Home Inspection Checklist

Privacy Policy

File last updated February 08, 2010 * Copyright © 2010 All rights reserved by: Accurate Inspections, Inc. A New Jersey home inspection firm 56 Woodland Drive, West Paterson NJ 07424 973-812-5100 providing by Licensed NJ home inspectors SiteMap - list - Real Estate Lawyer - Local Home Inspector Contact Info - New Jersey Mold Test - Home Inspection Checklist - New Home Inspection Checklist - Home inspector training - How to become a home inspector - Home Inspection Business - NJ home inspections
blower not working - Block construction, brick construction, CMU foundation walls - biweekly - biological pollutants - bio - bergenc - bergen - bergen - beam tilted shifted - bb - bathroom ventilation - bathroom floor - bathroom exaust fan - bathroom damaged - bathroom - base board electric heat - Bacteria-and-Viruses - back flow preventer - b6870 - B - attend home inspection - atlanticc - ashibk - ashi - ash cleanout - asbestos - asbestos containing - appliance - aluminum wiring - aluminum wiring - aluminum gas pipe - chimney movement - chimney height - chimney bricks loose - ceramic tile marble tub shower floor - ceramic tile bathroom floor marble - Ceiling vents, why ceiling vents, advantatges of ceiling vents, heating and cooling from above - ceiling radiant heat floor - ceiling heat lamp electric - ceiling heater - CAULK TUB CAULK SHOWER ENCLOSURE - caulk tub caulk shower - caulk showerpan - caulk counter - cast iron drain pipe - Cape May - Camden - Home Buyers Remorse - home buyers - home buyers remorse - burner rust draft diverter - Burlington County - Bulk Head Sea Wall - Home Inspection Brocchure - Books - Books - bottom - boiler ac furnace inopertive - Blown Fuses - home inspection contract - home inspector contract - condenser damaged dirt - concrete shower floor cement - concrete foundation - compressor condensor noise - compareus - commondefects - combustion air requirement - combustable fireplace - cold-laser - cold laser - co death - coal heat - coal burning wood burning - co - cnn - clothes dryer in garage - clean indoor air - clean evaporator coil - clay sewer pipe - city water supply - city county list4 - city county list2 - city county list - circulating water pump - circuitbreakers - chimney safety - NJ Home Inspectors, 56 Woodland Drive, West Paterson, NJ 07424 973-812-5100 - wall hung water closet - back flush water closet - up flush water closet - down flush water closets or bidets - the drain stop pivot rod is the device which lifts the drain stopper up and down in a wash basin - lavatory overflow drains are installed as safety devices - lavatory not secured to wall / countertop - a cracked vitreous china or cultured marble lavatory can be a problem - no splash-out protection noted - tub and shower surrounds - masonite or formica or plastic surround - shower or tub curtain on rod or track - pressed steel tub / shower surround: glass / plastic tub / shower door / enclosure - cultured marble / acrylics (corian ®) / granite / marble - cultured marble / acrylics (corian ®) / granite / marble - fiberglass / plastics tub shower - drywall / plaster tub / shower surround - concrete or block tub / shower surround - mastic tile means the tile has been applied to the wall material directly, using an adhesive designed for this purpose - floated tile is the best system for installing tile - water closet / bidet bowl / tank / tank lid cracked / damaged - clearance from the center of the water closet, urinal or bidet bowl to walls, vanities or other obstructions - the tank ball is a "valve" which keeps the water in the tank. having to flick or jiggle the handle after each flush to stop the water from running - flush mechanism parts damaged / missing / amiss - water closet seats are fastened to the bowl with plastic bolts - tank loose on bowl / leaks at bowl connection - bolts hold the water closet or bidet to the floor - water closet or bidet bowl loose on floor - caulk counter at wall or backsplash juncture - bathroom ventilation - electric ceiling or wall heater - infrared ceiling heat lamps are great for a little extra warmth while bathing or showering - a non-mechanical vent is a grill, or the like, placed in the ceiling or wall, which allows air to exhaust - bathroom exhaust fan - windows and ventilation for bathrooms - paint peeling paint lifting paint appears moldy - wall surround ceiling water damaged stained - flooring subfloor damaged rotted lifting / stained - baseboard rotted damaged loose stained / missing - acrylics corian granite marble vanity top materials - plastic laminate (formica ®) vanity top or back splash - gfci outlet not installed fails test - window near tub or shower does not appear to be safety glaze - windows in bathrooms ventilation - exhaust fan inoperative noisy - under-sink valves are sometimes called angle stops - free standing or wall hung lavatory - self rimming lavatory / moulded onepiece unit - hoadie ring - lavatory countertop moulded as one-piece unit - lavatory let in to tile or other materials - vitreous china lavatory - stainless steel sinks are somewhat noisy - steel enameled lavatory - medicine cabinet problems are varied - mirror loose / cracked / damaged / missing - prior leak evidence - vanity wall cabinets not secure damaged - vanity countertop loose damaged - tongue and groove sheathing lumber has a tongue on one edge and a groove on the opposite edge - sheathing is the material used to support the actual roofing materials. roof sheathing is fastened directly to the rafters - sheathing is the material fastened to rafters to support the actual roofing material. 