Hi, I’m Eric Christie, and I’ve been a licensed home inspector for over eight years now. My background is in mechanical engineering & design, which really helps me dig into the structural integrity of a house. I’m also a licensed & certified professional inspector in Texas. If you are buying a home or starting a new build, especially when scheduling a thorough home inspection Houston , there's one topic that’s often missed but is crucial for safety: metal framing connectors (MFCs). Why do we need to focus on these small metal parts? The answer lies directly in where we live: the Houston, Texas area. We are constantly facing threats from tropical storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Because of our location, the local wind design speed is actually a staggering 150 mph . To deal with these extreme external forces, Texas has adopted the International Residential Code (IRC). If anyone is building here, they absolutely have to follow the IRC. These codes mandate that every structure must provide a continuous load path . What does a continuous load path do? It positively connects components together to prevent unwanted movement and consistently resist those external forces, especially uplift. Metal framing connectors are required to achieve this goal. They are mandatory in all new construction and should also be used when remodeling or making structural additions. As a trusted home inspector Houston , I marked deficient the lack of metal framing connectors. For example, if the uplift forces acting on the top of an exterior wall exceed 100 pounds of force (lbf), approved uplift framing connectors must be installed. When we look at the roof assembly—the covering, decking, and framing—it must have uplift resistance. If the calculated uplift forces on that roof assembly exceed 200 lbf, those metal framing connectors become mandatory. I recently inspected a property that lacked the required connectors. The house had a span of 34 feet and a 10:17 roof pitch. We found that the actual uplift forces on that structure, based on the 150 mph design wind speed, were between 444 lbf and 488 lbf . This is more than double the maximum limit allowed without special connectors. To give you a mental image of that force, 488 lbf over just 20 feet of the roof edge equals almost 10,000 pounds of total uplift. That's the equivalent of trying to lift two four-wheel-drive crew cab pickup trucks off the edge of your roof! Without these connectors, that wind could easily separate the roof from the walls. If you're undertaking construction, ensure you follow the IRC. While a good home inspection Houston will catch framing defects, you should also be diligent upfront. Remember that while plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors must be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), general contractors, builders, and framers are not licensed by the state. Always ask to see proof of an active license for trades that are licensed, and demand current proof of insurance with your name on it from anyone working on your property. Taking these steps ensures your home is built right and ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at our region. Written by Eric Christie Property of Boxer Inspections LLC

Hey everyone, Eric Christie with Boxer Inspections back again! Today’s inspection really got me thinking about something crucial to homes: foundation repairs. Finding a home with past foundation work isn't rare, especially in houses over 20 years old. But just knowing repairs were done isn't enough. We need to know if they actually fixed the problem. I recently inspected a house where my clients had noticed a really big crack in the concrete slab. While cracks can be common in older homes, a large crack will definitely catch your eye. The sellers reported the foundation repairs had been completed. We asked for the documentation, and they provided some helpful information. The paperwork showed foundation level measurements from BEFORE the repairs were completed. It even included instructions for the repair company, stating they were supposed to lift the house back up to its "nominal values" – basically, bringing it back to where it should be, especially in areas that were significantly different. This initial information was great; it showed where the problem was and the repair goal. But then came the tricky part. We knew where the repairs were supposed to happen, so my next question was, "Okay, great, but what were the measurements after the repairs were done?" I wanted to see the "post-measurements" to confirm the work was successful. This is where we hit a snag. There was no data, no information about the outcome of the repairs. The seller didn't have it, and even more concerning, the foundation company reportedly didn't make those post-repair measurements. This missing information is a huge deal. The repair company had specific requirements, like lifting parts of the house to "nominal values". Their warranty is also based on that planned repair that was signed. Without post-measurements, how can anyone confirm those requirements were met, or if the house is now truly stable and level? It leaves a big question mark? The sellers did mention that the repairs came with a lifetime warranty that is transferable to new owners. That's a positive thing to have, and it offers protection if new issues arise related to the repair. However, a warranty typically covers future problems; it doesn't provide proof that the original problem was fully corrected to the specified standards. So, what's the most important takeaway here? If you're looking at a home with a history of foundation repairs, you need to push for complete information. It’s not just about knowing that repairs were done, but proving they were effective. This ensures you're investing in a home where the foundation is genuinely stable. It’s certainly something you want to take a close look at. For my fellow inspectors, or even homeowners getting ready to sell, here are the key things to verify when it comes to homes with past foundation repairs: Comprehensive Documentation: Always seek out both the pre-repair foundation level measurements and any post-repair measurements. Without post-repair data, it's impossible to confirm if the problem was fixed or if specific requirements were met. Review Repair Requirements: Look closely at the original instructions for the repairs, especially details about lifting the house to "nominal values" or making changes where it was "significantly different". Warranty Details: Understand the specifics of any lifetime or transferable warranty. While valuable, remember it doesn't replace the need to verify the success of the initial repair itself. #boxerinspection #residentialhomeinspection #commercialinspection #homeinspector #homeinspection #foundationrepairs

