Most new construction buyers assume the builder's process is flawless. It isn't. Framing errors, improperly fastened sheathing, missing blocking, and rough-in plumbing mistakes all get covered up once the drywall goes up. A pre-drywall inspection happens before that window closes. I schedule these inspections after framing, mechanical rough-ins, and insulation are in place — but before drywall is installed. That's when I can see the structure and systems that will be hidden f

Vinyl siding is everywhere in Southeast Houston. Drive through Pearland, Friendswood, or Webster and you'll see it on probably a third of the homes built in the 1990s and early 2000s. It holds paint well, it's cheap to install, and it looks decent from the street. The problem is what you can't see behind it. When vinyl or metal siding gets installed over an existing wall, it covers whatever was there before — original wood siding, older fiber cement, sometimes just bare sheat

If you're buying a home in the Seabrook, League City, or Friendswood area that was built between 2001 and 2009, Chinese drywall is something you need to understand. It's not a rare issue here. Houston was one of the hardest-hit markets in the country after Hurricane Katrina created a massive construction surge and domestic drywall supplies ran short. Chinese drywall was imported primarily between 2001 and 2009 to meet demand. The problem is that certain Chinese-manufactured d

June in Houston is brutal on wood. Surface temperatures on a south-facing deck can hit 140°F or higher by early afternoon. That kind of heat — cycle after cycle — splits boards, pops fasteners, and opens gaps that let water in the moment a storm rolls through. The first thing I look for is checking the ledger board. That's the board bolted to your house where the deck meets the exterior wall. When wood expands and contracts repeatedly, the flashing behind that ledger can sepa