Can you identify this white material and why it is a cause for concern? I see this fairly frequently, especially in crawl spaces and attics. You might think it is white mold (testing it would give a definitive answer) but it is most likely wood-destroying fungus. As the name suggests, this fungus actually breaks down
Hey buddy! Made a new friend at yesterday’s inspection. This tortoise was living a grand life. I’d much rather run into friendly fellas like this than some of the critters and insects I see every day but nothing really phases me anymore (except maybe really large poisonous snakes who think I look tasty). My attitude
Think you can spot moisture intrusion with the naked eye? Not always. The picture on the left is a seemingly dry crawl space wall and floor. However, when viewed through the thermal imaging camera, you can see all the areas of blue which may indicate moisture intrusion. A wood moisture reading is taken in
What a treat it was to inspect this house built in 1750 – yes, 1750! Before we were even an independent nation. There were some issues, of course, and new additions and upgrades. But overall, the craftsmanship and quality from 270 years ago was just incredible. In addition to this home, last week
Gutter Guards/Leaf Filters … do they work? What is your experience with them? Despite the August heat, fall will be upon us soon and with that comes what seems like 10 million falling leaves. Many homes now have gutter guards on them, ideally to prevent leaves and debris from accumulating inside the gutters. But do
The woes of a wet crawl space… A high moisture reading of 32% was noted on the flooring structure in this crawl space. Typical industry standards state that wood flooring structures should be between 9% to 14%. High levels of wood moisture can cause warping, cracking, buckling, diminished wood strength, and fungal growth. Since crawl
This image can strike fear in the hearts of buyers, sellers, and agents alike. The issue here is called “stair stepping cracks” and they can occur in any foundations with joints and mortar (brick, cement). The good news is that stepping cracks are not an automatic deal-breaker. They CAN be repaired in most cases. The
May is National Deck Safety Month – and there is a reason deck safety gets a whole month. Nearly 5 in 10 decks are past their useful life and need to be repaired or replaced. Frankly, from a home inspection standpoint, decks in North Carolina almost always seems to have issues and some of them
Your home has a relentless enemy – do you know what it is? Water, water, water. Did the recent heavy rains turn the leaves in your gutters into mush? It’s very important to make sure your gutters are clear and that the water that accumulates has a way to exit down and away from your
Can you tell what is going on in this crawl space? Notice the dark spots on the foundation wall and the white wave-like deposits directly under the dark spots? Those white deposits are salt/mineral stains and are a phenomenon called “efflorescence”. Efflorescence is found when conditions inside the foundation are repeatedly wet and dry from water
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