[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-do-you-have-good-bones-what-a-structural-inspection-reveals\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-do-you-have-good-bones-what-a-structural-inspection-reveals\/","headline":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Do You Have Good Bones? What a Structural Inspection Reveals","name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Do You Have Good Bones? What a Structural Inspection Reveals","description":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Do You Have Good Bones? What a Structural Inspection Reveals Everyone wants to know: does this house have good bones? And what they really mean is, \u201cWill it fall apart on me?\u201d That\u2019s fair. But let\u2019s be honest: I\u2019m not an engineer running stress tests on your roof load. I\u2019m a trained home inspector looking for symptoms\u2014the visible stuff that tells me what might be going wrong underneath. My Job Is to Spot the Signs\u2014Not Solve the Math I look at how the house is behaving. Are floors sloping? Are door frames out of square? Are there cracks at window corners or stair-step patterns in brick? Those are red flags that suggest movement or shifting. But without removing finishes, testing soil, or analyzing load paths, I can\u2019t tell you exactly *why* it\u2019s happening\u2014or how to fix it. What I can do is point out what\u2019s visible, explain what it might mean, and help you decide if a licensed structural engineer should take a deeper look. Their job is different from mine\u2014and yes, it usually starts at $750 just to show up. That\u2019s why I don\u2019t push every buyer to get one. Wait and see what I find first. What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: sloping floors, out-of-plumb walls, cracks in walls and foundations, door alignment issues, exposed truss damage, and signs of overloading. \u274c I\u2019m not looking to: verify framing code, pull permits, engineer a fix, or determine root structural loads. That\u2019s a job for the PE with a calculator and a tape measure. When \"Good Bones\" Doesn\u2019t Mean Perfect Many older homes settle unevenly over time\u2014but are still structurally sound. If I don\u2019t see signs of recent movement, water intrusion, or active shifting, I\u2019ll say that. Minor sloping in a 1950s ranch may be normal. But fresh cracks or doors that won\u2019t latch are things I call out. In attics and basements, I look at the framing itself. Are trusses intact? Any cracks, bowing, or poor repairs? Have braces been cut or altered? Are beams undersized or sagging? All of this goes in your report\u2014with photos, notes, and recommendations. FAQs: What to Expect From a Structural Inspection During a Home Inspection Do you evaluate framing? Yes\u2014where visible. I look at attic and crawlspace framing, visible bracing, roof trusses, and signs of modification or failure. But I don\u2019t open walls or confirm design compliance. Should I get a structural engineer? Maybe. If I see major red flags\u2014active movement, major sagging, or advanced foundation distress\u2014I\u2019ll recommend it. But you don\u2019t need one unless something I find points in that direction. Do you report minor sloping or cracking? Yes. Any signs of movement, even if minor, are included in the report with photos and notes. These help you monitor over time\u2014or bring in pros if needed. Can you tell me if the house is safe? I can tell you what I see today\u2014and whether there are concerns. I can\u2019t predict future failure or unseen issues. Think of this as a first diagnosis, not the final treatment plan. \u2192 Next up: Post 15: Electrical System Overview \u2014 What We Inspect and Why It Matters \u2190 Previously: Post 13: Foundation, Crawlspace & Basement \u2014 Uncovering Structural Clues Curious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?","datePublished":"2025-06-30","dateModified":"2025-06-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/#Person","name":"Kloc Curtis","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/","identifier":6,"description":"Curtis Kloc is a U.S. Navy veteran and seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in business development, inspections, and technical systems. He has built and sold multiple six- and seven-figure home inspection and environmental services companies, including HERO Inspections & Environmental and Elite Analysis. Curtis is the founder of Inspections Over Coffee, a nationally expanding franchise known for its white-glove service, inspector training systems, and streamlined operational workflows.