Structure problems and structure issues.

When inspecting the Structure of a home we will: 
Inspect the foundation; floors; walls; ceilings; and roof;  describe the foundation construction type and material; floor construction type and material; wall construction type and material; ceiling construction type and material; and roof construction type and material;

We will probe structural components where deterioration is suspected unless such probing would damage any finished surface. 

We will describe in the home inspection report the methods used to inspect under- floor crawl spaces and attics.

Termites and New Jersey are frequently used in the same sentence New Jersey Termite NJ.  Here are some things you could do to help avoid termite damage and infestation. 

Some facts about masonry and how masonry is used in New Jersey Homes. 

HOW TO HELP AVOID HOME STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS    
Water that strikes the home or drips down from the roof should drain away from the foundation walls. The gutter and downspout system should keep water from pooling around the foundation where it can create a moisture problem. Be sure gutters and downspouts are kept open and in good repair. 

Trim shrubs and bushes away from the foundation walls. Clearance space should be at least one foot. 

Check masonry foundation walls for cracks or weakened, crumbling mortar. 

Examine main support beams, support columns, and floor joists for evidence of bowing or warping. 

Check wood structural members, such as joists, beams, and columns, with a screwdriver or pocket knife to be sure wood is solid and free from decay. 

Check the inside and outside of all foundation walls and piers for termite tubes and damage. You may choose to have an insect-control company to do this each year. 

Check that the crawl space vapor barrier is in good condition and placed correctly. A vapor barrier is usually a polyethylene material (6-mil) that covers 70 to 100 percent of the crawl space, depending on the severity of the moisture problem. 

Examine the inside of basement walls for dampness or water stains indicating seepage or a leak. 

In this area of the country, water lines and outside faucets need some freeze protection or winter drainage. 

In addition, garden hoses should be drained and stored for the winter. 

Clean leaves and debris from around an outside heating/air conditioning condenser and trim back shrubs that may block air movement around the home. 

Yard care power equipment should be drained of fuel in the late fall or early winter and serviced according to manufacturer's instructions. 

Doorways, below grade window wells, and storm drains should be cleaned of debris or leaves. 

Driveways and walks should be checked for cracks, breaks, or erosion that may damage them. If asphalt surfaces need repairing, be certain you have the equipment and skill to do a lasting repair job. Otherwise, choose a reputable contractor. Unrepaired cracks in concrete can lead to further damage. 

Clean and repair garden equipment after the last use of the season. Remove dirt and rust, then store in dry area. Winter is a good time to file rough spots on hoes and shovels and to apply linseed oil to handles of garden tools. Thoroughly rinse pesticide and herbicide sprayers to prevent clogging, and rinse fertilizer spreaders to prevent corrosion. 

Fences, gates, and retaining walls should be checked for ease of operation, condition of structure, and materials. Make repairs as needed. 

