Home Inspections in Newport Beach

Of everything an inspection turns up, moisture is the finding that most often costs real money - not because water is dramatic, but because by the time it is obvious it has usually been happening for a while somewhere you could not see.

Ingraffia Home Inspections has been inspecting in Orange County since 2003. To book in Newport Beach, call (714) 371-8422 or request an inspection.

Why it gets missed

Water rarely appears where it enters. It travels along framing, behind finishes and under coverings, and shows up somewhere else entirely - or nowhere yet. A stain on a ceiling is a late symptom. The useful question on an inspection is not only where the damage is but where the water is getting in, which is a different search.

How the inspection looks for it

The visual examination covers the places water gets in and the places it collects: roof coverings and flashings, exterior cladding and penetrations, windows and doors, plumbing supply and drainage, water heaters, and the grounds and drainage around the structure - where the ground slopes towards a wall rather than away from it.

Where a visual check cannot settle the question, thermal imaging is available. An infrared camera reads surface temperature, and damp behind a finished surface frequently reads cooler than what surrounds it. It is used for moisture intrusion in walls and ceilings, leaking roofs and duct work, and missing insulation - and it narrows the search rather than replacing it.

What the report will tell you

Findings are written up with what was observed and what should happen next, whether that is a repair or a specialist evaluation. Where moisture is suspected but not confirmed, the report says so rather than guessing - a recommendation to look further is a more honest and more useful finding than a diagnosis nobody could support from what was visible on the day.

Pricing starts at $500 for a single family residence and $350 for a condo, townhome or manufactured home. The full rate card is published.