\r\n\r\nWith deep roots in nuclear engineering from his time as a Machinist Mate and Engineering Laboratory Technician aboard two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, Curtis brings unmatched precision and discipline to every business he runs. He is certified and licensed in home inspection, mold assessment, asbestos inspection, and environmental testing, and is a member of NACHI since 2006. Curtis now leads AI automation initiatives through Nexation.ai, helping businesses eliminate busywork and refocus on what matters most\u2014client relationships, growth, and results.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Person","name":"Curtis Kloc","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","width":512,"height":512}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/home-inspection-blog-14.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/home-inspection-blog-14.png","height":736,"width":1312},"url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-do-you-have-good-bones-what-a-structural-inspection-reveals\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":584,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Do You Have Good Bones? What a Structural Inspection RevealsEveryone wants to know: does this house have good bones? And what they really mean is, \u201cWill it fall apart on me?\u201d That\u2019s fair. But let\u2019s be honest: I\u2019m not an engineer running stress tests on your roof load. I\u2019m a trained home inspector looking for symptoms\u2014the visible stuff that tells me what might be going wrong underneath.My Job Is to Spot the Signs\u2014Not Solve the MathI look at how the house is behaving. Are floors sloping? Are door frames out of square? Are there cracks at window corners or stair-step patterns in brick? Those are red flags that suggest movement or shifting. But without removing finishes, testing soil, or analyzing load paths, I can\u2019t tell you exactly *why* it\u2019s happening\u2014or how to fix it.What I can do is point out what\u2019s visible, explain what it might mean, and help you decide if a licensed structural engineer should take a deeper look. Their job is different from mine\u2014and yes, it usually starts at $750 just to show up. That\u2019s why I don\u2019t push every buyer to get one. Wait and see what I find first.What I\u2019m Looking For\u2014And What I\u2019m Not  \u2705 I\u2019m looking for: sloping floors, out-of-plumb walls, cracks in walls and foundations, door alignment issues, exposed truss damage, and signs of overloading.  \u274c I\u2019m not looking to: verify framing code, pull permits, engineer a fix, or determine root structural loads. That\u2019s a job for the PE with a calculator and a tape measure.When \"Good Bones\" Doesn\u2019t Mean PerfectMany older homes settle unevenly over time\u2014but are still structurally sound. If I don\u2019t see signs of recent movement, water intrusion, or active shifting, I\u2019ll say that. Minor sloping in a 1950s ranch may be normal. But fresh cracks or doors that won\u2019t latch are things I call out.In attics and basements, I look at the framing itself. Are trusses intact? Any cracks, bowing, or poor repairs? Have braces been cut or altered? Are beams undersized or sagging? All of this goes in your report\u2014with photos, notes, and recommendations.FAQs: What to Expect From a Structural Inspection During a Home InspectionDo you evaluate framing?Yes\u2014where visible. I look at attic and crawlspace framing, visible bracing, roof trusses, and signs of modification or failure. But I don\u2019t open walls or confirm design compliance.Should I get a structural engineer?Maybe. If I see major red flags\u2014active movement, major sagging, or advanced foundation distress\u2014I\u2019ll recommend it. But you don\u2019t need one unless something I find points in that direction.Do you report minor sloping or cracking?Yes. Any signs of movement, even if minor, are included in the report with photos and notes. These help you monitor over time\u2014or bring in pros if needed.Can you tell me if the house is safe?I can tell you what I see today\u2014and whether there are concerns. I can\u2019t predict future failure or unseen issues. Think of this as a first diagnosis, not the final treatment plan.\u2192 Next up: Post 15: Electrical System Overview \u2014 What We Inspect and Why It Matters\u2190 Previously: Post 13: Foundation, Crawlspace & Basement \u2014 Uncovering Structural CluesCurious what it\u2019s like to schedule your own home inspection with us?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"What We Look For (And What We Don\u2019t): Do You Have Good Bones? What a Structural Inspection Reveals","item":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/what-we-look-for-and-what-we-dont-do-you-have-good-bones-what-a-structural-inspection-reveals\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]