Hi everyone, this is Eric Christie with Boxer Inspections, your trusted home inspector in Houston. Today, during a recent home inspection Houston, I encountered a common yet very common issue that I wanted to share with you all as part of our "What did I see at the inspection today?" video series. I’m at an inspection, and after walking the roof, I was standing on a ladder at the edge, when I spotted something that warrants attention for any homeowner. What’s the problem? I observed a gutter system with a downspout that was unfortunately directing all its collected rainwater directly onto the surface of the roof. To help visualize this, think of it as if you had a garden hose or something like that that's constantly dumping water on the exact same spot on your roof, day in and day out. This consistent, unrelenting water exposure causes significant deterioration and dramatically accelerates the roof's aging process. These specific sections of the roof are essentially forced to age prematurely, which means they will run a higher risk of having water leaks in that vulnerable area. As your dedicated Houston home inspector, identifying such issues during a home inspection in Houston is crucial, because these are the kind of hidden problems that can lead to significant headaches and expense for a homeowner if left unaddressed. The good news is that this is a fixable problem, and taking action can prevent future prevent and preserve the integrity of your roof. The goal is to alleviate that accelerated aging by properly redirecting the water flow. Here’s what can be done to help solve this problem: Extend the Downspout: The most direct solution is to install an extension to the existing downspout, ensuring it diverts water properly away from the roof's surface Choose the Right Material: While plastic can be used for the extension, a metal downspout is generally preferred for its durability and longevity, offering a more robust long-term solution Proper Connection: Run the new downspout extension all the way down from its current connection point on the upper gutter to the lower gutter, ensuring all water is carried away Keep gutters and downspouts clean and clear of debris By implementing these straightforward solutions, you can significantly mitigate the risk of premature roof wear and potential water intrusion. If you're looking to purchase a home and want to ensure you uncover all these interesting and vital details, don't hesitate to schedule an inspection with me, your experienced Houston home inspector. You can call me at 281-783-3030 or email me at info@boxerinspections.com . Have a great day!

Hey everyone, this is Eric Christie with Boxer Inspections. I recently completed a commercial inspection on a mixed use strip center, and something interesting happened: it rained! Now, you might think rain on an inspection day is a nuisance (it is), but for a commercial inspector Houston, it can be a valuable tool. It allows us to see how a recently completed construction project handles water drainage, specifically in the parking lot & drive lane.

Hey everyone, it's Eric Christie with Boxer Inspections, checking in with another installment of "What did we see at the inspection today?". This one was definitely unique and quite an experience. I was called out to a new construction inspection, but this wasn't the typical buyer-hired inspection. The builder themselves actually asked me to come out and perform an inspection on the property. Why? Well, they, like all the other major builders, are offering a 10-year structural warranty. They wanted to ensure that their various tradespeople were doing their jobs correctly, minimizing the chances of costly problems down the line that could fall under that warranty. Essentially, they're trying to prevent improperly done workmanship from handing them a headache later. Part of our process on this particular inspection involved testing the plumbing and drainage systems. This was a two-story house, so I had gone upstairs and filled all the sinks, basins, and tubs with water. My goal was to simulate actual use and see how the drainage system handled the volume. I had just finished filling the master bathroom tub and started the process of draining it.

