Multifamily Inspection Services

12/14/2025

“Leaking Polybutylene: A Hidden Multifamily Deal Breaker”

Leaking polybutylene under a multifamily crawl space.
This material fails without warning and is a major red flag during due diligence.

Replace it — don’t repair it.

Multifamily takeaway:
If you’re buying, owning, or managing older properties, plumbing material alone can swing a deal from “cash-flowing” to “capital expense nightmare.”

12/11/2025

Roof photos from a large multifamily inspection.

12/09/2025

During a multifamily due-diligence inspection of this 226 unit complex, there was an opened up exterior wall along a parapet cap. This uncovered asphalt-impregnated fiberboard, commonly called “blackboard sheathing.” This material was manufactured with a felt-like black outer surface bonded directly to the board — and it was commonly used as exterior wall sheathing behind stucco on older apartment complexes.

What I found:

✔️ Blackboard sheathing used as the wall substrate
✔️ Factory-applied felt-like asphalt surface
✔️ Stucco installed over it, creating long-term moisture concerns
✔️ Evidence of deterioration, softness, and water intrusion
✔️ Conditions that lead to stucco bulging, cracking, and delamination

Why this matters for investors

Blackboard sheathing is moisture-sensitive, and when it gets wet it:

Softens and loses structural strength

Causes the stucco to separate or “bubble” outward

Provides an easy entry point for termites

Leads to hidden damage that can be extremely costly to repair

Is commonly found on multifamily buildings constructed from the 1950s through the 1990s

This is a major reason older apartment complexes experience stucco failure, wall movement, and envelope breakdown.

📍 Multifamily Inspection Services

Serving Florida and the Southeastern U.S. — full due diligence, building envelope assessments, roofing, structure, plumbing, electrical, and more.

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Video 1

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12/09/2025

During this multifamily due-diligence inspection, I accessed the crawl space of a 42-unit apartment complex and found several serious issues that investors and property managers need to be aware of.
The primary concern in this video is significant termite damage affecting multiple floor joists and support beams, compromising the structural integrity of the building.

While inspecting the crawl space, I also identified:
✔️ Active plumbing leaks
✔️ No v***r barrier, allowing excess moisture to accumulate
✔️ Improperly installed block piers and inadequate support
✔️ Conditions ideal for ongoing termite activity and future wood rot

Termite-damaged structural components in a multifamily property can lead to high repair costs, sagging floors, and long-term safety concerns if they aren’t addressed promptly. This is exactly why thorough physical due diligence is critical before purchasing or rehabbing older apartment communities.

This inspection highlights what can be hiding beneath multifamily buildings—issues that are often overlooked but extremely expensive if missed.

📍 Multifamily Inspection Services – Serving Florida & the Southeastern U.S.
Due diligence • Crawl space inspections • Roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC • Full investor reports

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12/09/2025

Multifamily Inspection Services

🔍 Shingle Roof Inspection Reveals Major Installation Errors on Roofs That Were Only 2 Years Old 🏢

This video is from a 226 unit multifamily DD inspection where the roofs were only 2 years old. From the ground the roofs looked great. A quick walk on the roofs discovered numerous problems.

⚠️ Loose and slipped shingles
⚠️ Improper nailing and poor installation practices
⚠️ Unsealed or lifted shingle tabs
⚠️ Exposed fasteners and weak bonding
⚠️ Multiple areas prone to wind damage and leaks

Defects like these are common on older multifamily properties — and even on roofs that were replaced without proper oversight. Loose or slipped shingles lead to early failure, moisture intrusion, and ongoing maintenance headaches for owners and property managers. These newer roofs are not repairable. Total replacement is needed. And since the roofs were already roofed over - there's additional cost in tear off. The buyers were not able to come to terms with the sellers and walked from the property. Never trust the marketing brochure. Due diligence isn’t just a checkbox; it’s your insurance policy against bad deals.

If you're an investor or manage multifamily properties, a proper roof inspection can prevent expensive surprises and help you plan ahead. Also, if the seller had a quality assurance inspection performed on the roofs, it would have saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars. And they could have made the roofers correct their errors. The deal would have probably worked out.

Serving Florida & the Southeast
Multifamily Inspection Services
🔍 Roof • Stucco • Electrical • Sewer Scope • Full Due Diligence

12/08/2025

Multifamily Inspection Services – Identifying hidden problems before they turn into expensive surprises.

During a multifamily inspection, I found an attic-mounted air handler with the secondary drain pan completely full of water. This is a major red flag and usually means the primary drain line is clogged or the condensate system isn’t functioning properly. Multiple units had ceiling repairs from past air handlers leaking.

