Aerogels are a porous, solid material that is beginning to be used more and more for building insulation due to a decrease in the price. The cost is still too high for widespread use but when it is used it does not disappoint in that it is an environmentally friendly material that serves as an outstanding insulator. Since it is composed of almost entirely gas, which is a poor heat conductor, it can almost nullify all three heat conductors. Even NASA uses Aerogels to protect astronauts and equipment from the extremely cold temperatures of space.
Keep in mind that Aerogels will be more common in the future and home inspectors will have to understand how to handle the material. They are not dangerous but they could irritate skin, eyes, mucous membranes, the respiratory tract, and the digestive system. Be sure to protect yourself with gloves and goggles when handling Aerogels.
This exterior door swings inward and has a storm door that swings outward. The landing on each side of the door meets the 36 inch requirement. The width of the door is 36", which is the minimum width for an egress door.
I read about aluminum siding. Aluminum siding is lightweight, durable, and can be painted. It repels water well, and unlike wood siding will not rot. However, it dents more easily than other sidings, and shows scratches more readily.
As we all know, water can be introduced by penetrations in the roof. Because of these penetrations, it is very important to have a good maintenance of the flashing. Proper installation is crucial to avoid leakage and damage to the structure. Flashing that is in poor condition as broken or corroded should be immediately replaced.
Inspector exams with too many difficult-to-answer questions are harmful to consumers.
I find the reasoning behind how the questions are weighted to very beneficial and actually very logical. Not much else to say except I will be a Mr. Newbie for awhile.
People who want to grow old in their own home and not depend on someone else, or lose their autonomy should consult an inspector to make an analysis of the changes needed to adapt the house to the needs and limitations that come with age. Changes that allow to have a safer and more comfortable life.
Photo electric eye sensors project invisible light beam across the inside of the garage door to ensure that if anything is coming in or going out, that the door automatically reverses before hitting anything or anyone. Federal law states that residential garage door openers manufactured after 1992 must be equipped with photo electric eyes or some other safety-reverse feature. Photo electric eyes must be installed near the floor, mounted to the left and right sides of the bottom rails or interior wall.The beam of the photo electric eyes should not be higher than6 inches above the floor.
Upon inspection of the exterior of the building I found the windows to be in need of repair. The glazing putty was loose and falling apart, windows are also in need painting. Recommend having a window professional out to further inspect the windows to determine wether the windows can be repaired or should be replaced.
For my research I chose to read a article on a garage inspection. The article was very useful and had detailed pictures showing what was cause for concern. One of the issues was that someone had altered the truss system greatly reducing the strength and integrity of the component. There was also issues with the size of the joist hangers and fasteners used attach them to the structure. This was a good article to better show in detail a couple of issues you might actually run into in the field. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to better understand what types of things to be looking for.
The attached picture is of a gutter system that is installed to prevent water from running down the roof and onto the screened-in-patio. The main issue here is the amount of debris that has collected inside of the gutters. This is an issue because once they start getting cluttered, flow of the water slows down inside the gutter and can cause them to overflow. When overflowing happens it can cause multiple issues with the worst being water seeping under the end shingles and causing damage to the sheathing and fascia.
Tobacco odor can be very hard thing to eliminate in a home. I go back to when I was in the market for a used truck and I found one I really liked. The only issue with it was that it had a very strong odor of smoke in it and it was very big turn-off especially for my wife. The dealership offered to perform a process where they try to remove the smoke smell from the vehicle. After two attempts to remove the odor, it was still unsuccessful. I would believe that this would be a big issue in a house that has tobacco odor in it as well. After reading the article I was amazed at how many different parts of the house can absorb the odor. I feel the best way to try and eliminate the odor would be to remove any fabric and carpeting, change all the light bulbs out, re paint the walls, and change all of the filters in the house. There are some different techniques that can be used to help capture the odor like using baking soda, vinegar, coffee grounds, and charcoal. Depending on how long this house was smoked in could be a big factor. If it had been smoked in for years then it might be almost impossible to eliminate the odor without total renovation of main components.
In evaluating the exterior of the house, I evaluated the landscaping around the house. There is large pine tree that overhangs the roof. There is a significant build up of pine needles under the tree and on the roof. This can cause drainage problems, put excess wear on the roof and can be a safety issue due to fire issues.
In regards to exterior reading assignment, I read the article on aluminum siding. The article discusses that aluminum siding was first seen in the 1920’s and became popular in the 1940’s through the 1970’s. A couple of the advantages was that it was light weight, fairly durable and water resistant. Some of the disadvantages was that it dented easily, a scratch showed up obviously and painting regarding a special process.
Given that wood and its respected derivatives are mainstays of residential home construction, proper exterior maintnance and landscaping are crucial items with respect to the inspection process. Trees and large vegetation close to the structure while popular for asctetic purposes can be financially costly if left unchecked. Overhanging branches easily lead to clogged gutters and roof drainage as well as potential contact with the structure itself. Especially in regions where high moisture and humidity are common, identifying and examining potential moisture infusion is crucial for the inspection process.
I chose to inspect the site drainage for this particular property. After inspecting, I found several areas such as this one in the photo that show signs of erosion, possibly caused by rainwater. This would be pointed out as a possible need of repair.
I chose to research how a sump pump works, since they are very uncommon in our area of the US. A pit, known as a sump pit or sump trench, can be dug at the lowest part of the basement floor to capture and contain any flowing water. A sump pump sits at the bottom of this trench (or beside it) and expels excess water through a series of interconnected pipes to a suitable discharge location. The pump can sense water levels through a float that rises and falls with fluctuating water levels in the trench. The sump pump becomes activated and deactivated based on the height of the float, providing a simple, automated way to monitor and deal with variable water levels.
Here I,m visually inspecting the home exterior for proper drainage. The surrounding natural grade appears to be within the slope compliance. Gutter and downspouts are in working order. No recommendations are needed.
I’m writing an essay about ladder safety. It’s important to know what ladder safety is about before using one. Facing the ladder when climbing up or down, having the proper ladder while around electrical lines to help prevent electrical shock are important for an inspector to know.
The door that leads from the garage into a dwelling unit must have several features that are overlooked by homeowners. These items are easy to verify and mitigate and are very important in preventing a fire hazard in your home. The photo I took belongs to house I’m renting. The garage door has the proper width and is of solid wood. However, the seal around the door is damaged and the door doesn’t have a self closing mechanism. This may cause exhaust fumes or smoke to enter into the home.
