Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 21, 1994, edition 2 / Page 6
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AS HI Survey: Ten Most ;Frequent House Problems ; In (the-rpost recent survey of its members, the American Society of, Home Inspectors (ASHI) com piled the following list of the most frequently found problems in the homes they inspected: - ? .1. Improper surface grad ing/drainage. This was by far the 11. vist frequently found problem. It is responsible^ for the most com mon of household maladies ? water penetration of the basement ^ or crawl space. , 2 . Imp roper e lee t r i c a 1 wiring. A sig nificant nu nv ber chose this item as the most common home defect, which includes such situations as insufficient electrical ser vice to the house, inade quate overload protection and ama teur,, often dangerous, wiring con nection. w 3. Roof damage. Roof leakage, caused by old or damaged shingles or improper flashing, is an often seen problem. 4. Heating Systems. Prob lems in this category include bro ken or malfunctioning operation controls, blocked chimneys and unsafe exhaust disposal. 5. Poor overall mainte nance. Even the novice homebuy er is usually aware of this situation, demonstrated by such signs as cracked, peeling or dirty painted surfaces, crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, and broken fixtures or appliances. 6. Structurally related prob lems. Many houses, as a result of problems in one or more of the other categories, sustain damage to such structural components as foundation walls, floor joists, rafters and .window and door headers. 7. Plumbing. Plumbing defects still rank high among the house problems encountered, and include the existence of old or incompatible piping materials, as well as faulty fixtures and waste lines. 8. Exteriors. Flaws in ia ? ? ?? [? " v 1 home's exterior, including win dows, door and wall surfaces are responsible for the discomfort of water and air penetration, but rarely have structural significance. Inadequate caulking and/or weath erstripping are the most common culprits. 9. Poor ventilation. Per haps due to overly ambitious efforts to save energy, many home owners have "over-sealed" their homes, resulting in excessive interior mois ture. This can cause rot ting and pre mature failure Of both struc tural and non structural elements. 10. Miscellaneous. This category includes primarily interior components, often cosmetic in nature, which were not found fre- . quently enough to rank individual ly in the survey. It is significant that within this list of ten problem categories, at least four are directly related to the damaging effects of water. It is apparent, therefore, that after a "home is built, (presumably in a structurally sound manner), keep ing water out is the homeowner's most important? and continually challenging ? objective. In addition, the age of a home plays a significant role in the survey findings. In older, urban houses, problems such as heating system failure, inadequate electri cal service and worn plumbing can be found with much greater fre quency than reflected in this nationwide survey. ? The American Society of Home Inspectors EXCEPTIOIXIAL QUALITY. EXCEPTIOIMALLY AFFORDABLE! "? "7 ? v-"' ~~ 7^~ -"V. < ~ . . ? , . ? ? At Prices Like These , ( How Can You Afford Not To Dream? Fireside Tradition. Three and four bedroom homes priced from the low $60,000's. Several plans to choose from, including one just right for your family. V These homes feature your choice of decora tor colors and are standard quality construction with many options. 7 ' ir ? ? y* . These energy efficent homes are approved for VA/FHA and conventional financing. We offer first-time buyers program and work equity. Sandra Anderson Anderson & Associates Contractors, Inc. 'Call 727-9990 for more information i*5J. 10UAI HOUSING . opportunity "AflbnUihlc Hdhsui^ lor < >m Cownntiritv"
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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July 21, 1994, edition 2
6
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