Ask The Atlanta Home Inspector

If roof trusses are cut after they are manufactured their structural integrity will be compromised.  If the trusses are cut after installation in the attic then they are no longer capable of supporting the section of the roof that they were designed to support.
Once roof trusses are cut then the original truss manufacturer or a […]

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The Temperature Pressure Relief Valve (T&P) is a safety device on the hot water heater.  It’s job is to open up and discharge water from the hot water tank if the water heater builds up excessive pressure inside.  The T&P valve is what prevents the water heater from exploding from an excessive pressure build up.
The T&P needs to have an extension […]

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Hopefully you have a catch pan under your washing machine in case it overflows.  But what’s the use of having a catch pan under your second floor washing machine if there is a large gap around the drain line going into the wall cavity? 
These are details we look for every day!

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When your clothes dryer doesn’t vent to the exterior of the house your are asking for trouble.  First, all of the moisture produced by drying your clothes remains in the home causing a variety of problems including a potential for mold growth.
Second, the massive amount of lint produced from the clothes dryer gets all over […]

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When installing bats of insulation the side of the insulation with paper on it should face the warm area.  We often see installation installed incorrectly in the ceilings and walls of unfinished basements.
Check out this video to see the wrong way to install it! 

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Guardrails and handrails are an essential component in preventing falls in the home.  But for them to do their job they must be properly installed. 
Handrails and guardrails are needed both on the inside and on the outside of the home. 

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If you are going to install a ceiling fan then the electrical junction box being used must be ceiling fan rated and secured properly to the wood framing of the house.
Check out this unsafe ceiling fan junction box installation:

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Cutting the bottom framing (the chord) of a floor truss or I-Joist is not permitted.  Cutting the bottom cord eliminates the strength of the engineered framing member. 
Check out what the plumber did (it’s sad but they knew better than to do this):

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If structural wood framing gets cut or bored through for the mechanical systems of the house then specialty fasteners are required to restore the wood framings strength.  Check this out: 

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It doesn’t take much exposure to moisture for hardwood floors to start buckling.  Proper installation is critical and making sure that moisture isn’t coming in under the threshold of an exterior door is also critical.

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