Hey everyone! I'm back with another video of What Did I See At The Inspection Today?? You know, I've been working as a home inspector in Sugar Land TX for a while now, and I honestly think I've seen a lot of interesting things. But today, I’m performing a home inspections in Missouri City TX. Unique features can be found in any home regardless of the location – Sugar Land Tx, Richmond TX, Rosenberg TX, or like today, in Missouri Cit TX. I often stumble upon the unexpected. Today was definitely one of those days! I performing the inspection in the garage, normal giant 4 car garage. HA! It seemed like a pretty standard garage at first glance. But then, my eyes landed on something on the wall that made me pause. It was a controller. Now, this wasn't just any light switch or garage door opener button. It looked like a lift mechanism controller usually seen in industrial applications. Places where you need to control a crane from the ground. Seeing this kind of control in a residential garage was, to say the least, unique. It was the first for me; I had not seen this before. Naturally, I had to figure out what this was all about! I followed where the cables or tracks seemed to lead, and that's when I discovered the really cool feature of this house. This property has a lift that allows you to put items in the attic. How neat is that? Attic storage is common in homes, but getting things up there, especially heavy or bulky items, is often a hassle and can be dangerous. This system provides a mechanical assist. The setup involves a platform, cables and a winch in the attic. From what I saw, the platform goes a bit lower than seen in the video – presumably lower to the ground level of the garage, making it easier to load things onto it. Once items are loaded onto the platform, that's where the wall-mounted controller comes into play. Using that control, you can just lift them up to the attic. After the lift has done its job and brought your stuff up, you can then climb the ladder to attic and once you're up there, you can easily unload, put it where you want to. The primary benefit of this unique system is crystal clear: you do not have to struggle with trying to get heavy boxes or heavy containers up the stairs. Anyone who's ever tried to haul a heavy storage bin or a piece of furniture up a ladder or a flight of narrow attic stairs knows exactly how difficult and even risky that can be. Reducing the need to manually carry heavy loads while navigating attic stairs significantly decreases the potential for slips, falls, or muscle strains. It’s designed to help people manage their attic storage much more easily and safely. Overall, finding this system during the inspection was simply a neat feature. It's pretty cool. It really highlights the kind of inventive solutions you sometimes find in homes that make daily life easier and safer. It's these kinds of unique discoveries that make being a home inspector in Sugar Land TX (or wherever the inspection takes me!) constantly interesting. Hope you enjoyed hearing about this unique find! Have a great day, everyone

When you're looking at buying a house, especially one that's been recently renovated, you expect everything to be updated and in perfect working order. A home inspector plays a crucial role in verifying this, meticulously checking components that might look fine on the surface. Sometimes, though, standard visual checks aren't enough, and that's where technology comes in. Eric Christie from Boxer Inspections , a name familiar to those seeking home inspections in Missouri City Tx , recently shared a great example of this from a property inspection there. The property was a renovated house located in Missouri City . The kitchen was particularly nice, boasting lots of new appliances . Everything looked aesthetically pleasing . However, the environment created a specific challenge for inspecting the gas cooktop: there was a lot of light coming in . Eric noted that because of the bright conditions, it was difficult to visually tell whether the burners were on . The flames, while present, were not easily discernible against the bright background. In such a situation, an inspector might traditionally consider using a temperature probe to confirm if the burners were heating up. This is a valid method, but on this day, Eric opted for a different tool from his kit: his thermal camera . This choice offered a different perspective and proved to be quite insightful. Bringing out the thermal camera , Eric found he could zoom in , which he described as "kind of neat" . The thermal camera's strength here was its ability to detect and visualize heat. Through the thermal lens, he could actually see the flames and the heat rising off the burners . Getting a bit closer provided an even clearer view of this heat signature. This demonstrated functionality in a way that the naked eye simply couldn't perceive in the bright light conditions. This use of thermal imaging wasn't just interesting; it served a practical purpose for the inspection process, which is key for any thorough home inspector [implied]. Being able to visualize the heat patterns allowed Eric to take a quick picture . This thermal image provided a clear record , serving as confirmation that all of the burners were functioning and that they were heating up , which is, as he noted, "good" . It offered concrete documentation of the appliance's operational status that was difficult to get through a simple visual check. Eric highlighted this experience as an "interesting factoid" and an illustration of the "different ways of doing inspections" that inspectors encounter depending on the specific property and its conditions . It emphasizes the importance of adaptability and using the right tools – like a thermal camera – to ensure a comprehensive and accurate assessment, especially in situations where standard methods are hindered. For those seeking home inspections in Missouri City Tx , this demonstrates the depth of the inspection process. This application of thermal technology is a smart workaround for a real-world problem encountered during a home inspection [implied], ensuring that crucial details about the property's components are verified and documented. It's a testament to how skilled home inspectors , including those performing home inspections in Missouri City Tx , leverage specialized equipment to provide thorough reports to their clients. Keep in mind, not all inspectors have specialized equipment to use for home inspections. So, choose your home inspector wisely. I serve many cities around Missouri City, including Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Stafford, Bellaire, Alief, Meadows Place, Katy, & Fulshear. Call me to schedule at 281-783-3030 Eric Christie of Boxer Inspections shared this glimpse into his process, wishing everyone a great day.

