Q&A: What does "structural" mean in a home inspection? @StructureTech1

Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

One of the most critical parts of a home inspection is the structural part, and we're frequently asked about exactly what this entails. Home inspection standards of practice don't clearly define what this means, so I can understand why people want to know about this. The short and sweet answer is the bones of the house.

Q&A: What does structural mean in a home inspection?

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$Hail Damage? Hail No. Unnecessary roof replacements are out of control, and theyre driving homeowners insurance rates sky-high in Minnesota. Everyone needs to take a chill pill when it comes to roof replacements. Here are a few notes from my recent blog post on this topic (https://structuretech.com/hail-damage-hail-no/) Ive seen roofers and hail claim adjusters bicker over precisely what is and isnt hail damage. I dont claim to be an expert in assessing hail damage. For that, I turn to a study done by Haag Engineering, which Ive heard referenced by industry experts countless times for the past couple of decades. Heres a link: https://structuretech.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/hail-damage-to-asphalt-shingles.pdf. And heres another helpful document from Haag: https://structuretech.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/hail-damage-to-asphalt-shingles.pdf. Here are a few key points from the first report: It takes 1.5 ice stones to damage thicker, laminated-type shingles half the time. When you lose granules on shingles from a hail storm, you do not shorten the life of a roof. You read that correctly. You need an actual bruise (or hole or tear) to call something hail damage. Shingle bruises are an indentation with fracture in the mat that feels soft like that of an apple bruise. The bruise is usually obvious as granules are also dislodged from the impact area. That last point needs repeating. You need real bruises to call it hail damage.$

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