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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 - 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. -
