Ultimate Insulation Home Inspection Guide | Is My Home Properly Insulated?

The insulation inspector follows a strict protocol when inspecting a home. They start by measuring the thickness of the walls and ceilings with specialized equipment, which looks like an oversized pistol that fires infrared beams to measure heat flow through different materials. If you want your new house inspected before winter arrives, contact one now!
As the inspector goes through your home, he or she will be looking for insulation. This is often used to keep houses cool in summer and warm during winter. The cement has a moisture meter that detects any water seeping into it from rain, melting snow, humidity – whatever may cause damage due to wetness.

Insulation is the process of minimizing heat transfer to or from an object. There are three main types: fiberglass, foam, and polyurethane spray foam insulation (SPF). SPF provides increased thermal efficiency in a building structure and reduces energy consumption by up to 50%. This can be done with existing structures as well as new construction without any adverse effects on its appearance. The attic is hands down the most important place in your home to ensure you have adequate insulation. In the winter, warm air rises and can escape through a poorly insulated or sealed attic at alarming rates. Examining that the average U.S. family spends almost $2,000 a year on heating and cooling bills; that 20% is about $400 that could be in your bank account instead. When inspecting, you want to make sure that there is plenty of insulation in your attic. If you can see the ceiling joists, you don’t have enough insulation, or your old insulation has settled over time. Lofts should have at least 12 inches of insulation, but 15-20 inches is even better.

A home that is not properly insulated will not only feel drafty, but it will also have some pretty hefty heating and cooling bills. If you suspect your home is under-insulated, it may behoove you to do your homeowner insulation inspection. Several areas are relatively easy to inspect. The insulation pros at Villa Home Inspections will walk you through the basics so that you can live worry-free knowing your home is adequately insulated and will protect your family from unwanted injuries in the future.

Insulating your home will help keep the heat in during winter and cold out in summer.
Insulation is vital for keeping your Hudson County house warm all year round, reducing heating bills, and saving you money on cooling costs too!

 

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What Is Asbestos? Asbestos Home Inspection?

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals composed of soft, flexible fibers that are heat-resistant. Asbestos is still used in hundreds of U.S. consumer products. Its use is allowed as long as it accounts for less than 1% of the product. Exposure to asbestos causes cancers and other diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Asbestos is a dangerous substance, which can cause serious illness. Homes in Bergen County are commonly old, and many may contain asbestos.

 

Many houses from the ’40s are riddled with this toxic material used before it became outlawed by law due to its harmful effects on both humans and their home environment. These homes often present themselves as potential buyers’ dream houses, only for them later to find out they need expensive repairs or even an entire renovation because of how much damage has already occurred inside thanks to these materials being all over the place!
Some homeowners are being faced with a tough decision: renovate their old house, or risk the health of themselves and their family by living in an asbestos-laden home.

Some people find that they can’t afford to stay afloat financially while maintaining such costly renovations as replacing floorboards, so instead, they choose to live in an unsafe environment for fear of going bankrupt from remodeling costs. However, if you do decide it is worth your time, then please make sure not only yourself but all workers who will be doing any work on the property wear protective gear at all times!

 

Types of Asbestos

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 legally recognizes six types of asbestos that fall into two categories: Amphibole and serpentine.

Amphibole Asbestos

Amphibole asbestos fibers have a straight, jagged shape. There are five recognized types:

  • Crocidolite
  • Amosite
  • Anthophyllite
  • Tremolite
  • Actinolite

Serpentine Asbestos

Serpentine asbestos fibers are curly. There is only one kind: Chrysotile, which is also known as “white asbestos.”

  • Chrysotile

 

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Best Bergen County NJ Home Inspector

Feel confident knowing you’re getting the most thorough home inspection possible when you hire a board-certified, Master Inspector. We conduct more in-depth inspections than any other company while providing our customers with detailed reports that are unlike anything else out there!

