Exterior Systems Inspection
A-Pro’s exterior systems inspection is a visual examination of the home’s exterior walls. Your inspector evaluates performance issues such as structural support member movement and common installation problems. Because moisture intrusion is impossible to determine if there are no active or visual signs, your A-Pro inspector checks common problem areas for evidence of moisture damage and deficiencies in the flashing. Long before closing, an exterior inspection can let a homebuyer know of potential problems: rotten and damaged siding; water pooling around the home; broken, rusted or damaged gutters; and peeling paint, particularly important (because of lead concerns) in homes built before 1978.
A-Pro inspects:
- Doors, including Egress Doors
- Windows, Windowsills, Window Wells
- Putty
- Weather Stripping
- Shutters
- Awnings
- Fogged Windows
- Siding
- Insulation Value of Siding
- Wood Siding
- Solid Wood and Lumber Siding
- Plywood Siding
- Shingles and Shakes
- Hardboard
- OSB Siding
- Particleboard Siding
- Finish Problems, including Chalking and Rot
- Aluminum and Steel Siding
- Grounding Metal Siding
- Vinyl Siding
- SIPs
- Brick
- Stone
- Stucco and EIFS
- Asbestos
- Cement-Based Siding
- Clay and Slate Shingles
- Asphalt Shingles
- Masonry Exterior Wall Covering
- Concrete Blocks
- Manufactured Stone
- Foundation Cracks and Water
- Masonry Foundation and Piers
- Shrinkage and Cracking
- Sweeping or Horizontal Cracking
- Above-Ground Masonry Walls
- Eaves, Soffits and Fasciae
- Wall Assembly
- House Wrap
- Waterproofing and Damp-Proofing
- Permanent Wood Foundations
- Common Problems with Walls
- Inadequate Clearance from the Roof Cover
- Dense Vegetation
- Wood and Soil Contact
- Water Intrusion
- Flashing of Wall Components and Moisture Problems
- Caulking
- Sealants for Through-Wall Penetrations
- Kickout Flashing
- Exterior Drainage Systems
- Site Surface Drainage
- Foundation Drainage
- Roof and Surface Drainage
- Roof Overhangs and Projections
- Roof Drainage, Gutters and Downspouts
- Drainage Slope
- Property Drainage
- Sump Pumps
- Landscaping
- Fences
- Ramps
- Stairways
- Risers and Treads
- Guards
- Spheres
- Handgrips
- Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings
- Basement Walkouts
- Exterior Decks
- Garage
- Garage Door Opener
- Chimneys
- Defensible Space
- Retaining Walls
- Driveway, Walkways and Pavements
- Buried Oil Tanks
- Yards and Courts
- Flood Zones
- Exterior Water
- GFCI-Protection for the Exterior
- Clothes Dryer Exhaust
- Private Wells
- Septic Systems
- More
| LIFE EXPECTANCY – SIDINGS, FLASHING & ACCESSORIES | YEARS |
| Aluminum Siding | 25 to 40+ |
| Aluminum Gutters, Downspouts, Soffit and Fascia | 20 to 40+ |
| Asbestos Shingle | 100 |
| Brick | 100+ |
| Cementitious | 100+ |
| Copper Downspouts | 100 |
| Copper Gutters | 50+ |
| Engineered Wood | 100+ |
| Fiber Cement | 100+ |
| Galvanized Steel Gutters/Downspouts | 20 |
| Manufactured Stone | 100+ |
| Stone | 100+ |
| Stucco/EIFS | 50+ |
| Trim | 25 |
| Vinyl Siding | 60 |
| Vinyl Gutters and Downspouts | 25+ |
| Wood/Exterior Shutters | 20 |
| LIFE EXPECTANCY –ADHESIVES, CAULK & PAINTS | YEARS |
| Caulking (interior & exterior) | 5 to 10 |
| Construction Glue | 20+ |
| Paint (exterior) | 7 to 10 |
| Paint (interior) | 10 to 15 |
| Roofing Adhesives/Cements | 15+ |
| Sealants | 8 |
| Stains | 3 to 8 |
Porches, Balconies, Decks and Carports
Your A-Pro inspector visually examines porches, balconies, decks and carports, understanding that these additions are too often prone to improper installation methods. Our goal is to help prevent costly repairs and accidents caused by potentially unsafe features. These areas are inspected at the visible attachments and for safety issues related to balusters, spindles, rails and stairs.
| LIFE EXPECTANCY –DECKS | YEARS |
| Deck Planks | 15 |
| Composite | 8 to 25 |
| Structural Wood | 10 to 30 |
| LIFE EXPECTANCY – GARAGES | YEARS |
| Garage Doors | 20 to 25 |
| Garage Door Openers | 10 to 15 |
| LIFE EXPECTANCY – COUNTERTOPS | YEARS |
| Concrete | 50 |
| Cultured Marble | 20 |
| Natural Stone | 100+ |
| Laminate | 20 to 30 |
| Resin | 10+ |
| Tile | 100+ |
| Wood | 100+ |
| LIFE EXPECTANCY – CABINETRY & STORAGE | YEARS |
| Bathroom Cabinets | 50+ |
| Closet Shelves | 100+ |
| Entertainment Center/Home Office | 10 |
| Garage/Laundry Cabinets | 70+ |
| Kitchen Cabinets | 50 |
| Medicine Cabinet | 25+ |
| Modular (stock manufacturing-type) | 50 |
| LIFE EXPECTANCY –PANELS | YEARS |
| Flooring Underlayment | 25 |
| Hardboard | 40 |
| Particleboard | 60 |
| Plywood | 100 |
| Softwood | 30 |
| Oriented Strand Board (OSB) | 60 |
| Wall Panels | 100+ |
