Home Inspection Sealed Attic

Should home inspectors open up sealed attic access panels.

Home inspection sealed attic.

If they aren t inspectors are not required to gain entry by heroic means. We will open the attic provided the seller gives permission. It should be sealed properly where it meets the attic floor and roof. Nothing about home inspections causes more consternation than sealed attic access panels.

If no one is present at the inspection and access is sealed a re inspection is necessary to complete the attic inspection. The most common method which probably isn t deliberate is covering it with the same ceiling texture that many other homeowners can t wait to get rid of. But whether or not the attic is sealed you still need to access it. Several hazards can exist in the attic.

For example a past renovation might seal up an attic access panel in the ceiling entirely. And without a thorough inspection your report can t be complete. Every time unless the owner or buyer specifically says not to. Most inspectors will break the seal themselves when given the o k.

Or the homeowner might have a bureau placed in front of an attic door. My inspection of the attic is a major part of a home inspection and it s important for buyers to know about any defects in the attic. This can make the inspection more difficult as home inspectors can t break the seal unless given permission to do so by the seller. That s my story always has been and i m sticking to it.

New build homes often have access to the attic sealed off. As with any other part of a home inspection attics must be accessible. An attic inspection will show the condition of the exterior of the chimney shaft under the roof. For this reason i break the seal on just about every home i inspect but i never do this without permission from the buyer.

This is a place that homeowners may never look at as long as they own their home.