However, I've also found that there are common types of property defects which rear their unsightly heads as often as the sun rises, not just in older homes, but often in brand new ones, even before the smell of the new paint has become a memory. So here is our top ten list of defects likely to appear in a home. Problems with roofing material, either due to aging and wear or to improper installation are likely to be found in the majority of homes. This does not mean that most roofs are in need of replacement, but rather that most are in need of some type of maintenance or repair. The problem here is that you often can't tell if the roof still leaks, unless it is inspected on a rainy day.
Some stains are merely the residual effects of leaks that have been repaired.
There is also the possibility that ceiling stains were caused by a former plumbing leak in the attic. Such problems can be pervasive, difficult to resolve, and sometimes very damaging to buildings. Correction can be as simple as regrading the exterior grounds or adding roof gutters. Unfortunately, major drainage improvements are often the only practical solutions, requiring costly ground water systems such as French drains designed by experts such as geotechnical engineers. Such problems may be the result of errors at the time of construction, but very often they are due to wiring that was added or altered by persons other than qualified electricians.