5 Things Buyers Need to Know About North Texas Houses

Every week, the detail-oriented folks at Green Scene Home Inspections will give CandysDirt.com readers an education in inspection. Want to see what they see? Tune in for “Upon Closer Inspection.”

We asked our inspectors about the most common problems they find that are specific to homes in the North Texas and greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. If you’re new to the region or are purchasing a home for the first time, these are things you should look for:

1. Gray and Black Clay Soil

Gray and black clay soils are common to North Texas. This type of soil causes foundation movement because of the way it expands and contracts with weather changes. In the graphic above you can see one ginormous crack in the soil!

2. Hard Water

D-FW water can be hard on fixtures and pipes, causing mineral build-up or corrosion over time. If you have copper pipes, you may not have to worry about build up in the pipes. Here are some tips for preventing and removing mineral build-up.

3. Big Storms 

Major weather, from strong thunder and lighting storms to tornados, is common in North Texas. High winds and hail can cause roof damage like you see here.

4. Heat and Humidity

The sometimes harsh climate can be hard on a house, causing issues from cracking paint to expanding window seals, like what you see here. When window seals break, moisture can collect inside the window. The North Texas climate also provides a great environment for insects, including wood-destroying ones like termites.

5. Cast Iron Plumbing

Cast iron is still very much in use as drain lines. Unfortunately, cast iron pipes have a life expectancy, and begin to corrode over time. Replacing them can be pretty expensive. This is a corroded cast iron pipe, seen from the crawl space in a pier-and-beam house.