{"id":10038,"date":"2024-08-08T06:00:43","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=10038"},"modified":"2025-11-14T07:09:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T15:09:52","slug":"structural-home-inspections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/structural-home-inspections\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Through a Structural Home Inspection and What to Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

Structural issues can wreak havoc on your home. They can cause cracked walls, sloping floors, and sagging roofs<\/a> and leave your residence vulnerable to pests and water damage<\/a>. Though the risk of finding structural problems increases in aging homes, in new and old homes alike sloppy construction can be another culprit.<\/p>\n

While serious structural defects are rare<\/a>, when red flags pop up, general home inspectors often refer buyers and sellers to professionals, like structural engineers, who can conduct further specialty inspections<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Prepare for a home inspection with a top-rated agent<\/h3>\n

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\u201cA structural engineer is a licensed civil engineer in whatever state they\u2019re working in,\u201d explains Gregg Cantor, president and CEO of Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel<\/a> in San Diego, California, who has over 35 years of structural experience and whose company specializes in architectural aspects including structural engineering for new and existing homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cStructural engineers have a stamp \u2014 and when they provide a report, they stamp it, and that has a lot more \u2018teeth\u2019 than just a report by an inspector.\u201d<\/p>\n

If this is your first go-around with a structural home inspection, you probably have some questions, like, how much do they cost? When are they needed? And how do you prepare for one<\/a>?<\/p>\n

In this comprehensive guide, we\u2019ll answer all the hows, whens and whys of structural inspections. We\u2019ll also share advice and insights from top-rated professionals<\/a> with years of experience in both real estate and home construction. To get started, let\u2019s kick things off with how structural inspections differ from home inspections.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Structural inspection vs. home inspection: What is the difference?<\/h2>\n

Structural inspections and home inspections may sound similar, but each plays a unique role in ensuring a home\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s not uncommon for home inspectors to also be structural engineers, it is rare for structural engineers to also be home inspectors. Being that most structural engineers don\u2019t perform routine home inspections, they are typically only brought in when their skills are required to further examine concerns with a home.<\/p>\n

A general inspector can often provide a structural engineer referral. These professionals do need to be licensed (check with your state\u2019s engineering licensing board<\/a>) to give a qualified opinion.<\/p>\n

A home inspection<\/h3>\n

Home inspections<\/a> are performed by a certified home inspector who visually assesses a home\u2019s basic systems<\/a>. They are not looking at cosmetic issues or anything that requires minor repair, but they are looking for issues that could affect the home\u2019s safety. This includes things like the property\u2019s plumbing, electrical, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), and roof.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If there\u2019s a suspected issue with your home\u2019s foundation or stability, get through the structural home inspection with this expert advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":252,"featured_media":46794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[321,428],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attract-buyers","category-home-inspections"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat to Expect From a Structural Home Inspection<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If there\u2019s a suspected issue with your home\u2019s foundation or stability, get through the structural home inspection with this expert advice.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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