Redfin asked a few of the top home inspections firms across the nation about the inspection process and Sound View Home Inspections was chosen…

Here is an excerpt from the article…

“Inspecting fences

Inspecting the fence of a residence is extremely important as it provides for the safety and security of a home. During a home tour, you’ll first want to note what material the fence is made of (most commonly treated wood) and then see if there is any indication of rot, damage, and other signs of deterioration.

The home inspector will also look for those same things but then test the amount of resistance the fence can withstand and what type of code may need to be applied. Once those items have been identified, the inspector is notified about the property line to ensure they are inspecting the proper fencing for the specific property. Next, the inspector will then assess whether the standard expectations associated with the fence have been applied, including:

4×4 posts should be at least 2 feet in the ground and they should be 6 to 8 feet from each other depending upon the crossbar and planks being used.
Concrete used to hold each post in place should be 3 times the width of the 4×4 posts.
The crossbar should be a 2×4 if being used with the standard 4×4 posts.
Each post should be perfectly vertical or plumb.
The proper industry standard brackets need to be used to secure the cross beams to the posts.
Any insect damage will be carefully identified.

Only if all of these standards are identified with the fence in mind can the inspector be sure that the fence is meeting code and will provide safety and security for the homeowners.

James Beck JR
Sound View Home Inspections – Seattle, WA”

Check out what top home inspection firms around had to say about the home inspection process https://www.redfin.com/blog/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-house