Pillar To Post Home Inspectors

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Crawlspace encapsulation is getting a lot of attention right now. And for good reason—it can help control moisture, improve energy performance, and create a more stable environment under the home. But there’s a piece of the conversation that often gets missed. What happens to radon? In Indiana, radon comes from the soil. A vented crawlspace allows some of that soil gas to dissipate naturally. When a crawlspace is encapsulated and sealed, you’re changing how that space interacts with the environment. That’s not a problem - but it is a system change. And system changes can have consequences. We’ve seen situations where: • Moisture control improved significantly • Air sealing was tightened • But radon levels changed as a result Encapsulation doesn’t create radon. But it can change how radon behaves inside the home. That’s why testing matters—especially after major changes to how a home manages air, moisture, and soil interaction. Like most things in a home, it’s not about whether a solution is “good” or “bad.” It’s about understanding how that solution affects the system as a whole.

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Roof problems don’t always start at the roof. In many cases, they start in the attic. As we head into warmer weather, this is a pattern we see across Indiana homes—roofing materials aging faster than expected, even when everything looks fine from the outside. The issue usually isn’t the shingles. It’s what’s happening underneath them. Here’s the pattern: • Heat builds up in the attic with no effective way to escape • Moisture from the home rises and gets trapped • Ventilation isn’t balanced to manage either Over time, that combination works against the roof system. Shingles are exposed to higher temperatures than intended. Materials expand and contract more aggressively. Moisture lingers where it shouldn’t. The result isn’t immediate failure. It’s accelerated aging. We’ve seen it many times—homes where the roof looks acceptable from the exterior, but the attic tells a different story. What matters: • Whether the attic can release heat effectively • Whether moisture has a defined path to exit • Whether intake and exhaust ventilation are working together Attics aren’t just empty space. They’re part of how the roof system performs over time. Most roofs don’t fail early by accident. They wear out faster when the system underneath them isn’t working.

Growth in this business doesn’t come from doing more inspections. It comes from building better systems—and extending them. We recently closed on the acquisition of Keystone Home Inspections here in Kokomo, founded by Joe Douglass. For us, this wasn’t about adding volume. It was about expanding coverage and bringing more consistency to how inspections are delivered and understood across our market. Joe built a strong reputation in this market, and we’re looking forward to carrying that forward. As more buyers and agents work across larger geographic areas, the need for reliable, repeatable processes becomes more important—not less. Same expectations. Same level of clarity. Same approach to helping clients understand what actually matters. We’re looking forward to building on what Joe established and continuing to serve clients across North-Central Indiana and the Northern Indianapolis Metro with a consistent, system-driven approach.