Knock on Wood Inspections LLC

Knock on Wood Inspections LLC At Knock on Wood, we believe every home tells a story—and our job is to listen carefully to what it has to say.

Serving the heart of the Willamette Valley, we bring expertise, integrity, and a touch of craftsmanship to the art of home inspection. Are you searching for a reliable home inspection service in Salem, OR? Your search ends with Knock on Wood Inspections LLC at (503) 742-3664. Call to schedule your service today.

* Home Inspection Services
* Radon Testing Services
* Sewer Scope Services
* Water Te

sting Services
* Mold Inspection Services
* Remediation Inspection Services
* Real Estate Inspection Services
* Foundation Inspection Services
* Structural Inspection Services
* Roof Inspection Services
* Plumbing Inspection Services
* Electrical Home Inspection
* HVAC Inspection Services
* Residential Home Inspection Services
* Commercial Home Inspection Services

When a New Roof Meets an Old Enemy: Galvanic Corrosion 💸⚡Caption:I recently got called out for a roof inspection on a ho...
06/05/2026

When a New Roof Meets an Old Enemy: Galvanic Corrosion 💸⚡
Caption:
I recently got called out for a roof inspection on a home with a beautiful, brand-new metal roof. At first glance, everything looked sleek and modern. But as soon as I looked down at the eaves, I spotted a massive, expensive mistake. 🕵️‍♂️🔍

The installers put down a brand-new metal roof but left the original copper gutters in place.

Here is the problem: certain metals absolutely hate each other. When steel (or aluminum) comes into direct contact with copper, and you add water (which we have plenty of here in Oregon 🌧️), it triggers a chemical reaction called galvanic corrosion.

Because copper is a more "noble" metal, it will literally eat away at the new roofing material over time, causing it to rust, thin out, and prematurely fail right at the edge where water flows. It turns a premium, lifetime roof investment into a ticking maintenance nightmare. 🛑💥

A new roof is only as good as the details of the installation. Don't assume a new feature means a perfect feature. Before you finalize a project or buy a home, make sure the details are right—Knock on Wood! ✅

📞 Call/Text: 503-856-4065
🌐 Book Your Inspection: www.knockonwood.online

06/04/2026

The Plumbing Material with a 100% Failure Rate 🚨💧
Caption:
If you’re touring homes built between the late 1980s and mid-1990s here in the Willamette Valley, keep your eyes peeled for this specific shade of grey.

That grey pipe running behind the water heater is Polybutylene (PB). In the inspection world, we don't mince words about this stuff: it has a known 100% failure rate. Over time, municipal water treatments cause the plastic to become incredibly brittle, cracking from the inside out until it inevitably bursts. 🌊💥

Many insurance companies won't even write a policy for a home if they know Polybutylene plumbing is present. If you spot it during a walkthrough, it isn't automatically a dealbreaker, but it is an expense you need to budget for—because a total replumb will be necessary sooner rather than later.

Don't buy a ticking water damage time bomb. Know exactly what's behind the walls before you buy. Knock on Wood! ✅

📞 Call/Text: 503-856-4065
🌐 Schedule an Inspection: www.knockonwood.online

The Hidden Grounding Fault (Don't Just Look at the Box!) 🛑⚡An exterior electrical box or utility cover looks perfectly f...
06/03/2026

The Hidden Grounding Fault (Don't Just Look at the Box!) 🛑⚡

An exterior electrical box or utility cover looks perfectly fine from the outside. But as a home inspector, my job is to flip up the cover and look deep into the wall cavity. 🕵️‍♂️🔍

What are we looking at here? This is an intersystem bonding termination or a grounding electrode conductor connection hidden behind the siding. While it’s great that they used a bit of spray foam at the bottom to stop pests, notice what's missing: proper insulation and a tight weatherproof seal around the interior wall pe*******on. In the Pacific Northwest, leaving a direct path through your siding like this invites cold drafts, trapped condensation, and moisture right into your wall assembly—which can eventually lead to rot or mold. 🪵🌧️

It’s a small detail, but small details are what stand between a solid home and an expensive repair down the road. When you want the full story on your next property, don't just guess... Knock on Wood! ✅

📞 Call/Text: 503-856-4065
🌐 Book Online: www.knockonwood.online

06/02/2026

Looks Good From Afar, But Far From Good! 🛑🏽

At first glance, this tile work looks clean and modern—but a quick look closer reveals it’s literally just a sheet of vinyl flooring rolled out over a rough concrete patio edge, completely unsecured. As we always say at Knock on Wood Inspections, "It’s not gonna hold one season." 🌧️🍁 This is exactly why you don’t just rely on cosmetic first impressions when buying a property. Our job is to lift the edges, find the cutting corners, and give you the unvarnished truth before you sign on the dotted line. Because that is not how we do it. 🛠️🔍

Don’t gamble on your next investment—Knock on Wood!

