Two-Story Home

The two-story is the dominant move-up home across the newer Twin Cities suburbs, from Woodbury and Lakeville to Maple Grove and Plymouth. They offer a lot of house, which also means a lot of roof, exterior, and mechanical system to evaluate. Whether the home is a 1990s build or brand-new construction, every level is worth a look top to bottom, and findings are best delivered without inflated urgency.

More house means more to inspect

A two-story home has more roof area, more siding and flashing, more windows, and often more than one HVAC zone than a single-story house of the same footprint. We give each level a patient, system-by-system read so nothing on the upper floor gets a quicker look than the main level.

Builder-grade workmanship and grading

Even on newer two-story homes we routinely find negative grading that has settled over time, deck attachments that need attention, attic ventilation shortcuts, and finish defects. Workmanship issues that builders miss are worth documenting so they can be addressed before they worsen.

Mechanicals, water heaters, and HVAC age

On a home approaching twenty years old, the original furnace, air conditioner, and water heater are nearing the end of their expected service life. We report the age and condition of each so a cluster of replacements does not catch you off guard.

Roofs, attics, and Minnesota winters

Steep, complex two-story roofs and large attics need correct insulation and ventilation to avoid ice dams in a hard Minnesota winter. Remaining roof life, insulation and venting, and the staining that reveals past water intrusion are the things to watch.

What a standard inspection does and does not cover

A standard inspection is a visual evaluation of the home and its built-in systems, with a photo-mapped report delivered within 24 hours. It is not a code-compliance audit or a guarantee. Where a condition is concealed or beyond a visual scope, we say so and recommend the right follow-up.