David Jones
Senior Contributor
David Jones is a seasoned home inspector and construction expert with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in structural integrity, foundation issues, and detailed home safety assessments.
Articles by David Jones
Health & Safety •
10 Safety Tips For Using a Portable Generator During a Power Outage
Inspections •
5 Risks In Using Past or Prior Home Inspection Reports
Earthquake •
Earthquake “Magnitude” verses “Intensity”
Codes & Permits •
Bathroom Vent Fan Codes | Venting into Attic | Mold & Structural Issues
Alarms: Smoke & CO •
7 Places NOT to Put Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Alarms: Smoke & CO •
10 Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Alarms: Smoke & CO •
Hidden Sources of Poisonous Carbon Monoxide In Your Home | Safety Checklist
Alarms: Smoke & CO •
Is A Carbon Monoxide Alarm Required In a Bedroom
Codes & Permits •
Do You Need a Permit To Wear High Heeled Shoes In Carmel by the Sea, CA.
Codes & Permits •
Does a Bedroom Require a Closet by Code?
Construction Techniques •
How Did Egyptians Get Their Pyramid Bases Perfectly Level; Sextant, Sun Transit or Water?
Codes & Permits •
When Are Permits Required To Repair a Roof or Reroof a House?
Concrete slab •
Why Concrete Shrinks and Shrinkage Cracks
Codes & Permits •
Are Permits Required To Repair A Home After A Flood?
Foundation •
Flood Damage to Foundations and What to Check
Foundation •
Foundation Types and Warning Signs of Problems
Codes & Permits •
IRC Building Code Requirements for Homeowners and Buyers
Construction Techniques •
Original Construction Elevation (OCE), Sloping Floors, Un-level Floors
Alarms: Smoke & CO •
Are Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required In A Garage?
Alarms: Smoke & CO •
Should You Have A Smoke Alarm In The Attic or Garage? Yes or No
Codes & Permits •
When Do You Need A Permit And What Are The Building Codes?
Water Heaters •
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Water Heater?
Concrete slab •
Control Joints, Expansion Joints and Cold Joints in Concrete
Pools and Spas •
How To Tell If A Swimming Pool Is Level
Pools and Spas •
How To Check For Pool and Spa Leaks Yourself
Drywall •
Can Tree Roots Cause Drywall Cracks?
Inspections •
Are Home Inspections Code Inspections?
Alarms: Smoke & CO •
How Much Time Do You Have To Escape a House Fire? It's Much Less Than You Think.
Outlets & GFCI •
Sparks When Plugging Into An Outlet
Structural •
How to Minimize Home Damage from Expansive Soils
Foundation •
Rock Pockets In Foundations and Basement Walls
Foundation •
Foundation Settling - Signs that a House is Settling
Articles of Interest •
The "Painted Ladies" Are Over 100 Years Old and Still Beautiful
Drywall •
Truss Uplift: Causing Drywall Cracks
Inspections •
Pool and Spa Inspections
Pools and Spas •
Pool & Spa Inspection Checklist
Pools and Spas •
How To Tell If Your Pool Is Leaking: Do A Bucket Leak Test Yourself
Landscaping, trees, plants & erosion •
Buying A Home With Trees? Check the Roof, Sewer And Your Homeowners Insurance
Inspections •
Home Inspections: What Buyers Must Know
Articles of Interest •
Avoid a "Money Pit" - Ask These Questions
Insurance •
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Septic Systems
Septic Tanks & Leach Fields •
7 Questions A Home Buyer Should Ask About A Septic System
Septic Tanks & Leach Fields •
Septic Tank Filter: Does Yours Have One & Where Is It?
Septic Tanks & Leach Fields •
Septic Tank: Warning Signs of Leaks or Damage
Water Heaters •
Top 8 Most Common Water Heater Noises
Legal •
Why Home Sellers Get Sued
Electrical Panels •
Neutral Bar With Two Wires in One Hole
Codes & Permits •
Codes - A General Overview - Which Ones Apply To You?
Codes & Permits •
Are Sellers Required to Bring Anything Up To Code Before Selling Their Home?
Floors •
Creaking Floors – The 4 Main Reasons
Alarms: Smoke & CO •
11 Places NOT to Put Smoke Alarms - can you name them?
Sellers •
6 Tips for Selling A Home With Pets
Inspections •
Are Home Inspectors Deal Killers ?
