Top 10
Most Frequently Found Problems
In a
survey, the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI)
compiled the following list of the most frequently found problems in
the homes that its members inspected:
Improper Surface Grading/Drainage
This was by far the most frequently found problem, reported by 35.8%
of the survey respondents. It is responsible for the most common of
household maladies: water penetration of the basement or crawl space.
Improper Electrical Wiring
A significant number (19.9%) chose this item as the most common home
defect, which includes such situations as insufficient electrical
service to the house, inadequate overload protection, and amateur,
often dangerous, wiring connections.
Roof Damage
Although reported by only 8.5% of the respondents as the most common
problem, roof leakage, caused by old or damaged shingles or improper
flashing, was considered by CAHPI members to be a frequent problem.
Heating Systems
Problems in this category include broken or malfunctioning operation
controls, blocked chimneys, and unsafe exhaust disposal.
Poor Overall Maintenance
Even the novice home buyer is usually aware of this situation,
demonstrated by such signs as cracked, peeling, or dirty painted
surfaces, crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, and
broken fixtures or appliances.
Structurally Related Problems
Many houses, as a result of problems in one or more of the other
categories, sustain damage to such structural components as
foundation walls, floor joists, rafters, and window and door
headers.
Plumbing
Though never ranked by the respondents as a Number One problem,
plumbing defects still rank high among the house problems
encountered, and include the existence of old or incompatible piping
materials, as well as faulty fixtures and waste lines.
Exteriors
Flaws in a home’s exterior, including windows, doors, and wall
surfaces, are responsible for the discomfort of water and air
penetration, but rarely have structural significance. Inadequate
caulking and/or weather-stripping are the most common culprits.
Poor Ventilation
Perhaps due to overly ambitious efforts to save energy, many home
owners have “over-sealed” their homes, resulting in excessive
interior moisture. This can cause rotting and premature failure of
both structural and non-structural elements.
Miscellaneous
This category includes primarily interior components, often cosmetic
in nature, which were not found frequently enough to rank
individually in our survey.
NOTES:
(a) It is significant that within this list of ten problem
categories, at least four are directly related to the damaging
effects of water. It is apparent, therefore, that after a home is
built (presumably in a structurally sound manner), keeping water out
is the homeowner’s most important - and continually challenging -
objective.
(b) It should be most clearly understood that the statistics
relating to electrical and plumbing problems, and roofing in
particular, will vary greatly depending upon regional climates and
building codes, and that this list, therefore, represents an
average.
(c) In addition, the age of a home plays a significant role in these
findings. In older, urban houses problems such as heating system
failure, inadequate electrical service, and worn plumbing can be
found with much greater frequency than reflected in this survey.
(d) Survey response percentages were given only for the first three
categories because they were so high and statistically meaningful.
Items 4 through 10 were ranked significantly lower than the top
three, and vary regionally. |
