Doors

Doors provide the access to and from the outside of a home, or between rooms inside the house. When closed, doors can secure entry with a lock, provide noise reduction, or prevent the spreading of fire. When open, doors allow for ventilation and light. There should be at least one egress door provided, regardless of the size of the house, to provide access to the living quarters, without the necessity of entering the garage.

Doors are inspected from both the exterior and interior sides. Additional examination is given to the egress door to ensure it can be readily opened from the inside (without a tool, code, key, or effort), and that the measurements of the door and landings meet the requirements. The inspector will focus on the locking mechanisms, condition, operation, and weather-stripping of the door, and sill slope.

As with windows, common door issues include:

• Mechanical damage

• Deteriorated caulk

• Flashing defects

• Paint Problems

• Damaged screens

• Cracked glass

• Putty or glazing problems

• Broken or damaged seals

• Wood rot

• Water damage

Walls

Even though some degree of movement is unavoidable in a house, noticeable cracks in the walls should not be ignored. It is possible that a structural component has failed, or alterations were made that could have weakened the structure, or added loading/stress was imposed. While examining the walls, the inspector will carefully note of any bowing walls, cracks, lack of visible support under load-bearing walls, bulging paneling, waves and bows, walls that are not plumb, and rusty nail heads.

The inspector will also carefully examine the following:

• Unwanted daylight penetrating though windows, doors, and moldings

• Windows and doors that stick or are difficult to operate

• Big gaps at molding and trim joints

• Frame rot

• Evidence of moisture

• Cracked glass

• Mismatched lock sets

• Door frames that are not plumb

• Planed doors and doors cut after the home settled

Floors

Uneven floors are frequently caused by shifting or settling of the foundation beneath the floors. Changes in the foundation can cause wood floor beams and joists above crawl spaces to bend. It can also cause masonry foundations to crack and break.

During the inspection, the inspector will focus on:

• Unlevel flooring

• Cracked tiles

• Sagging floor joists

• Signs of wood-destroying organisms

• Sub-floor or joist rot

• Repaired joists

• Evidence of missing joists

• Cracked joists

• Signs of deflection and bounce

• Squeaking floors

• Wood in contact with concrete

• Poor joist-end bearing

• Inappropriate notching in joists

• Joist splits

• Over-spanning

• Joists too close to soil

• Crowning