Feel assured hiring an experienced professional to inspect your NJ or NY property because we offer top-of-the-line services and unparalleled professionalism – which is why so many satisfied clients rely on us for their next purchase.
What is the best way to find a qualified home inspector that will provide you with peace of mind? Do not hesitate – call me today. I am a certified New Jersey home inspector in Bergen County; Closter, Demarest, Alpine, Tenafly, Dumont, Fort Lee, Ridgewood Paramus, Teaneck. Also, Villa Home Inspections cover Hudson County; Hoboken, Weehawken, West New York, Seacaucus, Jersey City. Call me at your earliest convenience for quotes on my services, or check out more info about us by visiting our website!

With new developments come significant risks. A few places, such as Edgewater, New Jersey, have been developed over toxic land and soil. It is still vital to get an inspection before signing on and getting your feet wet with any potential property you may want to buy or rent. Edgewater, New Jersey apartment complexes are reported to develop on the ground laced with heavy metals and most prominently arsenic and lethal poison that is deemed unsafe above 20 parts per million in soil.

 

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Beware of These 4 Mistakes When Hiring a Home Inspector in New Jersey

Getting a home inspection is an essential part of the home buying process. You must determine if the potential property is a wise investment, and more importantly, a safe place to live for you or your family.

The typical home inspection includes a check of the home’s structural and mechanical condition, from the roof to the foundation, as well as providing home buyers with important information about the home they’re buying.

Depending on the seriousness of what the inspection uncovers, the buyer can walk away from the deal or negotiate with the seller for the necessary repairs.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when deciding to hire an NJ home inspector.

1. Thinking a New Construction Home Doesn’t Need Inspecting

It sounds obvious enough, but this is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of a home inspection. Often times people assume that because a house has passed all the local codes and ordinances that it’s in good shape, so they don’t thoroughly inspect the new construction.

The easiest way to avoid this is to simply do your due diligence and inspect every area of the home. Don’t assume the home builder did everything correct just because the house passed code.

An inspector is your last defense against any major problems that could be devastating to your new investment.

2. Choosing a Home Inspector for the Wrong Reasons

Picking the right inspector can be as important as selecting the right doctor. The professional you choose will give a full physical checkup to one of the biggest investments you will make in your life. It’s imperative to choose someone who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and thorough.

One big mistake that many first time home buyers make is going with the cheapest option, or the one recommended by their realtor. Just like anything in life, you get what you pay for; the least expensive person is often the one with the least experience.

If you do decide to take a recommendation from your realtor, make sure you ask for at least two or three options to choose from. Check scope of work by using Yelp and Google Reviews. You never know what helpful information you might find about an inspector or inspection company. It’s also good practice to ask the inspector about licensing, professional affiliations, credentials, and insurance.

3. Not Attending the Home Inspection

It’s very important to tag along on the inspection, so you can visualize how minor or severe a problem is. The written report from the inspector alone is not enough to give you a clear picture of the condition of the house. Buyers who don’t go along on the inspection can be overly critical of a minor defect, or even worse, they might not realize how serious something is. You really need to go with the inspector, ask questions, take pictures, and listen to what they have to say about the condition of the house. Taking the time to do this now can save you thousands in the long run.

4. Not Following up on the Home Inspector’s Recommendations

Sometimes buyers just don’t follow up with the items discovered during the inspection before they close on the house. You might not realize the severity or cost of a problem. Inspectors will often recommend that buyers get an issue evaluated further, but the buyers will wait until after they close. Buying a home is obviously a long and tedious process, but waiting to get everything thoroughly looked at can make an enormous difference.

You should always get several estimates on repairs before you close, and be willing to discuss these with your inspector. The inspector can better explain the costs from the contractor, and help you decide what your next step should be.

Taking the time to ensure your home is safe structurally, free of destructive pests, and without hazardous gas leaks can save you thousands of dollars, and keep your family safe. A home inspection is not something that you want to rush though. Take your time, call the right people, and welcome yourself to a safe new home.

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201-927-3163

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