingles
New roof

Should I get my roof shingles inspected?

If you are worried about your roof and you see signs of degranulation, it is great idea to get a roof inspection. Top Inspectors can do an inspection on your roof to let you know what the condition is and help you get the information you need to move forward and ensure your roof is protecting your home the way it should be!

Polybuylene Piping
Uncategorized

What Is Polybutylene Piping?

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Polybutylene is a type of supply plumbing piping that was installed in homes all across the United States roughly between 1978 and almost to the 2000s. It is estimated that up to 10 million homes were fitted with polybutylene during construction. The reason this material was so widely used was because it was a lower cost material and is much easier and quicker to install than it’s typical copper counterpart because it is flexible, is made of a plastic-resin and doesn’t require extensive soldering or bracing.

Can You Identify Polybutylene Piping?

There are a few fairly simple and typically easy ways to identify this piping material. Here are a few ways to tell if you have polybutylene in your home.

Identification Tips

  • They are usually a grayish-blue color. This is the most common type. But it is important to note that they can also be a cream color, white or black.
  • Pipes are only used for water supply. They are not used for drains or vents. This means that it will be connected to the water supplies and not the underside of sinks, tubs or showers.
  • They are typically about 1/2″ to 1″ in diameter. That’s about the size of a dime or a quarter.
  • They are very flexible, can curve and feel like smooth plastic.
  • The only way to know 100% is to find the tag stamped on the pipe that says “PB-2110”
Polybutylene piping
PB-2110

Where Do You Look To Find Polybutylene?

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine what type of piping is in your home. However, there are a few places to check that may help you find out.

Places To Check

  • The piping runs through the walls and then comes out at specific locations called “stub-outs”. This would be at laundry connections, toilet connections and connections under the sinks.
  • Many times you can find the plumbing material at the water heater where the pipes connect to the top.
  • Sometimes you can see piping material in unfinished areas such as garages or under stairs.
  • Usually there is some sign of the plumbing material in the attic or crawlspace, or both!
  • On the exterior of the home at the main water shutoff.
  • At the water meter in the meter base. These are often near the street or sidewalk.

Be careful! Because there are certain cases where the stub-outs are a different material then the plumbing inside the walls. Many times the stub-outs are copper and it is very difficult to see the piping inside the actual wall.

If you think you have polybutylene in your home, you should consider having a home inspection performed or contacting a plumbing specialist.

Polybutylene piping
Polybutylene piping stub-out
Polybutylene piping
Polybutylene piping stub-out

What Is Wrong With Polybutylene?

Polybutylene has been known to fail due to the chemicals and minerals put into the municipal water. As a result, these additives can cause damage over time to the piping on the inside. Which in turn can cause cracking leading to leaks.

There is no guarantee that polybutylene will leak. It is just like any other system in your home and will wear out over time. It is just more likely than other materials.

There are a large number of claims, lawsuits and many more allegations involving polybutylene piping. A class action lawsuit was even in effect at one point. Learn more here.

Should You Replace Polybutylene?

This really depends on the situation, if the home is in the middle of a sale. You may have to. Again, there is no guarantee the piping will fail, there is just a high likelihood.

Should I Buy A Home With Polybutylene?

This again depends on the situation. Because due to the uncertain nature of this material, many buyers will ask for the piping to be replaced or for a credit to replace it themselves after they have bought the home. You should ask your Realtor and Home Inspector about their advice on the material itself and about what is in your current contract. Ultimately it is your decision.

Home Owners Insurance & Polybutylene

In many places insurance companies actually require the polybutylene to be replaced before they will approve your policy. This is especially true in Florida. On occasion the insurance will offer a very high rate if it is not replaced. Buyers and homeowners should always be completely honest with the insurance company about the presence of polybutylene. Especially because many will require a 4-Point Inspection before they will even write the policy which will most the time reveal the presence of polybutylene anyway.

In Conclusion

When this piping was in use it had many benefits including cost and ease of installation. Unfortunately however, there are still many issues tied to its use.

Top Inspectors encounters polybutylene quite often in the Orlando area when performing home inspections and 4-point inspections.

Home Inspections

Should I Get A Home Inspection On My Brand New Home?

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Having your home inspected by a professional, licensed home inspector is a very important step when buying a home. This still holds true if the home is brand new and no one else has ever lived in it before.