Inspections •
Illegal Conversion – 5 Things Buyers Need to Know
Inspections •
How To Pick The Best Home Inspector: 5 Questions to Ask
Inspections •
Inspection - Pass or Fail
Inspections •
Presale Home Inspection - Benefits for Sellers
Insurance •
10 Questions To Ask About Homeowners Insurance
Lesson 3 •
A Lawsuit For Not Disclosing A Lawsuit
Codes & Permits •
When Is A Bedroom - Really A Bedroom
Real Estate •
Can an Open House Cost $56,628?
Lesson 4 •
Post tension slabs - Answers To Questions
Pools and Spas •
Why Blonde's Hair Turns Green After Swimming
Articles of Interest •
Dual Pane Window Failure Checklist
Inspections •
What Your Home Inspector May Not Tell You
Articles of Interest •
Top Things for Buyers To Look For
Articles of Interest •
Age of Houses in the US
Health & Safety •
Lead Paint - What Years Did They Use It?
Articles of Interest •
PEX Piping
Plumbing •
Water Pressure Too Low
Corrosion •
Corrosion On Water Pipes And Fittings
Pools and Spas •
Pool Pressure Gauges - Fogged or Damaged
Water Heaters •
Vent Connections / Carbon Monoxide Poison
Water Heaters •
Water Heater Vent Clearances & Requirements
Water Heaters •
T&P Valve and Discharge Line Safety Hazards
Water Heaters •
Hot Water Heater Temperature Settings
Water Heaters •
Water Heater Pan
Water Heaters •
Leaning Water Heaters Can Be A Safety Concern
Water Heaters •
Aluminum Tubing Gas Lines On Water Heaters
Water Heaters •
Water Heater Blanket and Insulation
Water Heaters •
Water Heater General Information
Septic Tanks & Leach Fields •
Damaged or Cracked Septic Tank
Septic Tanks & Leach Fields •
Leach Field Failure: Septic Tank Systems
Septic Tanks & Leach Fields •
Septic Tank - General Information
Noisy water pipes •
Squealing sounds - water pipes
Noisy water pipes •
Gurgling sounds at sink
Noisy water pipes •
Dripping sound in area under sink
Noisy water pipes •
Banging sounds - water hammer
Gas Meters & Valves •
Rusted gas meters or gas piping
Gas Meters & Valves •
Excessive Flow Gas Valves
Gas Meters & Valves •
Gas Meter Protection - Steel Post Protection: Called Bollards
Gas Meters & Valves •
How to shut off gas to the house
Gas Meters & Valves •
Gas Valve Not Capped: A Hidden Danger When Selling or Buying A Home
Electrical Panels •
Wire clamps - bushings & connectors
Wiring •
Knob and tube wiring
Electrical Panels •
Rusted and Corroded Electrical Panels
Electrical Panels •
Knockouts Missing In Electrical Panels - Hazardous But Easy to Correct
Electrical Panels •
Electrical Panel Covers - Hinges, Screws and Latch Parts
Electrical Panels •
Missing Electrical Panel Covers Create A Number of Safety Hazards
Electrical Panels •
Missing "Dead Front" Covers on Electrical Panels is Serious
Outlets & GFCI •
Ungrounded outlet
Outlets & GFCI •
Smoke or burn marks on outlets
Outlets & GFCI •
Reverse Polarity on Outlet and How To Fix
Outlets & GFCI •
Why Paint On Outlets Can Be A Safety Concern
Outlets & GFCI •
AFCI Breakers and outlets
Lights & Fixtures •
Exterior Light Not Caulked or Sealed At Wall
Outlets & GFCI •
GFCI Outlets And Where They Are Required
Breakers •
Hot circuit breaker
Fireplace •
Soot and Creosote build-up in fireplace
Fireplace •
Cracked or Damaged Fireplace Panels
Fireplace •
Fireplaces
Interior Skylights •
Skylight - Condensation or Leaking
Interior Skylights •
Leaking or Stains By Skylights
Drywall •
Drywall Nail or Screw Heads Popping Out
Disposal •
Disposal inoperative
Disposal •
Disposal - rust on the body
Fans •
Fan wobbly or rocking
Bathrooms •
Squealing noise at toilet, sinks and showers
Bathrooms •
Pop-up Sink Drain Stopper Stuck or Not Working
Corrosion •