4 x 8 foot sheets of plywood are used under almost all roofing materials - roof framing which is built at the site as "stick frame" or "cut and stack" systems. - truss roof framing system - foundation undercut footing undercut footing settled foundation tilting - Foundation settlement, foundation movement, foundation problems, foundation repair methods - foundation efflorescence slab efflorescence noted - foundation and / or, if visible, footing disintegration / exfoliation noted - foundation cracking foundation crack stemwall crack - typical foundation, stem wall or, if visible, footing crack(s) noted - pier / post / jack stand / grade beam tilted shifted / sinking - post / pole not braced / gusseted / sound - general repairs and maintenance, and a budget to carry out such unforeseen fortuities, is a must with property ownership - electric heater gas wall heater ceiling heater - heat lamp location heater location questionable - towel paper holder loose pulling from wall - wood subfloors in bathrooms are vulnerable to water damage - slate bathroom floor / terrazzo floor - wood bathroom floor, cork bathroom floors - vinyl bathroom floors coved vinyl floor - ceramic tile bathroom floor marble bathroom floor - carpteted bathroom floor - fungus, mold or mildew suspected - CAULK TUB CAULK SHOWER ENCLOSURE - caulk faucets / caulk valves / caulk spouts at fixture / caulk wall - caulk tub / shower pan to flooring - caulk corners of tub / shower surround - caulk shower pan to wall - caulk tub to wall - caulk or seal lavatory to countertop - NJ home inspections - QUESTIONABLE FRAMING TECHNIQUES AND WORKMANSHIP - EXCESSIVE SPAN / SPACING OF RAFTERS / JOISTS / STUDS / OTHER FRAMING MEMBERS - UNSAFE FRAMING MEMBER POTENTIAL / LIGHT FRAMING - SAGGING RAFTER / RIDGE / BEAM / JOIST OR FRAMING MEMBERS - CUT FRAMING CRACKED FRAMING SPLIT FRAMING DAMAGED FRAMING - Attic ventilation is necessary - pre 1900 house problems - turn of the century house problems - 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 house problems - 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 house problems - 1936 1964 1965 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 house problems - New House Problems - MASONRY WALL CRACK CONCRETE WALL CRACKED - slab heave is caused by moisture in expansive soils below the slab - SLAB CRACKS SLAB DETERIORATION - FOUNDATION SLAB SEPARATION NOTED - Foundation bolts are installed to help prevent the structure from slipping, "bouncing," or blowing off the foundation in the event of earthquake or extreme winds - FOUNDATION SECTION NOT APPARENT OR NON CONTINUOUS FOOTING NOTED - With conventional framing the structure is framed either with metal or wood framing members - base-plate, mudsill, sole-plate, sill plate, etc. In newer construction this plate is bolted to the foundation - Sill plate is the framing member which sits directly on the foundation, slab, or footing - WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION - Poured concrete walls, poured cement walls, foundation walls, retaining walls: - BLOCK / BRICK CONSTRUCTION: - Tilt-up walls are found, for the most part, in commercial construction - CONCRETE SLAB FLOOR (slab on grade) / POST-TENSION SLAB: - 2" X 6" TONGUE AND GROOVE SUBFLOORS - ONE INCH NOMINAL THICKNESS SUB FLOOR SHEATHING - Plywood or oriented strand board is commonly used - Certified Home Inspectors - Sump pumps usually operate by a float activated switching system. When water enters the sump area the float rises to the point that activates the switch - The entrance or areaway referred to here either leads down into the basement or is an opening that allows light to enter the basement - basements may require sump pump installation, the installation of french drains, or regrading of the site to properly drain excessive water from the yard - Bolts holding the frame at the sill plate are required in modern construction - Grade beams are concrete "beams" placed on or below the grade, or ground surface, between perimeter foundations or atop caissons - Posts and piers are placed under structures to help support the center sections of the structure - NONCONTINUOUS FOUNDATION AND/OR, IF VISIBLE, FOOTING / JACK STANDS: - Pole foundations are found mostly on hillsides or on beach-front properties - caisson is usually poured into a predrilled hole in the earth and a pile is usually pounded into the earth until it reaches bedrock, both serve much the same purpose - raised foundations is that they almost always have wooden floors - brick and stone foundations and/or footings are most often found in older buildings - concrete block foundation sitting on a concrete footing is one of the more common foundation systems - TERRA-COTTA FOUNDATION - CONCRETE FOUNDATION AND/OR, IF VISIBLE, CONCRETE FOOTING The foundation system is composed of two parts; the footing and the foundation wall. - EVIDENCE OF FRAME SETTLEMENT OR SHRINKAGE - DECK / PATIO COVER LOOSE / DAMAGED / PART MISSING / AMISS - GUARD OR HANDRAILS LOOSE / MISSING / DAMAGED / AMISS - DECK PLANKS LOOSE / DAMAGED / WEATHERED / NAILS LOOSE: - PORCH / PATIO COVER ANCHORING QUESTIONABLE - CARPORT / PORCH / DECK POST(S) NOT ANCHORED / DAMAGED / AMISS - LOAD BEARING LEDGER ANCHORING QUESTIONABLE: - foundation system is composed of two parts; the footing and the foundation