GROUNDS PAGE

Free DIY Home Inspection Checklist

Driveway

•  Driveway(s) Okay
• Cracks less than 1/8” (Typical)
• Cracks greater than 1/4” (Non typical)
• Settled concrete surface
• Settled brick surface
• Raised surface (trip hazard)
• Raised surface tree root damage  (DIY TIP: Pay close attention to yard drain pipes as well as sewer drain piping and main water supply piping).
• Newer sections (may suggest prior damage here)

Walkway

•  Walkways Okay
• Cracks less than 1/8” (Typical)
• Cracks greater than 1/4” (Non typical)
• Settled concrete surface
• Settled brick surface
• Raised surface (trip hazard)
• Raised surface tree root damage (DIY TIP: Pay close attention to yard drain pipes as well as sewer drain piping and main water supply piping).
• Newer sections (may suggest prior damage here)

Porch

•  Porch Okay
• Cracks less than 1/8” (Typical)
• Cracks greater than 1/4” (Non typical)
• Settled concrete surface
• Settled brick surface
• Raised surface (trip hazard)
• Raised surface tree root damage (DIY TIP: Pay close attention to yard drain pipes as well as sewer drain piping and main water supply piping).
• Newer sections (This may suggest prior damage here)

Courtyard

•  Courtyard Okay
• Cracks less than 1/8” (Typical)
• Cracks greater than 1/4” (Non typical)
• Settled concrete surface
• Settled brick surface
• Raised surface (trip hazard)
• Raised surface tree root damage (DIY TIP: Pay close attention to yard drain pipes as well as sewer drain piping and main water supply piping).
• Newer sections (may suggest prior damage here)

Patio

•  Patio Okay
• Cracks less than 1/8” (Typical)
• Cracks greater than 1/4” (Non typical)
• Settled concrete surface
• Settled brick surface
• Raised surface (trip hazard)
• Raised surface tree root damage (Pay close attention of yard drain pipes as well as irrigation piping). Test all yard drains before purchase!
• Newer sections (may suggest prior damage here)

Gutters

•  Gutters Okay
• Sagging gutters
• Missing / damaged screens
• Debris or water filled
• Missing or loose nails
• Rusted or deteriorated
• Leaking (seams may require sealant)
• Gutter downspouts drain too close to the building (less than 6 feet)

Retaining Walls

•  Retaining walls Okay
• Loose materials
• Wood planks / rail road ties / telephone poles (may not be suitable as retaining wall materials)
• Segmental wall with no angle / Is vertical  (DIY TIP: check maximum height for this material)
• Stacked concrete not grouted installed (DIY TIP: check maximum height for this material)
• Cracks in block or concrete
• Leaning wall (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)
• Tree root damaged (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)
• No visible drains in wall / is leaking
• Wall close to the house / dirt against the building / lacks drainage  (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)

Hose Bibs

• Hose bibs Okay
• Hose bib pipe is loose in the wall
• Hose bib:  ___ handle  ___ riser  ___ pipe   leaks continually
• Missing vacuum breaker
• Hose bib is stripped
• Missing handle
• Hose bib riser is loose and suggested to be better secured to wall (vertically)
• Hose bib is galvanized when majority of house is re-piped in copper  (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate to determine whether dissimilar metal contact was made and / or how much galvanized material still exists within the wall)

Patio Cover

• Patio cover Okay
• DIY TIP Check permits
• Wood is weathered
• Wood is moisture damaged
• Seal the ledger (wood board that attaches to the building) attachment to the house
• Post to slab contact (No space between wood and concrete / dirt)
• No ledger attachment (Rafters are attached directly to fascia board)
• Rafter boards sagging (Over spanned / rafters are too long)
• Beam is sagging (Over spanned / beam is too long)
• Wood sheathing for roof is moisture damaged (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate the roof covering materials as well as determine if the roof leaks)

Gates

• Gates Okay
• Gates do not close unassisted leading to pool  (*Safety concern)
• Gate is damaged and will not operate at all
• Gate rubs the ground / wall
• Gate is wood and deteriorated
• Gate is wrought iron and rusted
• Gate was locked remember to re-check

