Doors Windows Stairways

Photographs of issues with doors, windows, and stairways found during home inspections.

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This is an example of the caulking around the window trim coming away, allowing a leak. The brick is angled to move the water away from the wall, but the missing mortar permits water to flow into the interior wall.

Windows that have screens which cover the full window are often attached with screws. The problem is that if someone has to get out of the house because of a fire, the screens hamper a quick exit. The screen could be punched out, but the frame would stay in place. Finding a better way to hold screens in place would be optimal.

Window latches should work to prevent moisture coming into the home, and to make the home tight for energy efficiency. The latch is not just for security.

A small thing to notice, but you will see flashing installed over the trim of the door on the left, but not over the window trim on the right. This prevents moisture damage.

Doors have gone through changes over the years. On the higher end are doors which have metal surfaces for the exterior. These have great properties, but can also face the problems caused by weather. High water or back splashing water can hit the door in the same spot. If there is no sun to dry the surface, we can begin to see rust. If we leave this condition, the damage to the door can continue to become worse.

The window above the door is called a transom. The windows to either side of the door are sometimes called the side lights. This is a great way to reduce the need of light fixtures by using the sun.

You would expect that builders will take care of issues before the walk through is set to happen with the buyer. On this back door, the trim has not been completed. We need the wood to be painted, and the joint between the trim and the wall to be sealed.

Newer window designs have slits in the base of the frame to allow water to flow out. The number of slits depends upon the size of the window. A common problem is homeowners caulking over these slits to seal the window for energy efficiency. In this case, the builder’s crew was going to quickly around the house, so they caulked over the slit. Why is this a problem? Rain standing in the window could flow into the home. A small drip can cause big damage over time.

Of course stairways without a handrail can be dangerous, but just as problematic is the loose handrail. This is a simple maintenance item that homeowners forget, but once loose, the handrail can receive more damage faster. Eventually that handrail may be falling off when you need it.

Ever wonder how your stairs are made? In this foreclosure, the floor coverings had been removed, so we find no carpet on the stairs. You may notice that the risers are not solid wood pieces. Treads are what you step on; risers are the parts that are the vertical part of the step Risers are not always fully covered, which may confuse some, but this is not a structural issue. WHat we do want to check is that all of the pieces are fastened together, and that the entire assembly is attached to the walls.