Pre-pour foundation inspections are crucial for ensuring structural integrity and compliance with engineering plans and building codes by allowing inspectors to verify key elements before the concrete is poured and potentially conceals defects. One of the fundamental aspects of these inspections is the verification against the engineering drawings. I emphasizes that having the drawings on-site is essential to determine if the collected dimensions are correct. Without these drawings, I am merely collecting measurements without context. In this specific inspection, the builder provided the drawings, although they were in poor condition. The inspection involves checking the dimensions of various structural components. For instance, I examine the beams, which run across the house and along the perimeter in both directions, creating pad sections. I specifically check the depth and width of these beams at the bottom. In this case, the drawing specified a bottom width of 10 inches, which the inspector verified, but noted that 12 inches is more typical. The inspector also measures the width at the top of the beam where two pads come together. Additionally, the height of the post-tension cables (tendons) from the bottom of the beam is checked. The spacing of these cables is also noted, which is usually around 2 to 2.5 inches in this case where two cables are present in a beam. To ensure the overall layout conforms to the plans, I use a 100-foot tape measure to determine the length and width of the property/house and to confirm that everything is squared up. Measurements are taken at three points to identify any variations in the forms. Furthermore, the location of each tendon and beam is measured from a reference point (the front of the house in this case) and compared to the specifications on the drawing provided by the structural engineer. The consistency of the beam depth around the entire perimeter of the house is also verified. Compliance with building codes is also addressed during these inspections including the National Electrical Code (NEC). I discuss a concrete encased electrode used for grounding. I reference the National Electrical Code's requirement of 25 ohms of resistance between the ground plane in the main panel and earth ground. The NEC states that if this resistance cannot be achieved, a second grounding rod must be installed which would include a concrete encased electrode in the concrete. However, there is an exception in the code regarding vapor barriers placed between the soil and concrete, which, according to the NEC, prevents the electrode from being in direct contact with the soil. I consistently write this up at inspections, but electricians and builders often disagree with their interpretation. The presence and proper installation of a vapor barrier is also checked for compliance and structural integrity. I check to ensure it is taped and sealed to prevent groundwater from seeping into the foundation. I identified the use of an unapproved tape (Kingspan) for sealing, as the manufacturer's recommendations states it should not be used in contact with moisture. While duct tape was also used and not explicitly prohibited by its manufacturers, I feel it not the best tape for this purpose. Finally, I also look for issues that could compromise the foundation's integrity, such as trash within the forms that needs be removed before the pour. I also note the importance of proper drainage, observing a drainage channel was present at the front of the home but suspect the beams were not adequately sloped to direct water towards it. I observed the straightness of the beams, which is important for the structural integrity of the home. In summary, pre-pour foundation inspections ensure structural integrity and compliance by meticulously comparing the constructed forms and incorporated elements against the engineering drawings and relevant building codes. This includes verifying dimensions, the placement of structural components like beams and tendons, the proper installation of vapor barriers, ensuring adequate drainage provisions, and identifying any potential issues like debris that could negatively impact the foundation's integrity. For greater details on this inspection, please watch the YouTube video or you can listen to the PodCast. By Eric Christie, Boxer Inspections LLC

When it comes to home inspections, the roof is one of the most critical areas to evaluate. A thorough roof inspection can reveal potential issues that, if left unresolved, might lead to costly repairs or damage to other parts of the home. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the issues home inspectors typically assess during a roof inspection and some tips for addressing common problems.