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No job is too big or too small.
Affordable Inspections, Inc.
Qualified Inspectors Performing Home, Building, Wind Mitigation, 4 Point, Mold, Chinese Drywall, Roof, Commercial Property and many other inspection services in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and surrounding areas for over 20 years.
“Your Inspection Today Is
Your Peace of Mind Tomorrow”
Affordable Inspections has added the
investigation for defective (Chinese) drywall to our list of services.
This type of inspection can be added to a regular home inspection at
your request and is also available as a stand-alone service.
Historically, builders used drywall (sheetrock, gypsum board or
wallboard) that was manufactured in the United States for residential
construction. However, during the construction boom years of 2002-2007,
a shortage of domestic drywall forced many builders to purchase product
that was manufactured in China.
Imported drywall from China usually involves homes built between 2004
and 2007, around the time of the building boom and post-hurricane
reconstruction. It was determined in late 2008 that imported Chinese
Drywall was the cause of many complaints from home owners.
Chinese Drywall refers to defective or tainted drywall imported from
China which emits sulfur gasses which usually (but not always) creates
a noxious odor and corrodes copper and other metal surfaces, thereby
damaging your air conditioner, electrical wiring, copper plumbing,
appliances and electronics. Chinese drywall can also cause
adverse health effects.
Chinese drywall was found by Lawrence Berkley National Laboratories to
emit hydrogen sulfide up to 100 times greater than non-Chinese produced
drywall. Hydrogen sulfide is a hazardous gas which, in high
concentrations, can be fatal.
According to Dr. Patricia Williams, a University of New Orleans
toxicologist, highly toxic compounds have been found in Chinese drywall
and prolonged exposure to these compounds can cause serious problems.
Analytical testing of Chinese drywall samples have
also revealed strontium sulfide, although there remains disagreement
regarding whether strontium is a valid marker for Chinese drywall.
Strontium sulfide may be dangerous to developing children as it affects
bone growth.
Chronic exposure to these gases may affect the central nervous system
(including visual and sensory changes), cardiovascular system, eyes,
kidneys, liver and skin. Infants, children, the
elderly and infirm (particularly those with heart and lung disease and
diabetes) and pets may have an increased vulnerability to these gases
and the particulates that are released from the drywall. To
date, the Florida Department of Health still maintains that the levels
found in Chinese drywall are not high enough to present “an imminent or
chronic health hazard at this time.” Many experts disagree.
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Some mold problems are obvious - you can see it growing. Others are not so obvious. If you can see mold, or if there is a musty odor in your home, you probably have a mold problem. Areas that are wet, or have been wet due to flooding, leaky plumbing, leaky roofing, or areas that are humid (such as bathrooms and laundry rooms) are most likely to have mold growth.
"Molds have the potential to cause health problems and allergic reactions such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "If you already have a problem, act quickly, mold damages what it grows on, the longer it grows the more damage it can cause."
Visible mold growth may be found underneath wallpaper and baseboards, behind walls, or may be evident by discolored plaster or drywall. If you don't have any observable mold, but are experiencing symptoms likely to be mold-induced, the mold could be growing in areas you can't see, such as the ducts of a heating/cooling system. In this case, the only way to know if you have mold spores is to test.
If you have visible mold, we can conduct a swab test that can be analyzed to determine the molds that are present. Testing is the only way to determine if you have a mold problem and what type it is. After the Affordable Inspector collects the samples from your home you will receive a comprehensive report from an EPA certified laboratory identifying the level and type of molds in your home in a comprehensive and easy to read report (additional charges will apply).
Although some polybutylene piping problems stem from improper installation, most complaints are with the integrity of the piping itself. Polybutylene pipe is known to deteriorate due to contact with oxidants normally found in public water supplies. The failure can occur in the plastic fittings or in the pipe itself. A main concern regarding polybutylene (PB) pipe is that, since the oxidants are carried in the water, the pipe deteriorates from the inside. This makes it very difficult to determine if the pipe is truly in good condition. Most home inspectors cannot give a reliable assessment on the condition of PB piping unless there is a visible problem with the exterior of the pipe or its installation. In addition, when a leak occurs, it may be extremely severe because the deterioration occurs from within.
PB pipe leaks are unpredictable and there are no symptoms to warn of an impending leak. Some factors that affect polybutylene piping adversely can include:
When PB pipe reacts with the oxidants in normal tapwater, it becomes brittle, sometimes scaling or flaking. This results in a fracturing of the interior surface of the pipe, which allows for more deterioration. Eventually the pipe will begin to leak, causing damage throughout a home. PB pipe with plastic fittings or with metal fittings will eventually incur damage; PB piping is not a reliable piping under any circumstances. If a pipe has been leaking for some time without the knowledge of a homeowner, severe structural damage to the home can result, making repairs extremely difficult.
