Healthy Homes 7: Environmental Barriers Course

This thread is dedicated exclusively for those students currently enrolled in InterNACHI’s free, online Healthy Homes 7: Environmental Barriers Course.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Detect the sources of moisture intrusion within roofs, insulation, and siding; inspect susceptible areas of the roof that may be compromised; and identify issues within different types of siding.

Students are free to pose questions and comments here and join in the conversation with other students. The thread will be monitored by the course instructor.

Contact: Chief Academic Officer, Ben Gromicko ben@internachi.org

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

Aluminum siding is a good exterior material for residential applications. As observed in the photo aluminum siding is prone to hail damage and damage from objects striking it. It can be difficult to repair due to trying to match the original siding to the repair material.

Research & Writing Assignment:

Aluminum siding is a good exterior material for residential applications. As observed in the photo aluminum siding is prone to hail damage and damage from objects striking it. It can be difficult to repair due to trying to match the original siding to the repair material.

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

To insure that a home is safe from moisture intrusion, it is critical to have a roof that protects it. In the attached photograph, you will notice decking that is not level. This could be the result of decking that was incorrectly installed or moisture issue within the home.

Research & Writing Assignment:

I reviewed the article entitle House-Moving. I have saw homes being moved but had never thought of all of the variables involved with the process. The article brought to light the fact that it may be more cost effective to relocate a home than it is to demolish it on-site.

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

Brick masonry is one of the best forms of siding for durability but it can crack and move. When this happens moisture can enter the structure and cause even more damage. It is essential that all cracks need to be filled to stop moisture intrusion.

Research & Writing Assignment:

condensation in double pained windows occur when the seal has been broken and lets the gas escape and fills with air. Air has moisture which will gather on the cool glass and is known as condensation. There is no fix for this the window has to be replaced.

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

The siding in the image is clearly damaged. Quite possibly this damage has been caused by water intrusion. The source of the damage should be located and both the source stopped and the siding repaired. If left uncorrected, this problem could allow significant amounts of water into the interior of the structure.

Research & Writing Assignment:

Insulation in the home is extremely important both for energy efficiency and comfort. Unfortunately, sometimes this insulation can be installed incorrectly causing more harm than good. Insulation should have a vapor barrier and the vapor barrier should be installed toward the warm-in-winter (interior) side of the wall or ceiling. If installed incorrectly, the vapor barrier will actually trap moisture in the insulation. This causes a degradation in the insulating properties and could lead to mold growth inside the wall or ceiling.

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

In this attic there was a white discoloration on the framing and common boards. This white discoloration is caused from moisture intrusion into the home from a bath vent that is venting directly into the attic. Further testing should be done to determine if the white discoloration is a mold growth. Contact a contractor to estimate the cost of repair.

Research & Writing Assignment:

What is a AFCI Tester? These tester are small hand held devices that test if AFCI are working properly. They produce electrical current the same as a arc faults, making AFCIs trip. These AFCIs are bigger and cost more than ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), and are not commonly used as a GFCI detector would be. F

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

The attached photo shows the roof line against the skyline. The ridge is straight and true with the ridge vent appearing in good condition. Shingles are architectural design and also appear to be in very good condition. This roof does not show any visible signs of problems which could be verified from inside the attic.

Research & Writing Assignment:

Mastering roof inspections, assessing the roof is a good place to start before mounting or walking a roof. It is important to be able to evaluate roof pitch, assess roofing material and condition, and understand your own comfort level with walking a roof. Never take anything for granted and use proper safety precautions before you climb that ladder.

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

Here is a photo of metal siding improperly installed around a hose bib, wood sheathing or framing is exposed. In Oregon most residences have a wooden or wood composite siding. When I see metal or vinyl siding it is usually installed over some other siding, often due to peeling lead based paint on the first layer of siding.

Research & Writing Assignment:

I read an article about Steel Siding. Steel Siding has not been very popular on homes, it often corrodes, is more expensive than other siding types and is more difficult to install. I remember attending an inspection class taught by a contractor who had been doing siding repairs for over 30 years. Someone asked him what siding he would use if he were building a house for himself, he thought for a while and said Steel, maybe aluminum. I am very happy with the performance of cement fiber siding in wet Western Oregon and am a little saddened to see contractors going back to wood composite siding on new houses.

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

The photo shows a house that is under construction. The outside is being prepared for stucco. Three coats of stucco will be applied to the outside of the house. The first coat of stucco is a rough coat which is a base for the second coat to adhere to. The second coat is a smooth scratch coat that acts as a base for the third coat. The third coat, called the finish coat, contains the color and the final surface texture.

Research & Writing Assignment:

The article “Asbestos Cement Siding Inspection” makes several important points. Asbestos cement is a composite of Portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibers. The first Asbestos siding was manufactured in 1907 and rapidly became popular throughout America because of its heat resistant quality. In 1973 the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of asbestos siding because the health hazard it represents. Asbestos has been associated with a form of lung cancer called asbestosis and mesothelioma which have proven to be fatal. Home inspectors must be aware of the potential health hazards and take precautions to protect themselves and the public. Asbestos remediation should only be performed by licensed abatement professionals.

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

The photo shows a ridge line that is sagging. This is usually an indication of roof framing issues. The roof felt spongy to walk on. In the attic several rafters were found to be rotten from extensive roof leaks and insulation was wet.

Research & Writing Assignment:

In the article about vinyl siding inspection, the author states that vinyl siding is the cladding most often encountered by Home Inspectors. When properly installed vinyl siding has many advantages like long life, and color fade resistance. It is also dent resistant and rust proof.

Inspection & Writing Assignment:

Properly installation of a home’s insulation system is a critical component in preventing moisture intrusion which can also lead to potential mold growth and poor indoor air quality. Poor insulation can also allow the “conditioned” interior air to escape thus increasing your energy costs.