During a standard home inspection in Dallas Fort Worth, home inspectors are required to inspect rain gutters and downspouts. Not only should gutters and downspouts be present, but they should be in good working condition. While this information may sound like common sense, you’d be surprised how many houses fail to have gutters and downspouts whatsoever! In this blog, we’ll discuss what home inspectors look for when inspecting gutters and downspouts.
How Gutters & Downspouts Impact the Home Inspection
During a home inspection, a Licensed Professional Home Inspector will ensure gutters and downspouts are large enough to accommodate heavy rainfall. They will also inspect gutters for debris, rust, cracks, and holes. Rain gutters should be designed to divert water 4 to 6 feet away from the home’s foundation. While many homes have gutters and downspouts, they often dump water dangerously close to the foundation.
Fort Worth Home Inspections – Home Inspector Fort Worth
Water accumulation near the perimeter of your home is dangerous for many reasons:
- Standing water promotes mold and rot, thus leading to costly repairs.
- Areas of your property that stay wet over long periods can adversely affect the appearance and usability. Not only is standing water a breeding ground for mosquitoes and mold; it poses a threat to the integrity of your home’s foundation.
- Erosion caused by water flowing over the unprotected ground can also cause damage to structures. When the soil erodes away from your foundation you may begin to see cracks in the interior and exterior of your home.
- Excessive moisture causes the clay soil in North Texas to expand and contract during seasonal moisture fluctuations. The constant movement can cause major structural damage to your home.
Home Inspections – Examining Existing Gutters
“Roofing gutters should slope down toward the downspout at the rate of 1/16-inch per foot, or 1/4-inch per 5 to 10 feet. An angle less than this won’t allow water to move effectively, and much more of an angle will cause the water to move at too great a speed, potentially resulting in overflow over end caps and corners. ”
Common Issues Found During the Home Inspection – Gutters
Roofing gutters should have enough slope to effectively transport water into downspouts. Although home inspectors are not required to measure the gutter slope, a good home inspector will look for signs that the gutters fail to perform as designed. He/she should make note of standing watering in portions of the gutter.
Home Inspections – Examining Downspouts
Downspouts connect to the gutter system and are designed to transport water from the roof to an area away from the home’s foundation. data-preserver-spaces=”true”>During the home inspection, each downspout should be examined to ensure the connection between the downspout and gutter is properly attached. Downspouts should also be adequately sealed to prevent excessive leakage. A functioning downspout should never pour water onto the surface of another roof.
Looking for a reputable home inspection company in Dallas Fort Worth?
Thomas Engineering Consultants provides fast, accurate home inspections in the DFW metroplex. In addition to being Licensed Professional Home Inspectors, our guys train alongside a Licensed Professional Engineer to help recognize signs of foundation settling BEFORE you commit to purchasing real estate.