When you have a home inspected, your home inspector will check both the interior and exterior of the home. As for windows and doors, this is what you will check outside.
Have you ever stopped to consider how many types of doors there are? For example, there are swing, single and double doors made of wood, steel, aluminum and plastic. They can come with or without glazing. In hot climates, lattice doors can also be used. They are doors with movable glass slats or slats. Some buildings use glass-framed doors with fixed and movable panels that have wood, vinyl-coated wood, and aluminum frames.
Regardless of the type of doors in a home, the home inspector will check exterior doors for general condition and fit. For example, are the exterior doors rated for exterior use in the climate to which they will be exposed? Are they weather resistant? Does the door work as it should? Are the doors secure? What about the operation of the locks, knobs, handles and hinges? Does a sliding door move correctly?
What is the status of frames and thresholds? What is the condition of any flicker? What about glass in or in the doors?
There are many types of windows too. Window frames can be made of plastic, aluminum, steel, wood, wood clad with plastic, and wood clad with steel or aluminum. Window types include double-hung, single-hung, casement, horizontal-sliding, out-hung or awning, in-hung, and fixed. There are also shutters, which are glass shutters on an aluminum or steel frame.
Sound confusing? Regardless of the windows in the home that are going to be inspected, there are general aspects that your inspector will check, such as the condition of your frames, frames, and casings, and their overall function and fit. He will carefully examine the glazing compound or putty around the glass panels in older frames. This is usually the most vulnerable part of the window and the repair can be time consuming.
You’ll also look for glazing tape or strip around glass panels on steel or aluminum frames. Has the sealant hardened? How is the fit? Have the weep holes been blocked with putty, paint, or dirt? This can be easily cleaned. Is it blinking where it should be?
Are the windows safe? Are the locks or other hardware working as they should? This is especially important for windows close to the ground or accessible by flat roofs.
In areas vulnerable to hurricanes, your inspector will check to see if glass doors and windows that are not protected by louvers can withstand the impact of flying debris. Can plywood panels be properly installed for added hurricane protection?
Glazed doors, such as storm doors, sliding glass patio doors, and any glazing adjacent to these doors, must have security glazing. That is, it must be fully tempered glass, wire or laminated, or an approved plastic material.
As for shutters and doors, your inspector will check their condition, fit, and effectiveness. Are they weather resistant? Have some drainage holes been blocked?
Your inspector will also look at all major weather stripping on windows and doors. Weather stripping can be made of metal, foam, or plastic. How well does it fit? Are there bends or dents in the bare metal? Does the foam or plastic peel have cracks? Is it brittle or is it strong? Is it securely in place?
Shutters can be decorative or functional. The condition of the decorative blinds will be checked and it will be verified that they are securely fastened where they should be. Functional blinds will be checked for condition, fit, and operability. Are they serving their intended purpose, such as light control, privacy, or protection against bad weather?
For hurricane regions, shutters must be certified by the manufacturer for hurricane use. Do they provide protection from flying debris?
Awnings are used over windows or doors for protection from the sun or weather, or perhaps as decoration. They can be made of metal, plastic, or fabric on a metal or plastic frame. Some are fixed in place, while others can be moved or folded. Your inspector will check their condition and whether the awnings are in place correctly. Do folding awnings work as they should?
There’s more than you’d expect when it comes to properly inspecting doors and windows, but a qualified home inspector will give you the report you need on these vital parts of the home you’re buying or selling.
