Chicago Metro Home Inspections offers the best, most thorough home inspections for clients throughout the Chicago area. As part of this complete service, we perform an exterior home inspection — a thorough examination of all the outside structures and components of a home.
Exterior Inspections
When you’re looking for someone to inspect everything from the top of the roof to the gutters and the siding, count on the talented professionals on our team. After completing an expert inspection, our highly trained, fully certified inspector gives you a comprehensive report on the condition of the home. By providing you with an understanding of problems and potential issues, your detailed report empowers you with the knowledge of what to do next.
At Chicago Metro Home Inspections, we are committed to providing the kind of exterior home inspection in Chicago that gives you in-depth insight into what’s truly happening outside your current or future property.
Exterior Home Inspections
We leave no stone unturned when it comes to evaluating your home’s exterior. At part of our services, our home inspection includes:
- Roof Inspection
- Covering
- Drainage
- Flashings
- Penetrations
- Skylights
- Exterior
- Surface grade directly adjacent to the buildings
- Chimney exterior
- Doors and windows
- Attached decks, porches, patios, balconies, stairway and their enclosures
- Wall cladding and trim
- Exterior paint and caulking
- Portions of walkways and driveways that are adjacent to the buildings
- Foundation, Basement and Under-Floor Areas
- Foundation system
- Floor framing system
- Under-floor ventilation
- Foundation anchoring and cripple wall bracing
- Wood separation from soil
- Insulation
The Importance of a Foundation Inspection
The foundation of your home is a structural necessity, and if it’s not working properly, the rest of your house is affected. For this reason, a problem with your home’s foundation is too important to overlook. During a home foundation inspection, your inspector examines the foundation for any signs of damage, including cracks, moisture, mold, termites and other issues. Through an inspection, you find out if there are any structural concerns worth noting.
Here in the Midwest, homes are typically built on stone or concrete foundations with basements. That means that the foundation is the structural component on which everything else rests. It also means that if you have a problem with your foundation, you likely have a costly repair on your hands. Instead of being surprised with problems after your purchase, find out ahead of time what’s going on with your new home’s foundation.
Some common concerns that might be noted are:
- Foundation Cracks
While a visible crack doesn’t always signal foundation problems, it is often a warning sign. An inspector knows how to examine cracks, what to look for as a problem, and when to recommend the involvement of a structural engineer. - Moisture in the Basement
Any time you have moisture in the basement, it’s a concern. Inspectors look for signs of flooding and note signs of mold and mildew in the home.