For most, building a home is part of the American Dream. What could be better than choosing a layout, color scheme, and add-on features to suit your specific needs? But for many Pennsylvania homeowners, building their dream house did not turn out the way they had planned. According to an article in The Inquirer published in November, Pennsylvania is in the middle of a water damage epidemic that is affecting suburban homes, starter homes, and even luxury homes. Our team at Chester County Home Inspections is here to help. We’ve put together a few reasons why you should consider getting your home inspected so you are able to protect your investment down the road.
EIFS vs. Stucco
Do you know if your home was built with exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) or stucco? Stucco has been used for centuries as a building material. It is extremely strong and durable because essentially it covers your home with a layer of rock. On the other hand, EIFS is a synthetic stucco that is much softer and much more likely to cause water intrusion problems. These problems include moisture accumulation in the wall cavity, wood damage, and even mold growth or pest infestations. However, according to The Inquirer article, even if your home was built with true stucco, it still could be at risk for water intrusion if shoddy building techniques were used. Experts found that the damage went unnoticed in 80-90% of cases because it was virtually undetectable to the untrained eye until it was too late.
Buyer or Seller Inspections
Many families represented in the article did not find out about the extensive water damage until they were ready to sell their homes. Upon inspection as part of the selling process, they would find that it was virtually impossible to sell because it required hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of repairs. At Chester County Home Inspections, we’ll do a pre-listing inspection then, after any defects have been remediated, we’ll re-inspect your home at no charge so you’re able to show a clean inspection report to prospective buyers.
Additionally, if you’re in the process of building a home, we offer a pre-drywall inspection for an extensive look at the way your home is being built. Because everything is still out in the open before drywall, you can be sure your home is being built to last. Finally, we’ll do a pre-closing walk-through inspection to make sure your new home is move-in ready and everything on your purchase options checklist matches the builder’s spec sheets.
Be in the Know
If your home was one of the roughly 90,000 new single-family homes built in Southeastern Pennsylvania since 2001, we urge you to get it inspected today. Because water damage is under the surface, it can go unnoticed for years and then the damage can be so extensive that it’s catastrophic. Contact Chester County Home Inspections today at (484) 212-1600 or book online now to start protecting your home investment.