Zion Home Inspection & Improvement

About Charleston

Charleston is in Charleston County.  In 1670 approximately 200 Englishmen settled at Albemarle Point on the Ashley River, on the opposite side of the river from the Charleston peninsula and what is now Hampton Park.  Charles Town Landing can be visited today for beautiful scenery and a glimpse into the past. Throughout the 1670’s plans were made to survey the area for a town. By 1679 it was settled that Oyster Point, later called White Point, would be a more suitable location. In 1682 there were over 100 houses there. Most of them were Georgian Colonial style Charleston Single Houses or Double Houses, designed with piazzas.

The Charleston Single House, unique to the Charleston area, was designed for semi-tropical climates and fitting for deep narrow lots.  Examples can be found in Charleston and Summerville in a variety of styles. Generally, 2-3 stories high with full-length porches on each story, they were built on raised foundations with full basements or tall crawlspaces. The main characteristic of these homes is the large front porches with doors closing the porch off from the street. Houses such as The Pink House or The Col. William Rhett House are suspected to have been built by 1712.  They still stand today, some of the oldest houses in the country.

Preserving historical structures and neighborhoods in the City of Charleston is the mission of the Board of Architectural Review.   They review all new construction, alterations, and renovations visible from the public right-of-way.  They also review all demolitions of buildings over 50 years of age, or any houses South of Mount Pleasant Street.  Preserving and restoring historical homes requires regularly scheduled home inspections and maintenance.  Monitoring a home for defects as a homeowner can help discover issues before they grow in extent and expense.  It’s a good idea for historical homes to have yearly inspections conducted by a qualified inspector familiar with the construction methods of different time periods, as well as maintenance, restoration, and renovation methods of historic houses. 

 The long history of this region involved many destructive and compelling events that greatly altered the image of the architectural landscape, creating a cornucopia of building types and construction methods.  The age of some the houses will undoubtedly present opportunities for an inspector to discover outdated and unsafe building methods and materials.  Age isn't the only thing that can muddy the waters when considering the condition of a home, when someone lives in a home for many years the probability increases that they will make repairs or additions, possibly incorrectly or inadequately.  When making repairs themselves, a homeowner may use an unapproved material or inadequate building method, or they may hire a cheap contractor who cuts corners and doesn't pull permits. Unfortunately buying a brand new home still doesn't guarantee a flawless home.  When these possibilities for defects occur in an area often and over different eras they present a laundry list of different things to look for in a home inspection, making a broader general knowledge of construction styles more advantageous for the home inspector and in effect the client. 

Priding Diligence in our Many Inspection Services