More information about structures

POST / POLE NOT BRACED / GUSSETED / SOUND
PIER / POST / JACK STAND / GRADE BEAM TILTED SHIFTED / SINKING
TYPICAL FOUNDATION, STEM WALL OR, IF VISIBLE, FOOTING CRACK(S) NOTED
MODERATE / MAJOR FOUNDATION, STEM WALL OR, IF VISIBLE, FOOTING CRACK(S) NOTED
FOUNDATION AND / OR, IF VISIBLE, FOOTING DISINTEGRATION / EXFOLIATION NOTED
FOUNDATION / SLAB EFFLORESCENCE NOTED 
EVIDENCE OF FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
FOUNDATION / FOOTING UNDERCUT / SETTLED / LIFTED / TILTING 
FOUNDATION SECTION NOT APPARENT OR NON CONTINUOUS FOOTING NOTED 
FOUNDATION BOLTS / ANCHORS NOT INSTALLED / AMISS 
FOUNDATION-SLAB SEPARATION NOTED
SLAB CRACKS / DETERIORATION NOTED 
SLAB UNEVEN / HEAVED
MASONRY / CONCRETE WALLS CRACKED / DAMAGED / AMISS 
CUT / CRACKED / SPLIT / DAMAGED FRAMING MEMBER 
SAGGING RAFTER / RIDGE / BEAM / JOIST OR FRAMING MEMBERS 
UNSAFE FRAMING MEMBER POTENTIAL / LIGHT FRAMING 
EXCESSIVE SPAN / SPACING OF RAFTERS / JOISTS / STUDS / OTHER FRAMING MEMBERS
QUESTIONABLE FRAMING TECHNIQUES AND WORKMANSHIP 
SHEAR (DIAGONAL) BRACING RECOMMENDED 
FOUNDATION CRIPPLE WALL TILTED / WEAK / AMISS 
SILL PLATES NOT REDWOOD / CEDAR / TREATED 
EXCESSIVE ROOF OR SUB FLOOR SHEATHING SPAN 
LOAD BEARING LEDGER ANCHORING QUESTIONABLE 
CARPORT / PORCH / DECK POST(S) NOT ANCHORED / DAMAGED / AMISS 
PORCH / PATIO COVER ANCHORING QUESTIONABLE 
DECK PLANKS LOOSE / DAMAGED / WEATHERED / NAILS LOOSE 
GUARD OR HANDRAILS LOOSE / MISSING / DAMAGED / AMISS 
DECK / PATIO COVER LOOSE / DAMAGED / PART MISSING / AMISS 
EVIDENCE OF FRAME SETTLEMENT OR SHRINKAGE 
PRIOR / PRESENT MOISTURE NOTED IN BASEMENT OR CRAWLSPACE 
ENTRANCE / AREAWAY LIGHT OR WINDOW WELL DRAINAGE / DOOR / STEPS AMISS / QUESTIONABLE
SUMP PUMP INOPERATIVE / AMISS 
CRAWL-HOLE OR ENTRANCE TO UNDER FLOOR AREA TOO SMALL / COVER MISSING / AMISS 
VENTILATION INSUFFICIENT / SCREENS MISSING / AMISS 
CELLULOSE DEBRIS PRESENT UNDER BUILDING 
CRACKED EARTH UNDER / NEAR STRUCTURE 
EARTH TO WOOD DISTANCE QUESTIONABLE OR INSUFFICIENT 
CLEARANCE UNDER BUILDING INSUFFICIENT FOR ACCESS 
ATTIC ACCESS TOO SMALL / COVER DAMAGED / MISSING / AMISS 
ATTIC FAN / WHOLE-HOUSE FAN INOPERATIVE / AMISS 
ATTIC VENTILATION INSUFFICIENT / SCREENS / COVER PLATE MISSING / AMISS 
NO FIRESTOP IN APPLIANCE VENT / CHIMNEY CHASE 
DEBRIS PRESENT IN ATTIC 
ROOF LEAK EVIDENCE NOTED 
KITCHEN / BATH / LAUNDRY VENTILATION TERMINATES IN ATTIC 
APPLIANCE VENT TOO CLOSE TO COMBUSTIBLES / SEPARATED / AMISS 
INSULATION INSUFFICIENT / MISSING / COMPRESSED / AMISS 
INSULATION LOOSE / OUT OF POSITION / INCOMPLETE 
INSULATION COVERING RECESSED LIGHT OR VENTS 
AIR / VAPOR / MOISTURE BARRIER NOT INSTALLED / AMISS 
REVIEW BY QUALIFIED LICENSED CONTRACTOR ADVISED
REMODEL EVIDENCE NOTED 
PEST INSPECTION ADVISED 
REVIEW PEST INSPECTION REPORT WOOD ROT AND WOOD BORING INSECT INFORMATION
WOOD DETERIORATION NOTED ON BUILDING MEMBER 
WOOD BORING OR OTHER INSECTS / RODENTS / BIRDS POSSIBLE 
UNEXPECTED REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE 
ACCESS IMPAIRED 
FACTORY TRUSS ROOF FRAMING SYSTEM 
SITE FRAMED ROOF FRAMING SYSTEM 
PLYWOOD / OSB ROOF SHEATHING
SPACED / BUTTED ROOF SHEATHING 
2"x 6" or 1"x 6" TONGUE AND GROOVE ROOF SHEATHING 
PLYWOOD / OSB SUB-FLOORING 
ONE INCH NOMINAL THICKNESS SUB FLOOR SHEATHING 
2" X 6" TONGUE AND GROOVE SUBFLOORS
CONCRETE SLAB FLOOR (slab on grade) / POST-TENSION SLAB 
TILT-UP CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION 
BLOCK / BRICK CONSTRUCTION 
Poured concrete walls, poured cement walls, foundation walls, retaining walls 
FRAME CONSTRUCTION
Post-tensioned slab preparation. . 
TREATED SILL / SOLE PLATE 
OTHER SILL / SOLE PLATES 
WOOD FRAMING 
1984 TO PRESENT 
1963 TO 1983 
1950 TO 1962  
1930 TO 1949 
1900 TO 1929 
PRE-1900 
ATTIC VENTILATION 
FOUNDATION VENTS 
ATTIC FAN 
TERRA-COTTA FOUNDATION AND/OR, IF VISIBLE, FOOTING 
BLOCK FOUNDATION (FOAM / CONCRETE) 
CONCRETE FOUNDATION AND/OR, IF VISIBLE, CONCRETE FOOTING 
BRICK / STONE FOUNDATIONS AND/OR, IF VISIBLE, FOOTING 
RAISED / BELOW-GRADE FOUNDATION SYSTEM 
CAISSONS or PILES 
POLE / COLUMN 
NONCONTINUOUS FOUNDATION AND/OR, IF VISIBLE, FOOTING / JACK STANDS 
POST AND PIER OR POST AND BEAM 
BOLTED SILL PLATE 
GRADE BEAMS 
BASEMENT
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 
CONDO / HOA / TOWNHOUSE 
DUPLEX / MULTIUNIT / COMMERCIAL 
MOBILE HOME / MANUFACTURED HOME 
SUBTERRANEAN PARKING 
BATT OR BLANKET TYPE INSULATION 
LOOSE FILL INSULATION 
RIGID SHEET INSULATION 
AIR / VAPOR / MOISTURE BARRIER 
APPROXIMATE INSULATION THICKNESS 
ATTIC FULLY TRAVERSED 
ATTIC PARTIALLY TRAVERSED 
ATTIC OBSERVED FROM ACCESS OPENING ONLY 
SUB AREA FULLY TRAVERSED 
SUB AREA PARTIALLY TRAVERSED 
SUB AREA OBSERVED FROM ACCESS OPENING ONLY 
SUB AREA NOT REVIEWED 

File last updated May 22, 2012 * Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved by: Accurate Inspections, Inc. A New Jersey home inspection firm 56 Woodland Drive, Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson) NJ 07424 973-812-5100 providing New Jersey Certified Home Inspections in NJ, by New Jersey Licensed home inspectors. Inspector of record Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector License GI 0121.

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