Home Inspection Terms, Explained in Plain English
The words in your report, explained in plain English.
Home inspection reports use a short list of technical terms, and the most important is "Deficient," which on a Texas TREC report means the inspector found a condition that needs attention. Rod Inspects, a San Antonio, TX home inspection company with TREC License #6291 PI, explains the terms you're most likely to see below.
What do the boxes on a Texas inspection report mean?
- Inspected (I)
- The inspector looked at the item.
- Not Inspected (NI)
- The item was there but couldn't be inspected, for example because it was blocked, unsafe to reach or the utilities were off. The comments say why.
- Not Present (NP)
- The home doesn't have that item.
- Deficient (D)
- The inspector found a condition that needs attention. It doesn't mean the house failed. Some items are reported as deficient even if they met the standards of the day when an older home was built.
- Further evaluation
- The inspector recommends a licensed specialist (a plumber, electrician or structural engineer, for example) take a closer look.
More on the report layout: Sample Report · TREC Information
What do common structure and exterior terms mean?
- Slab-on-grade
- A concrete foundation poured directly on the ground. Common across San Antonio.
- Pier-and-beam
- A foundation where the floor sits on beams supported by piers, with a crawl space underneath. Common in older neighborhoods.
- Expansive soil
- Clay soil that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, which can move a foundation. Common around San Antonio.
- Grading and drainage
- How the ground slopes around the house. Soil should carry water away from the foundation, not toward it.
- Efflorescence
- A white, powdery deposit on brick, stone or concrete. It's left behind when water moves through the masonry and evaporates, so it's a sign of moisture.
- Weep holes
- Small gaps left in the bottom course of brick veneer so water behind the brick can drain out. They shouldn't be sealed or buried.
- Weep screed
- A metal strip at the bottom edge of stucco walls that lets trapped moisture drain out. It needs to sit above the soil or paving to work.
What do common roof terms mean?
- Flashing
- Thin metal (or other material) installed where the roof meets walls, chimneys, vents and valleys to direct water away from joints.
- Kick-out flashing
- A small flashing piece where a roof edge meets a wall, turning water into the gutter instead of down the wall.
- Granule loss
- Shingles losing their surface grit, which can come from age, hail or wear.
What do common electrical terms mean?
- GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter)
- A safety device that cuts power when it senses current leaking to ground, helping protect people from shock. Found in outlets or breakers near water: kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outdoors.
- AFCI (arc-fault circuit interrupter)
- A safety device that cuts power when it senses dangerous arcing in wiring, which helps reduce fire risk.
- Double tap
- Two wires under a single breaker terminal that's designed for only one.
- Bonding and grounding
- Connections that give stray electrical current a safe path, reducing shock risk.
What do common plumbing terms mean?
- TPR valve (temperature and pressure relief valve)
- A safety valve on a water heater that opens if temperature or pressure gets too high. It should have a discharge pipe routed to a safe location.
- Backflow (anti-siphon) device
- A device that keeps dirty water from flowing back into clean supply lines, for example on hose bibs and sprinkler systems.
What do common heating and cooling terms mean?
- Condensate line
- The pipe that drains water produced by the air conditioner.
- Emergency (secondary) drain pan
- A pan under an attic air handler that catches water if the main condensate drain backs up.
- Temperature differential
- The difference between the air going into the AC and the air coming out. Inspectors measure it as one indicator of how the system is cooling.
- Flex duct
- Flexible, insulated ductwork common in Texas attics. Kinks, sags and disconnections are frequent findings.
Who explains these terms when you get your report?
Your inspector does. Explaining the report is part of the job. If a word in your report doesn't make sense, call us.
Rod Inspects is a veteran-owned home inspection company in San Antonio, Texas, led by Rod Stewardson, TREC License #6291 PI, and in business since 2002. Its three licensed inspectors, Rod Stewardson, Derek Saari and Tyler Stewardson, serve San Antonio, New Braunfels, Schertz, Cibolo, Seguin, San Marcos, McQueeney, Hollywood Park and Alamo Heights, using infrared thermal technology.
What other inspection report terms do buyers ask about?
What does Deficient mean on a home inspection report?
On a Texas TREC report, Deficient means the inspector found a condition that needs attention. The comments under the item explain what was observed and where. It does not mean the house failed.
What is the difference between GFCI and AFCI?
A GFCI cuts power when current leaks to ground, which helps protect people from shock near water. An AFCI cuts power when it senses dangerous arcing in wiring, which helps reduce fire risk.
What is weep screed?
Weep screed is a metal strip at the bottom of a stucco wall that lets trapped moisture drain out. It needs to sit above the soil or paving to work.
Is efflorescence a serious problem?
Efflorescence itself is a harmless mineral deposit, but it shows that water is moving through the masonry. The inspector notes it so the source of the moisture can be found.
What does further evaluation mean on an inspection report?
It means the inspector recommends that a licensed specialist, such as a plumber, electrician or structural engineer, take a closer look at the item.
Want an inspector who explains every finding?
Book online, or call Rod Inspects at (210) 255-3134.
Related: Home inspection checklist · What's inspected · Buyer inspections