When you are a homeowner or are buying a new home, you want to make sure the structure, systems, and components in the home are working as they need to and are in good condition so you don't end up buying a house full of problems. A home inspection is a great option to ensure a home's condition, whether you are buying a new home or you already live in the home in question. As such, a home inspector can provide you with a quality inspection and the information you seek. Here are some essential areas to focus on for a home inspection to help ensure your home is free of problems and defects.

Foundation Structure

A major area of a home's structure relies on the foundation and its condition. If a home has a foundation that was constructed of concrete and set properly within the soil, but the soil has begun to shift, it is going to cause the foundation to settle, sink, and crack. Cracking in your home foundation may be just due to natural concrete shrinkage as it cures, but sometimes the concrete of a home's foundation will have severe cracking and damage that will require different kinds of repairs. 

When you hire a home foundation inspector, they will be able to go over the foundation to look for cracks and damage that indicate problems to the stability of the home. For example, your home inspector may find cracks that run horizontally along your foundation or basement wall. This type of cracking usually occurs because the soil on the exterior of the foundation is pushing against the wall. Horizontal cracking can lead to the wall bucking into your home, so it needs to be repaired. However, cracks that run vertically on your concrete foundation wall are from soil settling, which can lead to moisture leaking through the foundation. These also need to be repaired, but they are not as great a structural problem as horizontal cracking.

Exterior Drainage

Your home inspector can also check the drainage on the outside of the home to look for ground soil or concrete slabs that slope toward the foundation. This can cause drainage problems and allow water to get into the foundation of the home.

By looking at the home's roof gutters and where they deposit water onto the surfaces below, your home inspector will be able to evaluate the home's protection against moisture intrusion. They may find that the rain gutters need supplementing. In addition, areas of paving around the foundation of the home may need to be replaced to promote drainage away from the home's foundation.

Contact a company that offers residential home inspections for more information. 

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