Steve Rodriguez

A home inspector’s discovery of weak I-beam anchoring in a Kansas City home, with repair costs, warning signs, and proper installation standards. Yesterday afternoon in Kansas City’s Marlborough Heights subdivision, I found steel I-beams installed on all four basement walls of a 100-year-old ranch home. The beams indicated the foundation had experienced significant inward movement … Read more

A home inspector’s discovery of a heavily rusted water heater in Shawnee homes, with replacement costs, melted heat traps, and end-of-life warning signs. Friday afternoon during the plumbing inspection in the basement of a 9-year-old 2-story home in the Arbor Lake subdivision of Shawnee, I found a heavily rusted water heater with melted heat traps. … Read more

A home inspector’s reflection of worn roof shingles on Leavenworth and Kansas City metro apartments, with replacement costs, warning signs, and repair timelines. Worn Roof Shingles in Leavenworth Apartments: Replacement Guide A home inspector’s reflection on worn roof shingles in Leavenworth apartments, with replacement costs, warning signs, and repair timelines. Tuesday afternoon during the roof … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to identifying mismatched roof shingles in Kansas City homes, with costs, resale impact, and replacement timelines. Monday morning during the roof inspection of an 81-year-old ranch in Kansas City’s Brookwood subdivision, I found two completely different roof sections. The south side had weathered, granule-depleted shingles that were roughly 20 years old … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to understanding blown fiberglass insulation depth in Raymore attics, with costs, installation standards, and energy savings. Friday afternoon during the roof and attic inspection of an 8-year-old split-level in the Eagle Glen subdivision of Raymore, I climbed into an attic that showed exactly what proper insulation installation looks like. The wood … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to identifying flat roof alligator cracking in commercial buildings, with repair costs, warning signs, and replacement timelines. Friday morning during the roof inspection of a 121-year-old mixed-use 2-story commercial building in historic downtown Adrian, I found large open seams where the rolled roofing membrane had pulled away from the parapet walls. … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to identifying zinc oxide on furnace vents in Kansas City homes, with costs, carbon monoxide risks, and repair timelines. Thursday afternoon during the HVAC inspection of a vacant 58-year-old ranch in Kansas City, KS’s Cedarholm subdivision, I found white powder leaking from the seams of the furnace exhaust vent. The powder … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to common foundation repairs in Kansas City homes, with real costs, warning signs, and what makes repairs reliable long-term. Thursday morning during the foundation inspection of a vacant 58-year-old raised ranch in Kansas City’s Norfleet Acres subdivision, I found tieback braces on one of the garage walls. There was also an … Read more

A home inspector‘s guide to identifying and understanding rusted water heaters in Polo homes, with costs, warning signs, and replacement timelines. Tuesday afternoon during the plumbing inspection of a vacant 25-year-old reverse 1.5-story home just off SW State Rte T and SW Longhorn Dr in Polo, MO, I found an 8-year-old water heater that looked … Read more