Inspection Of Ceiling And Crawl Spaces
If you are thinking of buying a home for yourself and your family, it is imperative that you know that the home under consideration is in a good condition. You definitely do not want to throw your good money down an endless pit. Buying a home is a huge investment for most Americans, and you need to ensure that your money has been put to good use. You, of course would inspect the home you are considering buying, but the correct way would be to have your prospective home inspected by a thorough professional.
Home inspections by professionals cover a lot of things, and not the least, inspection of the ceiling and various crawl spaces in the home. Crawl spaces are usually defined as shallow spaces below the living quarters, if that home does not have a basement. There are other shallow spaces in the home that can be called crawl spaces, such as in the attic, and in the basement itself.
These various crawl spaces need to be inspected for construction, stability, settling, water damage, and visible termite or rot damage. Similarly, the home inspector checks the condition of the ceilings of the various rooms in the house.
In the older homes, around more than 50 years old structures, the ceilings were made of wood lath that had been plastered over. With the passage of time, the wood lath loses its flexibility and becomes loose from its studs and joists. This is evidenced by the appearance of waves in the ceiling, and is more pronounced because of the weight of the plaster. Presence of moisture, either from the roof, or from a plumbing leak, in addition to humidity in the attic, can adversely affect the wood lath.
The home inspector checks the condition of the wood lath ceiling and reports to you.
In the more recent homes, the ceiling is checked for cracks, and for any warping. There is a check to see whether the ceiling is sagging, or not, and if the paint on the ceiling is peeling. The cracks or stains on the ceiling could indicate a leaking roof.
The home inspector enters the crawl spaces and checks them thoroughly, with attention towards its ventilation, insulation, drainage, foundation, wiring, plumbing and health issues. The home inspector, of course, cannot enter the crawl spaces that do not have easy access. He cannot enter the spaces where there are obstructions, and the entry may cause damage to the property.
Different places in the country have different views on how the crawl spaces should be. Many people prefer a vapor barrier next to the floor. Generally, it is expected that the bare floor be covered with plastic. Crawl spaces in the attic should be well ventilated. This will ensure the spaces free from moisture, the presence of which can lead to mold and mildew.
If repairing of the ceiling and the crawl spaces could lead to large expenses you can have a discussion with the seller about having them repaired, or have the price of the home readjusted.
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