(937) 372-1445

Buyer's Inspection Service

Dayton, Ohio Home Inspectors

  • Home Inspections
    • The Inspection
    • Walk Through Inspection
    • New Construction
    • Inspection Report
    • Testing & Evaluation Options
    • Pricing
  • Commercial
    • The Inspection
    • Walk Through Inspection
    • The Inspection Report
    • Testing & Evaluation Options
    • Pricing
  • Consultation
    • Consultation Service
      • The Consult
      • Post Consultation
      • Pricing
    • Maintenance
      • Benefits
      • The Inspection
      • The Report
      • Pricing
  • Information
    • Choosing Inspectors
    • Comparing Inspectors
    • Licensed Inspectors
    • Walk Through Inspection
    • Sample Report
    • Additional Testing Options
  • About
    • The Inspection Team
    • How We Started
    • Our Home Inspection Guarantee
  • FAQ
    • Blog
    • Contractors
  • Contact Us
  • Reviews
You are here: Home / Insulation / New Home Inspection, Inadequate Insulation

September 1, 2022

New Home Inspection, Inadequate Insulation

It never ceases to surprise our inspectors when performing a final inspection on new construction, that there is less insulation in the attic than the buyers contract stipulated. Most of the new builds this year are getting between sixteen and twenty one inches of fiberglass in the attic.
Before it is “blown in” the installer staples depth gauges in multiple locations around the attic to make sure the blown depth is consistent. After the insulation is installed there is an independent third party contractor who performs a blower door test and evaluation of the insulation to determine the efficiency of the home. They give the house a rating and issue a legal document that is then (generally) attached to the door of the electric panel where the building inspector can read it and pass that area of the build.
Then we do our inspection and find that there is less insulation in the attic than the stated depth! Sometimes the depth gauges are blatantly showing that the contractor installed less than required, other times the depth gauges are stapled lower down so it appears there is more insulation than there really is. A lack of insulation runs up the cost of heating and cooling a home as well as affecting the overall comfort.
The air conditioner and the furnace are sized to the house with the knowledge that there will be X or Y depth of insulation.
When inspecting we are always looking for those obvious defects, but it’s the “unknown” the “deceptive” those “think out of the box items” that we find, that make us good at our jobs.

Article by David Roche / Attic, Insulation, New Construction Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Inspectors’ Recent Posts


Gas Line Dirt Legs

March 28, 2025 By David Roche

Gas and particularly natural gas piping may have traces of sediment or particulates in it, especially if work has been done to the underground piping under the street. To trap any contaminates before they flow into the appliance, blocking the burner and creating problems for the home owner a series of dirt legs are installed. […]Read More about Gas Line Dirt Legs

Thermostat Placement Is Crucial

March 13, 2025 By David Roche

A badly placed thermostat plays havoc with the heating and cooling of a house. In this case the wall light creates a warm zone beside the thermostat causing it to register hotter than the rest of the house. This means that it reaches what it registers as the set temperature shutting the furnace down before […]Read More about Thermostat Placement Is Crucial

Bath Overflow Loose

January 25, 2025 By David Roche

All too often the overflow on the bathtub is loose or worse yet loose and the gasket damaged. If the bath is filled up to the overflow and it is loose the water will go down behind the tub which if it’s on the second floor could damage the ceiling. The water can also create […]Read More about Bath Overflow Loose

Bonding Gas Piping

January 8, 2025 By David Roche

A bonding wire is often mistaken for a ground wire, it does not go to ground but back to the electric panel. When it is connected to black iron *(steel)* piping the paint under the clamp must be removed with a rasp or sandpaper to make a good contact, paint reduces the contact rendering the […]Read More about Bonding Gas Piping

High Efficiency Furnaces In Attic

December 31, 2024 By David Roche

High efficiency furnaces recognisable by the white PVC flue pipe, installed in an unheated attic is not your best choice of location, it may be the only place to put it which does not change the fact that it is not ideal. Yes, many builders and furnace installers are installing them in the attic without […]Read More about High Efficiency Furnaces In Attic

Buyer's Inspection Service

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 707
Xenia, OH 45385

Address (No walk-ins)
120 West Second Street
Dayton, OH 45402

Clebrating 26 Years of Business
ASHI - American Society of Home Inspectors
InterNACHI - International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
ASI - American Inspectors Society

Connect with Us

  • facebook
  • youtube
  • phone
  • email

NAHI - National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.

About Us

We are local, not a franchise that "self certifies" its Inspectors. We have earned the highest level of licensure available in the country and are ready to give you the Inspection you deserve. Our referrals and reviews tell us that we are really detailed, strive to deliver a quality product and are great at explaining what we find.

Customer Reviews

Google Rating
Based on 553 reviews
Facebook Rating
Based on 25 reviews
Yelp Rating
Based on 13 reviews

(937) 372-1445
© 2025 Buyer’s Inspection Service · Legal Disclaimer