Lake Oswego OR Home Inspection Services
45th Parallel Home Inspection is your trusted partner in helping ensure the safety, quality, and integrity of your home in Lake Oswego, OR. Our thorough, detailed home inspection services cater to a diverse range of clients, including home buyers, homeowners, home sellers, property managers, landlords, real estate agents, investors, and anyone invested in maintaining or purchasing a property. We even offer specialty or partial inspections of areas such as the roof, siding, or crawlspace only.
With a commitment to professionalism and attention to detail, we offer a range of services designed to provide you with peace of mind and confidence in your investment. Also, identifying issues earlier saves you money in the long run.
Why Get a Home Inspection?
Our purpose is to make sure that your home is a safe and welcoming environment for you and your loved ones and to help identify any issues needing repair or attention. A home inspection serves as a critical step in the home-buying process, offering invaluable insights into the condition of the property. It provides buyers with a more comprehensive understanding of any potential issues or areas of concern, empowering them to make informed decisions and negotiate effectively.
For homeowners, a regular inspection can identify maintenance needs or potential safety hazards, allowing for timely repairs and peace of mind.
Lake Oswego OR Home Inspection Services
45th Parallel Home Inspection is a full-service company dedicated to giving you as much information as possible about a house you’re interested in buying or selling, or if you just want to know the condition of your home. Our services include:
- Home Inspections: Evaluations of a property from the foundation to the roof, identifying any visible issues or concerns to empower informed decision-making for home buyers, sellers, and homeowners.
- Sewer Line Inspections: Assessment of the main sewer line to detect potential blockages, leaks, or damage, helping to identify or prevent costly repairs and ensuring proper functionality of the sewer system.
- Exterior Cladding Inspections: Detailed examinations of the home's exterior surfaces, such as adhered stone veneer, stucco, EIFS siding, or brick to identify defects or vulnerabilities that could lead to water intrusion and compromise the property's structural integrity.
- Radon Testing: Testing for the presence of radon gas, a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that can seep into homes through cracks in the foundation and from the crawlspace, to help mitigate health risks associated with prolonged exposure, such as lung cancer.
- Home Re-inspection: We follow up on a previous inspection we performed to ensure that agreed-upon repairs have been completed to your satisfaction before finalizing the sale.
- Home Health Checkups: Regular assessments of your home's overall condition, similar to an annual health checkup. Helps identify minor issues with the roof, attic, and crawlspace early on to prevent them from escalating into costly or unsafe problems.
Major Issues Found in a Home Inspection in Lake Oswego OR
A home inspection is a crucial step in the home-buying process, providing you with valuable insights into the condition of the property and any potential issues that may require attention. Even if the home appears to be in good condition, an inspection can uncover hidden problems that may not be immediately apparent.
Structural Integrity: Cracks in the foundation, sagging floors, or signs of settlement may indicate structural issues requiring further evaluation.
Water Damage: Stains on ceilings or walls, pooling water in the crawlspace, leaky windows, or drainage problems may suggest water intrusion, which can lead to mold growth and structural damage if left untreated.
Roof Condition: Missing or damaged shingles, leaks, or signs of deterioration can compromise the roof's integrity and lead to costly repairs if not addressed promptly. Knowing how much life a roof may have left plays a big part in negotiations.
Electrical Systems: Outdated wiring, overloaded circuits, or faulty electrical panels pose safety hazards and should be looked at by a licensed electrician.
Plumbing Issues: Leaks, low water pressure, old or corroded pipes can indicate plumbing problems that may require attention to prevent water damage or standing in the shower with very little water flow.
Pest Infestations: While we are not licensed pest inspectors, we can point out signs of insects, rodents, or other pests that can wreak havoc on a property's structure and pose health risks to occupants. We see pest issues every day, and refer them to be addressed by licensed professionals.
HVAC Concerns: Inefficient heating or cooling systems, lack of maintenance, or improper ventilation can impact indoor comfort and air quality, as well as even cause safety hazards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common questions and answers for home buyers and sellers alike
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that radon levels in homes should not exceed 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). If your test results show levels at or above this threshold, you should consider taking action to reduce radon exposure.
The EPA recommends testing your home's radon levels at least every two years, especially if you live in an area with a known radon problem or have made structural changes to your home.
While DIY radon test kits are available, it's recommended to hire a certified professional for accurate and reliable results. We have the expertise to ensure the test is conducted correctly.
If our radon inspection reveals elevated levels of radon in your home, we’ll guide you through the mitigation process. We'll explain the available mitigation methods, their costs, and the expected outcomes. We're here to answer all your questions and help you make informed decisions.
Basement and slab on grade homes are generally the highest in Radon. That is because they have so much concrete in contact with soil, and Radon concentration is higher in soil because it cannot freely dissipate. Radon seeps in at concrete cracks, joints, and penetrations around piping and can accumulate in higher concentrations once in the home.
In general, ventilated crawl space homes are almost never high in Radon concentration. The reason is that Radon is free to dissipate into the atmosphere due to the ventilation under the home. We recommend not using styrofoam blocks to plug the crawl space vent screens because that reduces airflow and ventilation and can allow Radon levels to increase.
The only time we feel it is OK to use the styrofoam blocks is for a cold snap where you put them in place and then remove them once it warms back up a little to not be a concern for freezing pipes.
If you live in a crawl space home, do not use styrofoam blocks to plug the crawl space vent screens all winter. Assuming your home has insulation under the floor and the water piping is insulated, you don’t need to plug the vents. Plugging the vents reduces airflow under the home and can allow Radon to concentrate in higher levels in the home. It’s fine to plug the vents during a cold snap to prevent any pipes from freezing etc, but when it warms back up, remove them.
Home ventilation system which brings in fresh air also helps to discharge older stale air which also contains Radon. You can open a window and ventilate basements and allow the house to air out during good weather as well. But we still recommend Radon testing under closed house conditions and mitigation if levels are elevated.
Get Answers From a Radon Inspection Specialist
The EPA recommends testing for radon in all real estate transactions. Contact us today and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have regarding our radon testing services. Home inspections, sewer scopes, electrical inspections, and other services are all designed to give you peace of mind as a home buyer or a homeowner. Schedule an inspection with 45th Parallel Home Inspection and we’ll give you the information you need to make the right decisions for your home.
Get answers from an Inspection Specialist
Give us a call today to answer any questions you have regarding home inspections, Radon testing, or sewer line inspections.
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