Interior Rooms Inspection
Once the attic inspection is completed, the home inspection should continue with the careful examination of every room and closet in the house, making a room inventory and condition form for each room. Open and close a room door to see if it operates properly, check all pocket doors to see if they slide open and close easily, because if there is a problem with pocket doors it generally requires opening a section of wall to provide access to the tracks for repair.
Room inspection is designed to ensure proper house maintenance, reduce typical household energy loss, facilitate residential operations, check the proper functioning of the electrical panel, venting system, check for property damage not covered by insurance and so on.
When performing a room inspection, the home inspector typically starts at the upper level, working his way down to the basement, inspecting the hallways and connecting staircase while walking from one floor to another. Problems normally encountered during an interior room inspection are usually of aesthetic nature and are not expensive to correct. There are, of course, some cases when the home inspector finds cracks or uneven floors or walls that are symptomatic of structural problems, however that is very rare.
Cracks or uneven floors are typically caused by shrinkage, warpage or slight movement of the house. As the outdoor temperature and humidity vary with the season and time of day, they cause differential expansion, swelling and contraction of the various structural and nonstructural elements. Though very slight, this movement is often enough to cause cracks at point of stress concentration, such as over doors or windows.
Home Inspection - Interior Systems and Components of a Home
Inspecting the condition of a home’s interior involves the evaluation of systems and components used within a room. When performing a room inspection, the home inspector will not focus on the aesthetic attributes of the room, but on functionality and whether a room and the components within a room work as intended. The interior of a room should contain safe and properly operating points of distribution for the major mechanical systems of the home, such as plumbing, electrical or HVAC systems.
Each room must have a sufficient number of electrical outlets and an adequate heater, while a bathroom, kitchen or laundry area should have sufficient hot and cold water supply with effective drainage. Except for closets, each room should contain components of the major systems, while the condition of interior components can point to potential structural issues and is often where leaks can first be detected.
Interior Components Evaluated During Your Home Inspection
When performing a regular home inspection, a professional inspector will check the condition of:
- floors, walls and ceilings
- doors and windows
- cabinets and counter tops
- steps, stairways, balconies and railings
Usually, the condition of interior finishes reflects the overall condition of a home, and is a great indication of the degree of house maintenance provided to the property. Using a room inventory and condition form, the inspector will look for proper installation of materials used, signs of structural defects, proper functioning of doors and windows, signs of leaks, water penetration or hidden water damage, signs of pest infestation, signs of mold growth and other safety issues. The home inspector will go through every room and accessible area, making notes of any relevant defects or substandard repairs.
It is recommended that you hire a professional, certified home inspector to conduct your home inspection, however if you prefer to save the money and do the room inspection yourself, here are the basic steps for a successful room inspection:
First of all, look for water stains, cracks and broke seams in the drywall or plaster. If you notice a water stained ceiling on the lower level, it could be an indication that there is a bathroom leak on a higher level. If the stains are on the higher level, it could mean you have a roof leak, which should be addressed immediately. If your home has any skylights, inspect them closely, looking for any signs of leaking around them.
Check the floors in the room and note if they squeak or have unusual springiness, or if they are level. If not, you may have a foundation or settlement problem. Inspect the condition of the floor covering as well. Then, start inspecting all of the vents in the room. There are two different types of vents: a return vent takes air from the room and returns it to the unit, and a supply vent which brings heated or cooled air from the unit to the room.
The return vent cannot be closed, but the supply vent can be opened and closed if needed. Check for any soot or dark staining around these vents, which could indicate a cracked heat exchanger. Also, check the each vent’s air flow - you should be able to feel air movement from 2-3 ft away - and make sure no vents are covered by wallpaper or others such.
Once you’re done checking the vents, do a visual inspection of the inside of the room’s closets, check any railings that are located in the room, determine whether they are high enough to prevent a safety hazard and check if they are securely attached. Next, inspect all ceiling fans, light fixtures and chandeliers for any signs of water leaks, as water always follows the path of least resistance. It generally funnels down to ceiling fans, light fixtures and chandeliers, risking to create sagging and a possible electrical problem.
Lastly, check every electrical outlet in the room using an electrical tester. Such a tester is very inexpensive and it’s easy to use - just plug it into the outlet and read the L.E.D. display to see what it found. If there is a problem with the wiring, call an electrician as soon as possible.
Still, doing your own room inspection may be OK once in a while, if it hasn’t been too long since you’ve had a professional home inspection, but otherwise a qualified inspection is always best.