I worked as a contractor and carpenter for an independent home builder for many years before becoming a home inspector. When a home is being built, there are a lot of moving parts. There are dozens of different contractors working together to build the home. From the foundation to the framing, and from the electrical to the plumbing. There are typically different contractors or specialists building or installing the systems and components that pertain to their area of expertise. What happens when all these different specialists are all working at the same time is that sometimes, things get overlooked or just forgotten. Remember, a home is a very complex system.

Many times, the general contractor, the one in charge of making sure everyone does their jobs properly and at the right time, will make what is called a “punch-list”. This is a list of items or projects that need to be completed before the home is finished. Unfortunately, all the things on the list don’t always get done before the home goes on the market.

I recently inspected a brand new home and found several things of interest that would definitely benefit a buyer to know before buying the home. Let me show you what I found.

First, I found that as with many Florida homes, there were no gutters on the lower eaves of the home. Gutters carry storm water away from the home and prevent soil erosion and foundation settlement. To read more about gutters click here.

No gutters on this new home
Soil erosion caused by lack of gutters

After that, I found some stucco cracking under the windows. The cracking was still pretty small, but was beginning to spread just behind a sprinkler head. These heads are notorious for getting broken or twisted so they point backwards. With the stucco beginning to crack behind the sprinkler head, it was only a matter of time before water got inside the wall.

Stucco cracking on a new home

While I was inspecting the exterior, I noticed that none of the windows had screens. This can be fairly common on new homes. Sometimes the screens are stored in the garage or in a shed. Nevertheless, it’s always important to know if they are present and accounted for. I was not able to find any screens on the property.

No screens on new home
No screens on new home

Around the back of the home on the underside of the eaves, I found two open electrical boxes. I assume these were in place for light fixtures, or maybe even power for cameras. But, in the current state, the open boxes could be a safety hazard or could just become damaged due to weather.

Open electrical box on a new home
Open electrical box on a new home

When I was inspecting the garage, I found that the fire-rated service door from the garage to the home was equipped with auto-closing hinges. However, the hinges were not working properly and the door just stayed open when swung. The auto-closing hinges keep the fire wall in place between the home and garage in case there is ever a fire in the garage.

Auto-closing hinges are not working

Last I inspected the bathrooms and found that the hallway bathroom fixtures were very loose and poorly secured at the shower wall. I also found that one of the faucets in the master bathroom was not functioning at all.

Loose fixtures at shower in new house
Faucet not working

Overall, home inspectors do typically find much less deficiencies in new homes over older homes. But, you never know what the situation may be. I once found a serious structural defect in a brand new home.

In closing, even if the home is brand new and no one has ever lived in it before, you definitely should still have the home inspected by a professional and licensed home inspector. You are making a huge investment. You want to know what you are buying.

Electrical/Upgrade Recommendations

Is Aluminum Wiring Safe?

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There is a lot of controversy surrounding single strand aluminum wiring even among home inspectors, with good reason. Not to mention the issues that can arise on the insurance side.

Most homes with widespread single strand aluminum wiring were built between 1965 and 1972. However, aluminum is still used in a lot of areas still today. Aluminum wiring was used mainly because it is a lighter weight material and is much less expensive than it’s more durable and more conductive counterpart, copper. Copper is now much more widely used than aluminum because it is more reliable. For the sake of this specific issue and post, we will only be talking about single strand aluminum wiring. Multi-strand aluminum can have completely different properties.

Common Problems With Aluminum Wiring

#1 Rust

Typically, an oxide or rust forms on aluminum due to a chemical reaction to oxygen. A white substance can form on aluminum that restricts conduction of electricity. This process can also cause the aluminum to overheat.

Copper can also develop an oxide but it does not typically cause conduction to lessen.

#2 Soft Material

When a home is wired, the wiring is cut and stripped. Because aluminum is a soft material, sometimes it can become damaged.

#3 Expansion and contraction

When electricity flows through wire it heats up. With aluminum, its composition causes it to expand when it heats up more than other materials. Then after it cools down, it contracts. Over time, this will cause the screws and lugs near the wire to loosen. This in turn can cause arcing which is a fire hazard.

Scorched outlet with aluminum wiring

My Home Inspector Found Aluminum Wiring. Do I Need to Have It All Replaced?