Damage from PB pipe leaks can be expensive, in some cases more than the original cost of the house. Insurance companies sometimes cancel or refuse policies for homes with known PB piping problems, and it is difficult to market a home that has such an unreliable plumbing system.
Swimming pools and spas can be an enjoyable addition to any home. Not only should the pool equipment be inspected for proper operation, but the equipment should be inspected to ensure it conforms to the proper safety parameters. Safety concerns include faulty wiring, poorly attached ladders, failing steps, loose railings, dangerous diving boards, and unsafe deck surfaces.
In addition, other concerns include needed repairs or improvements to pumps and heaters, liners, plumbing problems and more.
Affordable Inspections can provide you with a pool inspection that will identify safety concerns and proper operation of the pool equipment saving you lot of money on repairs and the aggravation of having a pool that you cannot safely use. Adding a pool inspection to your whole house inspection fee is inexpensive and will be performed by a knowledgeable inspector.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, soil gas that can seep into homes through small spaces and openings, such as cracks, concrete, floor drains, sump pump openings, wall/floor joints in basements, and pores in walls. Radon can also enter a home through well water.
According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually. Some areas in the U.S. have a much higher concentration of radon than others. The EPA estimates that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. has an elevated level of radon.
A simple and inexpensive test can be performed by Affordable Inspections to determine if radon is a problem in your home. Visit http://www.epa.gov/radon/ to learn more or call Affordable Inspections today.
The
problem:
Let’s get to the meat of this issue. On April 28, 1974, two people died
in a
home fire in Hampton Bays, New York. Fire officials determined that the
fire
was caused by a faulty aluminum wire connection at an outlet. Since
that tragic
accident, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission and other
government
agencies have investigated numerous complaints throughout the nation
relating
to trouble with small gauge aluminum branch circuit wiring. The
Commission has
also had research conducted that shows that homes wired with aluminum
wire
manufactured before 1972 ("old technology" aluminum wire) are 55
times more likely to have one or more connections reach "Fire Hazard
Conditions" than is a home wired with copper.
It's
OK and it's not OK. Is that clear?
Plainly stated, aluminum "wire" is
fine. Small gauge aluminum
branch circuit wiring installed prior to 1972 and improper
installations
after 1972 may not be. The issue is not the wire but is the wiring connections on small
gauge
circuits. Aluminum wiring, properly installed and meeting current
industry
standards and code requirements, should be perfectly safe.
Click HERE
for
more information regarding aluminum wiring.
If you are like most people, you know very little about your septic tank system. This is understandable. In urban and suburban areas there are sewers provided by the municipality to carry household waste to municipal wastewater treatment plants. In most rural areas however, septic tank systems provide the function of both sewers and treatment plants. All household waste is disposed of through the septic system. The proper operation of the septic system is essential to health, property value, and the ecology.
Windstorm insurance rates are reduced substancially with a Wind Mitigation Inspection. A Wind Mitigation inspection verifies construction methods that create wind mitigation discounts based on those methods providing greater protection from wind and hurricane damage. The inspection usually takes less than an hour and the savings is usually in the form of a check direct from your insurance company within 3-6 weeks with continued savings from then forward.
Insurance companies have become increasingly reluctant to issue Homeowner Insurance policies on older homes (usually 25 years old or more). Their common concern is that there may be conditions in an older home that could become a liability to them. For instance, a home with a roof nearing the end of its reliable service life may fail while under the policy and the homeowner may seek reimbursement from their insurance company for damages to the home or its contents. Similar concerns extend to the condition of the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems in an older home. If these elements are in poor condition, in need of being updated or replaced or were improperly installed, they may fail and cause fire or water damage to a home.
Since insurance companies typically have little or no detailed information for any particular property, they mitigate their risk by charging YOU the highest rate possible based on their assumption of a worst case scenario.
A 4-Point Inspection performed by a qualified home and property inspector from Affordable Inspections will provide your insurance company with detailed information pertaining to the "4 Points" critical to determining YOUR insurance rates:
Our inspectors have provided unbiased and professional home and building inspection services in the Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando, Polk and Manatee areas for more than two decades. Our Home & Building Inspection services provide protection of the buyer's, seller's, owner's and real estate professional's investments.
Call Affordable Inspections for details: 727-224-0837
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