🌐 Book Your Inspection: www.knockonwood.online

05/29/2026

🏡 "Flip Time!" Or should we say... "Skip Time"? 🛠️🚶‍♂️

When you hear a house is a "freshly renovated flip," it’s easy to focus on the sparkling appliances and modern colors. But a true home inspection means looking down—way down—at the craftsmanship.

Exhibit A: This flooring and baseboard finish we just found. 🤦‍♂️

Look closely at those gaps. Vinyl plank flooring needs an expansion gap, sure, but it's supposed to be hidden under the baseboard or covered with quarter-round molding—not left wide open to collect dust, dirt, and moisture right next to a sliding glass door!

When corners are cut this visibly on the surface, it makes you wonder what’s hiding behind the walls and under the crawlspace.

Before you sign on the dotted line for that "turn-key" property, make sure you know exactly what you're buying.

🪵 Don't just hope for the best—let us do the knocking for you!

05/28/2026

🏡 "Oh, it's a flip? The job is going to be so easy!" 🪵🧑‍💻

We hear it all the time. Fresh paint? Looking sharp. New siding? Looks flawless from the street. But as home inspectors, our job isn't to look at what's pretty—it's to look at what's real.

During a recent inspection on a fixer-flipper here in the Willamette Valley, the exterior looked beautifully updated at first glance. But when you get up close and check the details? The bottom of that brand-new looking exterior siding was already dealing with dry rot. 🚨

Whether you are buying a 1920s craftsman, a brand-new build, or a beautifully staged flip, the details matter. Paint can hide a lot, but a thorough inspection reveals the truth.

Before you knock on wood and hope for the best, let us do the knocking for you. 🪵🔍

05/27/2026

“Oh, it’s just a small gap, what’s the worst that could happen?” 🪵🐀

As Oregonians, we love our local wildlife—just not when they decide to move into our crawl spaces! This wide-open access point is basically an all-inclusive resort invitation for mice, rats, stray cats, and raccoons looking for a warm, dry spot to hang out.

An unsealed crawl space doesn’t just mean unwanted roommates; it can also lead to chewed wires, damaged insulation, and some seriously unpleasant odors wafting up through your floorboards.

Inspector Tip: Make sure your crawl space access has a tight-fitting, secure cover. A little bit of prevention goes a long way in keeping your home pest-free!

Found a mystery opening around your home? Give Knock on Wood Inspections a call before the critters move in! 🏠🔍

05/26/2026

When the listing says “cozy fireplace features,” but you walk in and find a literal fortress blocking the hearth... 😳❌

Every home inspection has its surprises, but this massive old stove definitely earned that “nope” face from the boss. Sometimes a feature is just a giant question mark waiting to happen!

Whether it's a hidden defect or a giant mystery appliance, we check it all from roof to foundation so you don't get stuck with any unwanted surprises. 🪵🔍

What would you do with this? Rip it out or try to salvage it? Let us know below!

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💡 "Hang on a second..." (Literally). 🛠️😬When you're walking through a home, it’s easy to look at a light fixture and thi...
05/26/2026

💡 "Hang on a second..." (Literally). 🛠️😬

When you're walking through a home, it’s easy to look at a light fixture and think about how it matches the room's vibe. But during our inspections, we look at how it’s actually interacting with the house.

Take a close look at this ceiling fixture we found. Notice anything concerning? 🔍

The Problem: The ceiling material around the canopy is heavily cracked, buckling, and pulling away.

The Risk: This isn't just an cosmetic issue—it could mean a couple of things. It might be a sign that a heavy fixture was improperly secured to drywall instead of a structural electrical box. Or worse, it could be a hidden sign of stress, shifting, or past moisture damage from above.

When fixtures start pulling the ceiling down with them, it’s time to call in the experts before a minor fix turns into a major headache.

Don't let hidden issues catch you by surprise. Let us do the knocking for you! 🪵

📲 Buyers, Sellers, & Agents: Protect your investment with a thorough, digital-first inspection. Schedule yours online today! Link in bio.

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05/22/2026

Shoutout to the builders doing it right! 🔨✨

New construction inspections can be a gamble, but this local builder (starts with an 'L'!) consistently brings their A-game. 15 inspections in, and still no major issues found.

Thinking about going the new build route? Make sure you’re working with someone who doesn’t cut corners—and always get that third-party inspection just to be sure! 😉

Address

Salem, OR
97302

Telephone

+15038564065

Website

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