Refer to our pool barrier safety page on our website if this property possesses a swimming pool or spa

Wood Fence

• Wood Fence Okay
• Wood fence has rot
• Missing boards noted
• There are wood members which are not “Rot Resistive” (Cedar, California Redwood, Cypress, Teak)
• The fence Leans / Sways
• We consider the wood fence to be beyond its useful life
• Wood posts are not secured into footings
• Wood fence damage is a safety hazard due to swimming pool / spa present 

Wrought Iron Fence

• Wrought Fence Okay
• Wrought iron fence is rusted / deteriorated
• Areas observed where the fence is disconnected from base / wall attachment
• The fence sways (Be sure to inspect the point at which the fence is secured such as the top of a block wall or into a footing)
• There are areas of fence which is damaged / beyond its life

Chain Link Fence

• Chain Link Okay
• Chain link fence is damaged / missing pieces
• Chain link fence is used as a pool barrier and has small openings ( safety hazard due to swimming pool)
• Chainlink rusted

Block Wall

• Block fence Okay
• Block fencing leans
• Block fencing sways
• Blocks are loose
• Blocks are missing
• Blocks are cracked
• Cap material is loose / missing
• Tree roots causing damage to wall

Stair Railing

• Stair / Railing okay
• Stair treads are smaller than 10”
• Stair Risers are taller than 7 ¾”
• Stair risers / treads possess more than a 3/8” difference between them
• Railings are needed one one side when there are more than 4 risers
• Railings are loose
• Railings are not between 34-42”
• Railings are damaged
• The space between “pickets” are wider than 4” – (Hazard to small children)

Grading / Yard Drainage

• Grading okay
• The site possesses a *very steep hillside up or down (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)
• The grade slopes towards the house at any point around the property (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)
• There are holes in the yard which may suggest the removal of a tree (DIY TIP: Ask the seller if there was a tree removed if so, be aware of the location of the underground piping – inspect as necessary)
• There are areas where the soil or concrete touch the bottom of the house (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)
• Hillside has no visible swales or drainage basin (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)
• There are planters which are close to / up against the house  _____ with  _____ without the ability to drain in the event they become flooded
• There is insufficient slope away from the house (6” in first 10 feet dirt)( 2% slope for solid surface)
• Solid surfaces are higher than the lower edge of the exterior wall of the building risking water entry into the building (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)

Irrigation

• Irrigation Okay
• Leaking valves / pipes / sprinkler heads
• Irrigation valves too low to grade – (possible cross contamination of potable water supply)
• Sprinkler heads spraying onto the building finishes – (re adjustment needed)
• Damaged / Missing sprinkler heads
• Timer damaged / missing
• Loose / exposed wiring

Sub-Surface Drainage

• Sub surface drains Okay
• Sub grade drainage noted but there are no holes curbside (where does the water go?)
• Vegetation growing from within the drain pipes
• Stains surrounding the drains – (suggesting the drain is blocked)
• Trees close to sub grade drain piping – (video scan suggested here)
• Missing / damaged drain covers

Trees

• Trees on hillside
• Dead trees on property close to the house or possible piping (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate)
• Trees close to plumbing or other piping (DIY TIP: Have contractor evaluate) (A video inspection of piping may be necessary here)

 

 

The Free DIY Home Inspection Checklist will help guide you through a home inspection just like the pros. Our grounds page focuses on the grounds areas of the lot surrounding the home. Although there area an overwhelming number of areas, our ground section is made up of several specific areas within the confines of the lot. Although there may be multiple areas which seem to cross over into the grounds areas, we try to keep it simple by selecting specified areas of the lot and concentrating our efforts into the construction of, or improvements within these areas.

Ideally, when inspecting areas within the lot such as walkways, patios other flatwork as well as the grading as a whole, one must keep in mind the grade as well and at the same time. Similarly, one must keep in mind the effects other components have when such components which may be directly attached to the structure just as in the case of patio covers for example. Of course with the grounds, a primary concern of ours is always lot drainage around the perimeter of the building. Ideally, we want water to flow into subsurface drains or within swales and then to the street.

Mazza Inspection Group is a Santa Clarita Home Inspection Company