Do Inspectors Always Inspect The Attic?
During a full home inspection, most inspectors will take a long, hard look at your attic. The attic is the best place to get a look at the quality of a homes framing and it also contains a number of other important aspects of the home like the insulation. Without an idea of what’s going on in the attic, you can’t fully assess the quality of a home. A look at the attic is a given during any quality home inspection, but what exactly will they be looking for?
Insulation/Ventilation
There are a number of ways to insulate the attic but not all of them provide an adequate amount of insulation. The insulation must be evenly spaced and must have an adequate R-value (rating of the insulation amount) for the space. Poor insulation can dramatically decrease the energy efficiency of a home and lead to some unpleasant energy bills, among other things.
Attics also need to be well ventilated, otherwise, a number of issues can pop up. In warmer climates, poorly ventilated attics can lead to issues with mold and wood damage. That’s because moisture tends to move upwards through the walls and ceilings, ultimately ending up in the attic.
Framing
The attic is one of the few places in the house where you can get a look at the quality of the framing. Structural issues in the exposed framing in the attic could indicate further issues. After all, if they couldn’t even be bothered to do it right where you can see it what are the odds that they did where you can’t?
Pest Infestations
The attic is a great place to hide if you’re a pest. Bats, rats, mice, and bugs all love turning your attic into their personal playground. A detailed inspection of the attic can catch this issue before it becomes unmanageable.
Mold
The attic can get very moist and very humid — especially if the roof isn’t doing its job properly. This makes it a perfect breeding ground for mold. There are a number of dark crevices in the attic, so a cursory glance is rarely enough to spot potential mold problems. That’s why a thorough inspection of the attic is so important. Mold isn’t just bad for your health, it’s also bad for the structural elements of your house. The last thing you want is moldy, woot-rotted framing right supporting your roof.
As you can see, the attic is home to a host of potential problems. You want to spot these issues before you sign on to buy a home and the only way to do that is with a thorough home inspection. A home inspection can empower you with the knowledge you need to make wise home-buying decisions.
Please, contact us at Super Inspection Pros. today to learn more about our home inspection process or to schedule an inspection for your home. You can also find more information about our services here on our website.
