Portland Home Inspections

Investing in a home in Portland, OR is a significant decision, one that involves not just financial commitment but also the promise of comfort, safety, and long-term stability. While initial impressions of a property may be positive, hidden issues can lurk beneath the surface, potentially impacting your future comfort,  finances, and even safety. 

45th Parallel provides comprehensive home inspection services designed to empower both homebuyers and homeowners with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their most valuable asset.

Home Inspection Services

Occasional home inspections not only address routine maintenance needs, but they can identify possible issues early enough to set up repairs before they become a significant problem.

45th Parallel Home Inspection Portland Reports are a proactive service that empowers both buyers and homeowners with important information that will lead to the long-term health of your property. We can also perform limited inspections, focusing on the most important areas of a home such as the roof, attic, and crawlspace.

Our thorough and meticulous inspections cover all readily accessible areas of your home, from structural components and mechanical systems to plumbing, HVAC, electrical systems, roof, attic, and crawlspace. We generate detailed reports with photos, outlining our findings and providing clear recommendations for further evaluation or repair.

Sewer Line Inspections

Occasional sewer line inspections are crucial for maintaining a healthy plumbing system and essential to home buyers to understand any hidden defects that may be costly after purchase. In some cases, depending on where a sewer line issue is located, it can cost tens of thousands to repair.

Our video inspections assess the condition of your main sewer line, extending from your house to either the city sewer connection or septic tank. Utilizing state-of-the-art camera technology and advanced locating equipment, we can:

• Identify potential problems before they become costly
• Pinpoint existing issues that need immediate attention
• Facilitate precise repair estimates

Sewer lines can deteriorate over time due to factors such as tree root intrusion, ground shifting, or natural aging of pipes. Regular inspections can identify these issues, potentially minimizing repair costs and avoiding health hazards and property damage caused by sewage backups.

Radon Testing

We measure radon gas levels, a colorless, odorless gas that can seep into homes through cracks in the foundation and concrete slabs, gaps in walls around plumbing pipes, and up from the Earth in crawlspaces. Radon is a carcinogen known to cause lung cancer if exposed to elevated levels for years.

Testing for radon can show if there are elevated levels in your home so you can take preventative action. Mitigation involves sealing up entry points and  installing piping and a fan to remove air from under the home and deposit it to the exterior.  Radon mitigation is very effective, and not expensive compared to many other home repairs. A typical Radon mitigation costs between $1,500 and $2,500.

Testing for radon is a simple process and a typical test is completed over a period of 48 hours. Longer tests are available, but the minimum test time is 48 hours. 

Home Health Checkups

Homeowners are wise to schedule annual whole-home health checkups. Think of them as the equivalent of your own regular medical checkups. We’ll examine several key areas of your home looking for any issues early before they become larger and more expensive issues to repair. 

We typically inspect the roof, attic, and crawlspace and look at insulation, plumbing, signs of water intrusion, leaking, pest activity, and more. Armed with this information, you can plan and budget for repairs or upgrades, if needed, and repair issues before they become larger and more costly. 

Adhered Stone Veneer, EIFS, Stucco Inspections

Your home’s exterior is the first line of defense against Mother Nature. If it fails or is installed improperly, water can wreak havoc on your home.

While stone veneers can give Portland homes a sophisticated look, we’ve found improper installation to be common. Manufacturer installation guidelines are usually clear, but they’re often ignored or improperly followed. The results can lead to water intrusion over time. Inspection and moisture testing behind the stone can determine and reveal any water intrusion issues and damage.

Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) is a cladding system used on home exteriors, offering excellent thermal insulation and energy efficiency. Foam insulation is installed on the outside of the wall with a thin coat of stucco covering the insulation board. It looks like traditional hard coat stucco, but offers other benefits.

Proper installation is crucial, since water infiltration can potentially lead to moisture-related issues like mold or rotting. Small details like sealant beads and flashing can make all the difference in keeping water out.

The same is true for hard coat stucco. The installation process for traditional hard coat stucco is almost exactly the same as adhered stone veneer so we find many of the same defects such as gaps for water entry, missing or incorrect flashing details, and clearance issues. 

If you’re buying a home in Portland and it has adhered stone, stucco, or EIFS, we can perform a detailed inspection including moisture testing under the surface to find hidden issues that are not visible on the surface.

Contact 45th Parallel Home Inspection and we’ll help empower you to make informed decisions about your most valuable asset.