Here’s why this matters for multifamily owners and investors:
• Standing water in the secondary pan = primary drain failure
• Increased risk of ceiling leaks and interior water damage
• Higher chance of mold growth in attic spaces
• Multiple units may have the same issue, increasing OPEX
• Can lead to costly repairs if not addressed quickly

HVAC issues like this are extremely common in older multifamily properties across Florida—and often go unnoticed until the damage is already done.

👉 Multifamily Inspection Services – Identifying hidden problems before they turn into expensive surprises.

12/05/2025

Leaking Cast Iron in 1946 Crawl Space | Florida Multifamily Inspection

Inside the crawl space of this 400-unit apartment complex built in 1946, I found leaking, worn, and heavily degraded cast iron plumbing throughout multiple sections of the building. Cast iron from this era is far beyond its service life, and failures like this can create major moisture issues, structural concerns, and soaring maintenance costs for owners.

Here’s what I documented under the building:
• Active leaks from deteriorated cast iron lines
• Severe corrosion and thinning pipe walls
• Long-term wear common in mid-century Florida multifamily properties
• Moisture intrusion affecting surrounding wood framing and insulation

For multifamily investors, problems like these can significantly impact CapEx, NOI, and long-term operating costs, especially on master-metered properties where water loss directly affects the bottom line.

👉 Florida Multifamily Inspection Services – Uncovering hidden risks before acquisition.

12/03/2025

Regular storm drain and gutter maintenance is essential for preventing water damage, structural issues, and costly repairs. These systems direct water away from your property, protecting your foundation, landscaping, and roof. Clogged gutters can lead to water overflow, crawlspace flooding and pest infestations. Routine inspections, cleaning debris, checking downspouts, and installing gutter guards are simple ways to ensure proper drainage and extend the life of your property’s exterior.

https://youtu.be/2DBOxG6KHGEhttps://www.brevardhomeinspector.com/storm-drain-and-gutter-maintenance-a-must-for-homeowners/ | Why Regular Storm Drain And Gutt...

12/01/2025

12/01/2025

Major Stucco Defects Found on This Property:

In this video, we perform a stucco inspection on a 226-unit multifamily property and uncover multiple serious building-envelope defects. These issues are extremely common in large apartment communities across Florida and the Southeast — and they can turn into massive capital expenditures if not identified early.

🔸 Stucco applied below grade (high moisture risk)
🔸 Bulging and warped stucco surfaces
🔸 Delamination and separation from the substrate
🔸 Cracked and failing areas around penetrations
🔸 Compromised control joints and sealants
🔸 Elevated moisture readings and entry points

Stucco defects like these can lead to:
💧 Moisture intrusion
🛠️ Costly structural repairs
🧱 Hidden mold and wall damage
📉 Reduced property value
💰 Major CapEx hits for investors

Why This Matters for Multifamily Investors

Large properties with failing stucco often face:
✔️ Unexpected capital expenses
✔️ Insurance concerns
✔️ Accelerated deterioration
✔️ Tenant-impacting repairs
✔️ Reduced NOI during remediation

A proper stucco inspection helps investors understand the true condition of the building envelope before acquisition, budgeting, or negotiation.

At Multifamily Inspection Services, we specialize in full-building inspections for:
🏢 10–500+ Unit Assets
🔍 Stucco • Roof • Electrical • Plumbing • Sewer Scope • HVAC • Structure
Serving Florida and the Southeast.

If you're investing in multifamily properties, a thorough due diligence inspection can save you six figures in unexpected repairs.

Also, check out my SKOOL community and Physical DD course
https://www.skool.com/ask-the-multifamily-inspector-4045/about?ref=efa09f2f315d448b847eb4b40dbbffc9

12/01/2025

“Performing a sewer scope inspection on a multifamily property to assess the true condition of the main drain lines. Sewer scopes are one of the most important parts of multifamily due diligence — revealing issues such as corrosion, scale buildup, root intrusion, bellies in the line, and cast iron deterioration that can’t be seen during a standard visual inspection.

Failing or restricted sewer lines are a major CapEx item for apartment investors, especially in older buildings across Florida and the Southeast. Identifying these problems early helps investors plan repairs, negotiate pricing, and avoid costly surprises after closing.

At Multifamily Inspection Services, we provide high-resolution sewer camera inspections to ensure our clients understand the condition of every critical system — above and below ground.”

12/01/2025

“Warehouse inspection and found numerous active roof leaks throughout the building. Some weren’t visible to the naked eye — but the infrared camera picked them up instantly.
Catching these early saves owners thousands in damages and repairs. 🏭💧🔍
Priority Home Inspections — protecting your investment.”