wall. - automatic attic fan helps to ventilate the attic - oundation vents are usually required at the rate of one square foot of opening for each 150 square feet of floor space - Plywood sheathing usually has a stamp on its bottom side which indicates the maximum span allowable for the particular piece - EXCESSIVE ROOF OR SUB FLOOR SHEATHING SPAN - SILL PLATES NOT REDWOOD / CEDAR / TREATED - FOUNDATION CRIPPLE WALL TILTED / WEAK / AMISS: - Diagonal or shear bracing helps prevent buildings from "racking" or swaying. - High Volume Exaust Fan - Well Water Problems - Extractor Sewage - air/vapor barrier keeps warm moist air inside the building so that it will not condense - INSULATION COVERING RECESSED LIGHT OR VENTS - INSULATION LOOSE / OUT OF POSITION / INCOMPLETE - insulation insufficent - ATTIC OBSERVED FROM ACCESS OPENING ONLY - traverse the attic or attic crawl area only partially - attic not traversed - appliance vents which have separated allowing exhaust gases to superheat nearby framing members - KITCHEN / BATH / LAUNDRY VENTILATION TERMINATES IN ATTIC - Credit Repair - roof leak evidenced by stains on rafters, etc., or he or she may have actually noted a leak during rains. - Debris in an attic usually results from roof replacement, especially if the old roof was wood shingles. - An appliance vent chase or chimney chase is the framed area between floors or within a wall which surrounds the heater exhaust vent - ATTIC VENTILATION INSUFFICIENT / SCREENS / COVER PLATE MISSING - ATTIC FAN / WHOLE-HOUSE FAN - Minium attic access opening - Thickness of the insulating material generally would indicate the R-value of the material. Each material has its own characteristic measurement - air/vapor barrier keeps warm moist air inside the building so that it will not condense - RIGID SHEET INSULATION: - Cellulose insulation, paper products, wood fibers, which is shredded and milled into a fluffy, low density material, then treated with fire chemicals, usually boric acid. Fiberglass which is made of the same material as that used in batts but left loose. Rock wool which is made of the same material as that used in batts, but left loose - Batt type insulation consists of flexible strips of insulation in pre-cut widths and lengths. It is designed to fit between structural members, such as, rafters or joists. - Subterranean parking is most often found in association with commercial buildings, condominiums, and apartments. - "Mobile home" is checked by the inspector if the unit is supported by jack stands or other temporary supports and has all the characteristics of a mobile home - An apartment is a room or suite of rooms designed as a residence and generally located in a building occupied by more than one ho - condominium, whether residential or commercial, is real estate, such as a unit in an apartment or commercial complex or a parking space in a garage, that combines fee simple title to the unit and joint ownership in the common elements shared with other unit owners. - A single-family residence is one, according to code, that is to be occupied by one person or one family - Floor joists and wood structural floors without joists should be at least 18" above grade under buildings - between earth and untreated wood is 8 inches with the absolute minimum being 2 inches - Cracked earth may mean moisture has been present and may be seasonal and may return during the rainy season - Debris in the attic or under the building can be a fire hazard and may invite rodents or termites to the area - ventilation under the structure is necessary to maintain a "healthy" atmosphere and environment for the structure. Foundation vents - CRAWL-HOLE OR ENTRANCE TO UNDER FLOOR AREA TOO SMALL / COVER MISSING / AMISS - Contact Us West Paterson, NJ 07424 973-812-5100 alumiumn wireing hazards - alkaline soil corrosive soil - aluminum wire - air fuel adjustment - Air cleaning Devices - agent - adword - add_link to home inspector web site - ac unit support - ac temperature drop - acrylics corian granite marble vanity top materials - acdrawtest - ac condenser evaporator - ac condensate drain - air conditioning - abx pipe - about real estate inspections - about home inspector - about home inspections - Be aware that heavily insulated attic areas are not traversed. Damp under floor areas are not traversed. - major foundation or other structural failures in the event of unusual weather or earthquakes. - WOOD BORING OR OTHER INSECTS / RODENTS / BIRDS POSSIBLE - Wood deterioration occurs when wood gets wet and cannot dry out with the circulation of air - PEST INSPECTION REPORT WOOD ROT AND WOOD BORING INSECT INFORMATION - Pest Inspection Company as soon as possible. The Visual inspection service is not a pest inspection - perfect in appearance and the work may be old or new modifications - REVIEW BY QUALIFIED LICENSED CONTRACTOR ADVISED - The sub-area could not be reviewed. This is an Access-Impaired situation - excessive moisture, or hazardous circumstances under the building prevented physical access - -area may be wet preventing the inspector from safely moving about - fully view the sub-area or under-floor crawl area. - Home Inspector - Home Inspector - mesothelioma - Home Inspector Classes, home inspection classes, home inspector certification, how to become a home home inspector - foundation slab - radon counter top granite - Federal Pacific Company - Stab-Lok Circuit Breaker Federal Pacific Company -

Home inspector New Jersey Home Inspection NJ