Tearing up walls to replace all the wiring is an expensive task to say the least. Here are the most common options for aluminum wiring.

#1 Rewire the home

You could have the home rewired. However, this is going to be expensive.

#2 Pigtailing

This is a common repair for aluminum wiring. The main issues with aluminum wiring is at the connection. These could be at switches, outlets, junction boxes etc. . Pigtailing puts a copper wire at the connection and then connects to the aluminum. However, the connection must be a special connection with special equipment. You can’t just connect it directly. There are a few different methods of pigtailing:

  1. Twist-On Nuts
    • These should only be the copper to aluminum specialized nuts. Be careful, these are not allowed in some areas!
  2. COPALUM (Copper Aluminum Connectors)
    • These are specialized connectors that must be crimped with a special tool.
  3. AlumiConn
    • This type of connector actually uses specialized screws to connect to two materials together.
Wire Nuts
Shrunk Copalum type connectors
AlumiConn type connectors

#3 Aluminum Specific Outlets and Switches

There are a few manufacturers that make outlets and switches that are specifically designed to account for the unique characteristics of aluminum.

Aluminum Wiring and Insurance

Many home owner’s insurance companies will not write policies for homes with single strand aluminum wiring. This can be a big consideration when weighing options.

Closing

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says that a home that has aluminum wiring is 55 times more likely to catch fire than other wire types. Remember, most issues that arise from aluminum wiring are at the connections. These connections could be at switches, outlets, junction boxes etc. If you think about the number of connections in the average home, you can see the risk.

Don’t ever try to fix electrical issues by yourself. You should always consult a licensed electrician before undergoing any electrical upgrades or repairs.

Electrical/Upgrade Recommendations

What Does “Open Ground” Mean?

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Your Home Inspector or Electrician Says the Home or Outlet is “Ungrounded”: What Does That Mean?

It is not uncommon for home inspectors or electrical contractors to find ungrounded electrical systems or outlets, especially in older homes. Let’s explore what this means and why it can be an issue.

Basics of how electricity works

When electricity is used it must complete a circuit. Grounding provides a path for unwanted or improperly routed electricity to “complete its circuit” by going into the ground.

Types of outlets

There are typically two types of outlets or “receptacles”. The two-prong type and the three-prong type. The two-prong is usually in older homes and dates back to the 60s. This outlet just has two parallel vertical slots, the “hot” and the “neutral”. The three-prong type looks just like the two prong only it has a third round hole usually below and between the slots (though sometimes it is above depending on the installation). This third hole is for the ground prong.

Is grounding important?

Yes, grounding is important. Usually, electricity flows normally through the hot and neutral wires, but sometimes circumstances cause the power to need an alternate path and the ground is used. Typically if the system is ground properly this causes the breaker to trip. If electricity cannot complete a circuit through ground or other means, it can be a shock or fire hazard because the power will use whatever conductor is nearest to complete the circuit, even if that is a person or device.

What if the home is ungrounded?

If the home itself is ungrounded, this typically means that the home was wired with a “two-wire” method instead of a “three-wire” method. If this is the case, the home can be rewired, or special devices can be installed to help mitigate the issues. However, this is never as effective as having a true ground.

What if the outlet is ungrounded?

If just one or a few outlets are ungrounded, it could be that the grounding wire is loose, connected improperly or not connected at all.

Grounding can be a confusing and complicated issue. However, in most circumstances it is a safety hazard if left as is. But don’t worry, there are many different methods used today to help remedy this issue.

Roof/Wind Mitigation

What are the different types of roof?

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Why does roof shape (geometry) matter?

This is a fairly common question we get during home inspections. Especially when we are also doing Wind Mitigation inspections. Roof geometry is very important, especially in Florida, because the different shapes can make a big difference when high wind or hurricane season comes! So let’s talk about the different types of roof shapes and what they mean, and the pros and cons of each.

Gable roof

A gable roof is a pitched roof that basically looks like an “A”. It is sloped on two sides and open at both ends. Some roofing materials typically installed on gable roofs include asphalt shingles, clay/cement tiles and metal. Gable roofs are typically less expensive to replace because they have less surface area. This type of roof is good at shedding water if it has a steep enough pitch. However, it has been known to be susceptible to damage or issues in high wind or hurricane conditions. But don’t worry! Big issues are usually rare. Having a Wind Mitigation inspection is a great way to see if the roof is attached to the home correctly to offset the high wind resistance.

