The picture above shows insulation that is not evenly spread. I recommend it to be further evaluated and corrected by a qualified contractor.
Four main steps when installing attic insulation:
- Install roof baffles in order to maintain free flow of outside air
- Install baffles around electrical fixtures
- Install vapor barrier, make sure it faces the interior of the house
- Apply the insulation
I read the article on installing attic insulation. Attic insulation is used to combat heat and energy loss in a home. There are many types of attic insulation, including batt and blown. When applying attic insulation, first step would be to install baffles to allow the passage of air from the eaves. This gap must be a minimum of 1 inch. The next step is to place baffles around electrical fixtures. These may become hot during use and covering them with insulation allows them to overheat. Step three is to install a vapor barrier. and last step is to apply the insulation.
Hi folks,
This image was taken in the winter. The window is covered with ice on the inside indicating a higher than normal humidity level in the home. Water vapor in the air is condensing on the cold glass surface on the inside of the window and almost instantly freezing. It was discovered during the inspection that the owners were using an un-vented gas heater. While I could find no defects with the heater, I did advise them to use extreme caution with un-vented heat and to never leave the unit unattended. Better yet would be budget to have the un-vented heater removed and install central heat of some kind.
Water pressure at time of inspection was 80 psi or higher. Water pressure should be in range of 40 -80 psi. When main pressure exceeds 80 psi an approved pressure reducing valve should be installed on the domestic water branch main or riser at the connection to the water service pipe. Corrections should be reviewed by a licensed plumbing contractor.
During the garage inspection, I noticed that the springs on this door were bent and the springs stretched out of shape. The garage doors still worked properly, however, I recommended that the springs will need to be replaced soon.
Bathroom ventilation fans take moisture and pollutants from the air inside bathrooms. The fan is usually controlled by a switch, a timer can be installed to keep the fan from overheating. A humidistat can also be installed which will activate the fan automatically when a certain amount of humidity is detected. The fan should be vented through a non-flexible 4 inch duct to the exterior of the building. Duct termination at exterior should be fitted with a flap or louvered type damper to prevent intrusion from birds, rodents and insects.
To prevent microbial growth (mold) and moisture from forming inside the structure, ventilation fan ducting should never be terminated in the attic or crawlspace.
The thermal image I’ve uploaded is of a window. The thermal image shows warm air leaking into the air-conditioned house around the window. This would be noted in the report as a defect.
Good course, a little technical for Home Inspections.
Mold is in all homes. It can grow if it has moisture, oxygen and a food source and is linked to many health issues. Because mold is increasingly linked to health problems, new methods of detection and remediation are being developed. This article is on one of these methods called abrasive blasting. The abrasive mediums most commonly used are sodium bicarbonate and dry ice.
Abrasive blasting is superior to traditional methods primarily because it is both faster and more effective. Hard-to-reach places can easily be treated using this method. Dry ice blasting involves three phases. Energy transfer occurs when dry ice pellets are shot out of a nozzle at supersonic speeds, impacting the surface a knocking the mold loose. The temperature of the dry ice (-78 C or -108.4F) as it makes contact with the surface of the affected area breaks down surface tension between the mold, as well as other contaminants, and the substrate being cleaned. Finally, as the dry ice rapidly warms, thermal expansion takes place which further loosens contaminants from the affected area.
Regardless of the blasting technique used, the process is not complete until the area has been vacuumed with a HEPA filter- equipped vacuum cleaner. This assures that the mold spores that have now been made airborne are cleaned up along with any debris created in the blasting process.
The picture I took is of a stairs to a basement and it’s guard rail. The guard rail is secure and has less than 4" spaces between the balusters. There is no hand rail, I recommend one be installed to code specifications, for safety. There is more than a 3’ by 3’ landing at both the top and bottom and the stair well is well lit.
For my portion of the research assignment. I went to the electrical portion of the gallery. I noticed photos of double tapped breakers. But during an inspection you also want to look for double tapped neutral bar. I’ve have attached a photo as an example.
I did my research article on thermalimaging reports. An infraredinspection can identify and document moisture intrusion, energy loss, and evenunexpected hot spots. The article speaksto the Do’s and Don’ts of using infrared technology and how to interpret theresults as accurately and reasonably as possible. Also to explain to your client thelimitations and capabilities of Infrared technology. Results should provide yourclient with actionable information in order to proceed with necessary repairsshould be the purpose of using infrared and not to overwhelm you client withtechnical language or alarm them. Befactual in your report and give an explanation of results found. A good point in the article was to treat theinspection as if it were your own home and remember that the client’s safety isyour first concern.
How to Inspect the Attic, Insulation, Ventilation and Interior Course
When inspecting for proper egress on exterior door ways. It is very important that you can unlock the exterior doors without any type of specialized mechanical devices and or keys. The attached picture shows the proper type deadbolt and doorknob assembly to properly secure the structure and having ease for egress when needed in an emergency.
Hello,
My question is: Are garage installed attic pull downstairs to be fire rated?
While inspecting an attic space, I found, among other things, leaks in the duct connections. There was evidence of using fabric duct tape that had degraded and was no longer connected to the duct. The majority of the duct connections utilized foil tape and was in good condition. (See photo with red circles showing the issues mentioned).
Child-Proofing Stairs and Windows
**I read the article which addresses safety hazards of stairs and windows and how to properly child-proof them. **
Stairways are like magnets for small children and safety gates are an ideal solution. The gates are portable, easily opened by an adult and easily re-secured. There are pressure mounted gates but the hardware mounted gates are preferred for stairs. Pressure mounted are good for room separations where falls are not as hazardous.
When children outgrow the need for a safety gate, there is still the danger of getting caught in the stair railings. Railings should be between 34 and 38 inches tall on at least one side and balustrades should be no more 4" apart.
Most window dangers can be removed by simply not allowing anything near the window that a child could use to climb up to the window height. Child-proof latches are available to prevent a child from opening a window. There are also window guards available, which contain some form of bar array or barrier in a frame that is easily removed by an adult but no by children.
An inspector would be wise to point out possible dangers and suggest remedies to the homeowner but these would not be part of the formal inspection report.
upon inspection of the ceiling i discovered water damage. closer inspection reviealed rotten wood, mold and drywll dmage. i recomend that a contractor be called to write a estimate for repairs
attic insulation inspection.
The aim should be to insulate the living space of the house while allowing the roof to remain the same temperature as the outside.
When inspecting the attic, look behind the baffles to see if there is any misplaced insulation obstructing the natural air flow, and check the roof vents to make sure that outside air is exhausting properly. Check for a moisture barrier under the insulation. Also, look for spots where the insulation is compacted; it may need to be fluffed out.
This is a picture of wet attic insulation. Not only is this evidence of a leak but wet insulation loses its effectiveness, and provides a breeding ground for mold. The inspector should recommend fixing the leak and replacing the insulation.