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What to Expect Before We Inspect: How to Prepare Your Home for an Inspection (continued)
Exterior
The wall cladding on the majority of houses in Las Cruces is stucco. Stucco is an extremely resilient siding but is subject to expansion and contraction with the temperature changes. Check your exterior walls for fractures. Inspect the perimeter of windows and doors to see if the stucco has pulled away from the frames. Also inspect the wall penetrations such as where your TV cable or gas line enters the house. Openings can allow water and pests an easy entry to the interior of the walls. These can be easily corrected with stucco patch or caulking. Next, ensure the ground around the residence will direct water away from the house and that vegetation, particularly trees and vines are not growing on or touching the wall cladding.
Stucco pulled away from window frame |
Fractured Stucco |
Exposed penetration |
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Click on images for larger detail.
Many of the stucco homes built since the late eighties utilized a synthetic stucco. To determine if your stucco cladding is synthetic, knock on it. If it has a hollow sound it is synthetic. If it feels like you are knocking on concrete then you have standard stucco. Synthetic stucco is more resilient than standard stucco and resists fractures caused by expansion and contraction. It is also waterproof, it doesn’t breathe. That means if moisture does get behind the synthetic stucco it cannot escape back to the exterior. It is important to monitor and seal fractures and open penetrations to reduce the potential for moisture intrusion. If you notice small fractures, you can cover them with an elastomeric paint that will fill the small voids and the elastomeric paint can expand and contract with the synthetic stucco.
Electrical
The number one issue is defective GFI receptacles. These can be tested by simply pushing the test button located on the receptacle. Make sure all lights have functioning bulbs in them. If a light does not respond it will be included in the report with a statement indicating it may be a burnt out bulb but it should be demonstrated by the owners to the satisfaction of the potential buyer. Finally, check the attachment of exterior lights. Porch lights are subjected to the weather and high winds jeopardizing the integrity of the attachment. If any of these conditions are present and you are not familiar with your electrical system we strongly recommend you retain the services of a qualified technician to complete these repairs.
