Before you buy a historic home, you need to find a home inspector with experience and the training working with historic homes to understand the original structure and any changes that may have occurred to the home over time.

Historic homes were built differently than homes built today. Sizes of the wood framing members many times were larger than todays lumber but the spans allowances may be too long or too wide causing floors to sag in some areas throughout the home. Wood Destroying Insects (i.e. termites, powder post beetles, etc.) are common in historic homes leading to damage wood framing. Some building materials used today can cause damage to historic homes if not used properly. Waterproofing a historic home can lead to damage to some historic homes depending on the siding materials used. As you can see, inspecting a historic home takes extensive training and experience. Solid Foundation Home Inspectors have the knowledge and experience necessary to inspect historic homes completely so the buyers can be prepared for owning a historic home.

Mike Kenny has that experience, and Solid Foundation Home Inspections will conduct a thorough on-site evaluation of the historic property and it is recommended that, as the home buyer, you are along for the inspection. This will allow you to view any deficiencies first-hand and it also enables Mike to inform and educate you along the way.

You will learn how the historic home functions and you may learn a thing or two about construction practices and materials that are relegated to another era. As your Solid Foundation historic home inspector, we will point out all the problems found as well as the good points, providing you with all the facts you need to make the most informed buying decision.

Solid Foundation Home Inspections will provide you with:

Historic Roof Inspection: 

  • Historic home roofs were framed differently, secured differently and covered with different roofing materials. Roof rafters were notched at connections to walls of home and secured with wood pegs at peak of roof. Slate and wood shingles commonly covered roofs long before the invention of the asphalt composition shingle. You need an inspector that is familiar with the roof framing designs and typical problems with roofs built during this time period. Solid Foundation Home Inspectors have the knowledge and experience necessary to inspect historic homes roofs completely so the buyers can have all the information necessary to maintain the roof for longer life.

Electrical Inspection:

  • Historic homes may contain the original wiring, which may be unsafe or insufficient to power a home with today’s electrical requirements. Our Solid Foundation historic home inspectors will evaluate the home’s wiring to ensure its safety and efficiency. It is possible that the home’s electrical system was upgraded at some point. But was that electrical installation performed correctly? That question and others will be answered by Mike in detail.

Plumbing Inspection: 

  • Outdated plumbing systems and ineffective drainage are two of the most common problems found in Solid Foundation historic homes. Chances are, the home has experienced years of plumbing updates as parts wore out or became obsolete due to emerging technology. Mike will carefully evaluate the home’s plumbing system to ensure its reliability.

Whether you need a historic home inspection, older home inspection, luxury home inspection or you are looking to buy a newer or new construction home, Solid Foundation Home Inspections is “The Solid Choice”!