Most homes on concrete slabs will at some point have corner cracks. As Houston home inspectors this is one of the items we are often asked about.

During the home inspection the  home buyer should be advised that this is not a structural isssue. The repair for this, if the corner section falls off, is to use a good construction cement to glue the corner back in place. In only a hanful of cases have I found that the crack extends far enough along the side to effect the brick column.

In this video we’re looking at a problem with a kitchen sink drain.  When qualified Houston home inspectors examine the kitchen sink area he/she will check for several items.  These items should also be reviewed by the homeowner. One of the first is the condition of the vegetable sprayer and connecting hose, he will also want to make sure that water to the main faucet shuts off when the vegetable sprayer is used.  The faucet itself will be checked for leaks around the stem, and to make sure that the swing spout doesn’t leak and is easy to turn. He/she will also be checking to make sure that the faucet is tight on the countertop and sink itself is securely attached.

Under the sink, the inspector will want to make sure the plumbing connections are not leaking and a proper P- trap is installed. He/she will also check to make sure the drain is draining water quickly from the sink.  Any water damage to the bottom of the cabinet will also be noted.  Most cabinet bottoms today are manufactured with a very thin particle board, substance.  Even a small water leak under the sink can cause quite a bit of damage in a short period of time.

One of the other items that the inspector will want to check, while looking under the sink, is to make sure that the dishwasher drain line has an air gap, we will talk more about this item in a later post.

In this Houston home inspection video we're talking about the proper installation of a draft hood for a gas water heater. The draft hood serves two purposes, the first is to provide the water heater vent system with additional air supply so combustion gases can be properly pulled away from the heater and deposited outside of the house.  The second purpose of the hood is to prevent a sudden draft of wind from extinguishing the gas burner of the unit. When installed correctly draft hoods do a good job at both of these functions with very little maintenance.  However, when the draft hood is not installed correctly, carbon monoxide gas may be expelled into the attic and the chance of blowing out the burner or pilot light of the unit exists.

As a homeowner, you may want to take a look at your water heater and make sure that the draft hood is installed correctly.  These units have a tendency to become dislodged or completely removed when a house is being re-roofed.  Also, while you are looking at the unit, you will want to check the water pipe connections to make sure you don't have a leak.

As a homeowner, most of us don't pay much attention to the roof of our house until it starts to leak.  However, the roof of our home provides protection from one of nature’s most destructive elements. Water leakage inside the home results in some of the most expensive repair costs and can significantly reduce the life and value of a home.

One of the ways to avoid roof problems is to periodically inspect the roof. This roof check should be performed at least two times each year preferably in the spring and fall.  During the fall inspection you want to make sure that leaves are cleaned from the roof surface, and all gutters are intact and clear of debris.  During the spring inspection, you should be looking for weather related damage such as shingles missing and flashing missing or pulling away from walls and chimneys. 

A roof inspection can be performed from the ground, with a ladder at eves or on the roof.  If you're making the inspection on the roof surface, don't try to walk on a roof that has a steep/severe angle. Loose asphalt shingle granules and /or a damp roof surface can present a slipping hazard.  You may want to give some thought to having a qualified roofing contractor provide the inspection.

During these roof inspections you are trying to accomplish three major activities.  The first is looking for any repairs that should be made.  The second is to make sure that the roof is performing appropriately and the third is to identify areas of weakness, hazards or deterioration.

Your check of the roof should include the following;

• An examination of the all the roofing materials, asphalt, wood or metal roofing panels.  You should be checking for excessive wear, loose shingles, and blistering in flat or rolled roofing.
•  The structure of the roof decking should be reviewed to determine any areas where the roof is starting to sag or pull away from a wall.    
• An examination of all metal flashing such as step flashing at the intersection of a roof and wall, roof jacks around all vent pipes and other attached items to the roof such as a satellite dish.
• Verifying that the roof gutter system is complete with downspouts and splash blocks at ground level.  All screens over the gutters or leaf guards should also be examined and repaired or replaced, if necessary.
• Housekeeping of the roof, such as cleaning drains, and blowing off leaves and pine straw.

Finally home buyers, home sellers, real estate agents, Houston home inspectors, home improvement contractors and the general public have a place to discuss topics and gather information about home construction and maintenance. The blog is hosted by www.YourHomeInspector.com , the most visited home inspection website in the Houston area.  

As the moderator of the blog, I'll try to answer any questions as quickly as possible. I will also be posting general information and new videos weekly.

Since this is a new blog answers to some common questions can be found on the FAQ page of this website.