Gable roof

Hip roof

A hip roof is a pitched roof but it doesn’t open on the ends. It looks almost like a pyramid that has a flatter ridge on top. Ever wonder why the Great Pyramids have stood for so long? That shape is extremely strong structurally and highly aerodynamic, which means the wind just passes around it and rarely causes any damage or resistance. Some roofing materials typically installed on hip roofs include asphalt shingles, clay/cement tiles and metal. This is one of the strongest roof shapes. However, replacement of roofing materials can be on the pricier side because the roof surface is greater.

Hip roof

Flat/low slope roof

Flat/low slope roofs are much less common in Florida, but there are some. Some roofing materials typically installed on flat roofs include built up roof, tar and gravel (another form of built up), rolled roofing (like huge flat shingles) and different types of membrane. Flat roofs are convenient because they can be traversed easily, they are usually not as expensive to replace and they are easy to add additional features to if the structure design permits. However, they do tend to “pond”, which means low spots will form and pooling occurs. This can be especially concerning in Florida where we often have flooding rains. On flat roofs, the system should be very well sealed and at least some slope should be incorporated.

Flat/low slope roof

Shed roof

These types of roofs were originally designed for farm sheds and lean-to structures. Sometimes these roofs are also called “skillion” roofs. The shape is like half of a gable roof, just one long slope. They are great for their solar potential if built correctly. Some roofing materials typically installed on shed roofs include asphalt shingles, clay/cement tiles and metal. The downside is that they are highly susceptible to wind damage and offer limited protection in harsh weather conditions.

Shed roof

Gambrel roof

These roofs are often called “barn roofs”. This type of roof is like a gable roof but there are two different slopes. These types of roofs have great potential if a second story is desired. Some roofing materials typically installed on gambrel roofs include asphalt shingles, clay/cement tiles and metal. These roofs require very consistent maintenance and again can be susceptible to high wind damage.

Gambrel roof

Mansard roof

This type of roof is similar to gambrel roofs with the two different slopes, but is almost always four-sided. These types of roofs are not very common in Florida. They offer the pros, but also the cons of both low pitched roofs and a pitched roofs.

Mansard roof

There are many other types of roofs, but these few are the most common found in Florida. Sometimes different roof shapes are combined in one house. If you don’t have one of the stronger roof shapes, don’t worry! There are always ways to make it stronger to survive beautiful and crazy Florida!

Home Maintenance/Upgrade Recommendations

Should my House in Florida have gutters?

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Do I Really Need Gutters?

We get asked this question on home inspections all the time. The simple answer is… yes you really should have gutters.

You would think with all the flooding rains we get in Central Florida, that gutters would be commonplace. However, a huge portion of homes still have little to no guttering. The fact that Florida has a sandy soil and most moisture is absorbed quickly without homeowners seeing the ponding may be the reason for this. Or, it may be that builders are trying to save on costs and decided that gutters are not important. Whatever the case may be, we always recommend having gutters installed and maintained at all lower eaves of your home.

No gutters on Central Florida home. (Pretty common)

Let’s say you have good grading and plenty of slope around your home. Should you still have gutters?

As with any other system in your home, the real problems are usually the ones you CAN’T see. In Florida we have a very sandy soil. This allows it to absorb a lot of moisture. However, it is also very easily eroded. Erosion underneath your home can cause all kinds of costly issues from foundation settlement to structural failure. Properly installed gutters with downspouts and extensions will carry the bulk of the storm water away from the home and prevent long term erosion.

Another benefit to gutters is, because the storm water is being carried away to downspouts, it keeps everyone from getting rainwater dumped directly off the roof onto them as they walk in the home. It also keeps flower beds and shrubs from getting washed out.

One thing that people don’t typically think about when it comes to gutters is that without them, rainwater will tend to run down the side of the fascia (eaves) and also down the side of the home. This in turn can cause moisture intrusion into the wall, which can lead to rot and mold. Think of it like a cup that has a loose lid. When the cup is tipped, the liquid runs down the side and gets everywhere!

We all know that water follows the path of least resistance. Properly installed gutters with downspouts and extensions provide a perfect path for storm water and ultimately will help maintain your home for years to come!

Illustration of importance of gutters