Home Inspection Montreal, Montreal home inspector, home inspection west island

FEBRUARY 2005

Structures 101 - "This house isn't going anywhere." Or is it! (Courtesy Carson Dunlop consulting engineers) Serious structural problems in houses are not very common, but when they occur they are never cheap to fix. Some can't be fixed at all. This report won't turn you into an seasoned home inspector, but it will give you some of the common indicators.
Uneven Floors Uneven floors are typical, particularly in older homes. Here is a trick to help distinguish between a typical home with character and a structural problem.If the floor sags to the middle of the home, it's probably just a charming old home. Houses are like people, they sag in the middle when they get older. On the otherhand, if the floor slopes towards an outside wall, there is a good chance that the house has a significant structural problems.	Leaning House While no house is perfect, this is one area where you should be very careful. Take a look at the house from across the street. If the house appears to be leaning one way or the other, there may be a structural problem. It may help to line up a front corner of the house with the back corner of an adjacent house just for reference. The corners should be parallel. Stepping back from the house to take a look is always a good idea. It is easy to miss something major by standing too close to it! If there is a lean that is detectable by eye, don't take any chances, get it checked out.

HORIZONTAL FOUNDATION CRACKS ARE BAD It is not uncommon to find cracks in the foundation. This goes for new houses as well as old ones. While there is a great deal of engineering that goes into "reading" these cracks, there is one rule that you should never forget. "Horizontal cracks are a problem". Of course not all vertical cracks are acceptable, but they are generally not as serious as a horizontal crack. Harmless Cracks Shrinkage cracks in a new house: Most new foundations will develop small vertical cracks. These cracks are a result of the concrete shrinking as it cures. These cracks are about 1 /8 inch wide or less. They don't affect the structure. The only concern is leakage. If you see small cracks in a new foundation, don't panic. In fact, in a new home, some builders will pre-crack the foundation and fill the crack with flexible material. Plaster Cracks Few things are more misunderstood than plaster cracks on the inside of the house. The following crack types are not generally related to structural movement: · a small crack (less than 2mm) that follows the corner of the room where two walls meet · small cracks that extend up from the upper corner of a door opening The following cracks may be related to structural movement · large cracks (larger than 2mm in width) · cracks that run diagonally across the wall · cracks on the interior finish that are in the same vicinity as cracks on the exterior of the house --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHICH REPAIRS PAY OFF When it's worth it Home improvements are on the rise, but if you're about to sell your house, they're not always economically recommended. Depending on the task, certain jobs can be inexpensive but a larger number can get quite costly. When selling, then, it's important to find out which improvements are likely to return their investment before undertaking any new endeavors. The two most trafficked rooms in your house From a buyer's point of view, the two most important rooms in your house are the kitchen and the bathroom, in that order. Having both rooms completely functional should be your top priority. If you're considering major remodeling, these rooms are most likely to pay back their costs; however, this is only if the work is moderately priced. Both types of renovation can rapidly escalate in cost, so it's essential to maintain a firm grip on your budget when doing so. When appearances count After kitchen and bathroom remodels, the improvements that are most likely to return their investment are cosmetic in nature. Repainting the exterior of your house as well as cleaning up the landscaping will improve your curb appeal; prompting people get out of their car and view your home. Inside, neutralizing distinct color schemes by stripping wallpaper and repainting can be an inexpensive improvement that can be easily returned when you sell your house. Be conservative Don't go overboard, though. Any improvement you make should be consistent with other homes in your neighborhood. An elaborate addition or change in a modest area will not pay back its cost because buyers able to pay the extra amount will likely search in more expensive neighborhoods for something comparable. Be smart about what you do. Invest only what is necessary, and you'll be much happier in the long run. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KEYS TO SUCCESS... Chances are you're reading this article in a room with the use of lighting. Well, you can thank Thomas Edison for that. Did you know that Edison failed over 9000 (that's thousand) times before perfecting the light bulb! How many of us would have thrown in the "proverbial" towel at 20 failures, 150 failures or at the 8000th failure. In my opinion, Thomas Edison's picture should be under the definition "perseverance" in Webster's dictionary! Don't you agree? After Edison had invented and produced the light-bulb a reporter asked him how it felt to fail over 9000 times. Edison replied, "I was glad I found 9000 ways not to invent the light bulb! From this point forward Edison went on to receive 1,093 patents, more than any other person in U.S. history. Wow!! Edison's formula for success: #1 It takes time for greatness. #2 Be patient #3 Persistence is key.