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Connecticut Home Inspections

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The following items are not required to be inspected by the State of Connecticut Home Inspector Standards of Practice: Paint, wallpaper or other finished treatments, carpeting, window treatments, central vacuum, household appliances and recreational facilities. When it comes to floors, walls and ceilings, it is the soundness of the structure that is inspected rather then the cosmetic features.
FLOORS In most cases the structure of the floors are not visible except the first floor in homes with unfinished basements. Therefore, the evaluation is often limited to observing deficiencies that have shown up on the surface of the floor. Bulges, dips and deflections can be indications of a significant problem in the structure of the floor that will need repair. However, this is not always the case. Very old homes almost always have uneven floors . Construction methods years ago are not as good as they are today and settling may cause uneven floors that are common for the age of the home but even newer homes can have some unevenness that is nothing more than normal settlement. This is where experience and some common sense is needed by the home inspector. He must determine if these deflections are the result of a problem that needs immediate attention, or just common settlement that may only need monitoring. In some cases determining the significance of the deficiency is something that can only be safely derived at by further evaluation by a specialized contractor or engineer. (To learn about fixing squeaks in floors and stairs click here)
There are significant gaps between the walls and the floor in this photo. This condition warranted further investigation. Fortunately this wall was not blocked by furnishing and the floor was above an unfinished and accessible crawl space, so condition and the cause could be observed. The entire framing structure was damaged significantly by trapped moisture in the crawl space. A photo of the floor structure can be seen in the crawl space section of this tour and in the photo below in the wall section of this page.
There are many types of floor coverings such as hardwood, carpet, tile, stone, parquet and composite tile. Many older composite tiles contain asbestos. The photo to the left shows a 9X9 inch composite tile. It is likely to have an asbestos content. These tiles are typically not a hazard if in good condition and left undisturbed by damage or removal. If these types of tile are to be removed, it should be done by a qualified asbestos remediation contractor in accordance with all applicable regulations.
Flooring like hardwood floors are more a part of the actual floor structure compared to carpeting or vinyl flooring. Most hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished, however there are some stains such as pet stains that will not sand out.
WALLS Walls are similar to floors in that the framing structure is rarely visible. The same experience, common sense and limitations apply to determine if items such as cracks in walls are significant or just common settlement. The photo below to the left is from the same house with the damage in the crawl space. This damage was transferred into the wall structure. Cracks like the one seen below off the corner of doors are common from normal settlement and had there not been other visible evidence of failure in the house and access to the crawl space, determining its significance would not have been possible without invasive evaluation such as dismantling of wall boards or flooring, which is beyond that of the scope of a home inspector and possible beyond what a seller of a home is willing to allow. The photo below to the right shows the collapsed main carrying beam in the crawl space, resulting in the floor and wall damage seen in the other photos. Wall coverings vary depending on the age of the home. Plaster is more common in older homes and sheet rock is more common in newer homes. Each have their own characteristics, which help the inspector determine if a course of action is required for repair or simply monitoring an issue because if falls into the cosmetic issues of normal wear and tear.

CEILINGS Ceilings come in a verity of materials; plaster, sheet rock, wood, acoustic tile, drop ceilings and even canvas. As with floors and walls, the same experience, common sense and limitations apply to determine if items such as cracks in ceilings are significant or just common settlement. Settlement cracks are common and most often a cosmetic concern. When ceiling cracking is accompanied with separation from the ceiling structure, repairs are in order. Water stains are a common condition found on ceilings. It must be determined if the ceiling is below a roof that may be leaking or a bath that may have a plumbing issue. Sometimes stains are found but the cause has been repaired without refinishing the stained area. The inspector may not have been give information concerning the repair. In some of these cases, further investigation is needed to see if the seller can provide evidence of the repair.
INTERIOR DOORS Properly working doors will have working hardware (hinges, door knobs and latches), open freely over floors and close squarely into the the door jamb. Deficiencies in doors can often be minor and easily fixable problems. They can also be an indication of more significant problems that go beyond the door itself. It is not uncommon for doors to be found that do not close squarely into the door jamb (the frame the door hangs on and closes into). Older homes may have settled and the doors won't close. Newer homes may be going through their initial settlement and some doors may not close. This may require just a little sanding or planning of the door and it will then close properly. When more significant settlement is present the door jamb may need to be adjusted in the door opening. If the settlement is very significant, it may be an indication of a more serious structural issue that requires further evaluation. The door below swings freely on the hinges, closes squarely in the door and latches properly.

FIREPLACES (And solid fuel burning appliances - wood stoves etc.) If there is a fireplace, wood, coal or pellet stove in the home, the inspector should report it. Evaluation of these items are extremely limited. Fires cannot be started to prove that they work or draft properly. Each municipality often has its own requirements for wood, coal and pellet stoves. The home inspector cannot and is not required to know all these varied requirements. It is advisable that the buyer of the home contact the local municipality to determine if their unit is in compliance. This will protect you with your home owners insurance should there be a fire. The soundness of the fireplace structure should be inspected as it is visibly accessible. It should be determined if there is a damper present and if it is working freely. To the extent the inspector can see up the chimney, certain things should be determined. Does it have liner?, what condition is it in? Does it need cleaning, etc. Below is a newly constructed fireplace and its damper is in the open position. If the construction design for a perfect fireplace and chimney were to be described, few chimneys in existence today would measure up. Some chimneys are unsafe to use and some chimneys are just not as safe as others. (click here for more info)

The photo to the left is a chimney found in an older home without a liner. While many older homes today still have functioning chimneys without liners, most home inspectors will recommend further evaluation and consultation with a qualified chimney sweep. Many modern appliances such as gas hot water heaters and gas heating systems can be very corrosive to the masonry of an unlined chimney. (Click here for info on chimney liners)
STAIRS AND RAILINGS Some stairs are more elaborate like the ones in the photo, while others are not, such as basement stairs. In either case, they must provide safe access from one level of the home to another. The stairs should be inspected to be sure they are sound and safe to use. Tread size and risers between steps should be sized adequately for safe use. All stairs should have railings and are required for most government mortgages. (Fixing squeaks in stairs)