# What an 11-Month Warranty Inspection Found on a One-Year-Old Home

- Link: https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/one-year-warranty-inspection-arizona/
- Published: 2026-10-25T03:43:34+00:00
- Author: homeinspectordan

I inspected this home when it was new, and the owners called me back before their
one-year builder warranty ran out. That is the whole point of an 11-month warranty
inspection: find what has shown up after a year of living in the house, and get 
it on the builder’s list while they still have to fix it.

## On the roof

 * **Thin stucco on the parapet walls** with metal lath showing through. That is
   a water entry point, and you will not see it until it leaks below.
 * **Cracked and broken tiles around the solar panels.** Many were broken all the
   way through. My guess is they were stepped on during the solar install. Walk 
   on the lower edge of a concrete tile where it is supported, not the middle.
 * **Upward-facing electrical junction boxes** on the roof for the solar. They are
   weather-rated, but they are still a possible leak point.
 * **A spare tile left on the roof.** In a monsoon wind it can slide and break others.
 * A few mismatched tile colors and a gutter caulk joint that needs maintenance 
   every few years.

## Rust bleeding through the stucco

All around the house, small orange spots were showing through the paint. That is
the metal lath behind the stucco rusting, which tells me the stucco or paint is 
too thin in those spots. It is a warranty item worth documenting now.

## Windows, weeps and a gas regulator

 * **Window weep holes** let water drain out of the window track. One was missing
   its flap and one was packed full of stucco. They need to be cleared.
 * **A gas regulator close to the electrical and solar equipment.** Regulators vent
   small amounts of gas. A vent extension can carry it away from electrical parts.
 * A missing cable entry cap, open gaps around exterior light fixtures and gaps 
   in garage door trim that let pests in.

## A foundation cover that can hide termites

Around the patios, a hard cover was installed over the foundation. My concern is
that termites can tunnel between that cover and the concrete, and you would never
see the tubes until they are in the walls. I called it out. Removing it may not 
be worth it, but keep your termite treatments current.

## Drainage and irrigation

Efflorescence along the driveway and sidewalk showed they are staying wet, likely
from irrigation. Overwatering next to concrete will break it down over time. The
gutters would also do better discharging about 6 feet from the foundation.

## Sewer camera scan

Since this was a new neighborhood, I ran a sewer camera both ways from the cleanouts,
about 80 to 90 feet in each direction. Heavy equipment drives over new sewer lines
during construction, so it is worth a look before the warranty ends. The ABS lines
looked good, with only normal buildup. Hydrojet maintenance helps, but nothing needed
immediate repair.

## 11-month warranty inspections in Gilbert and the Valley

If you bought new in Gilbert, [Queen Creek](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/home-inspector-queen-creek-az/),
[San Tan Valley](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/home-inspector-san-tan-valley-az/),
[Scottsdale](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/home-inspector-scottsdale-az/) 
or anywhere in the Valley, schedule your [11-month warranty inspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/11-month-warranty-inspection/)
about a month before your builder warranty ends so the builder has time to make 
repairs. Add a [sewer camera scan](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/sewer-camera-inspection/)
while you are at it. Every home inspection includes a [termite (WDO) inspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/termite-inspection/)
at no extra charge, plus a 1-year termite warranty through [Firehouse Pest Control in Gilbert](https://firehousepest.com/services/termite-treatment/)
if no active termites are found.

**Buying a home?** [Book your inspection online](https://app.spectora.com/home-inspectors/my-inspection-company-f8d6dbae4e/schedule)
or call [623-399-0079](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/one-year-warranty-inspection-arizona/6233990079).

Property Inspections Plus is a [Gilbert, AZ home inspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/)
company led by Certified Master Inspector Dan Pierce. We inspect homes across the
East Valley, the Phoenix metro and the rest of Arizona. See all of our [service areas](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/service-areas/).