This is a picture of the underside of the rear deck where it attaches to the home. Flashing appears to be properly installed. Though deck is bolted through the ledger board and sheathing to the inside of the home, no washers were used here on the outside. Bolts would have been easier to check for tightness if they had been installed with the nuts on the outside, rather than toward the inside and above the basement ceiling.
The footing of the post that support the post should be built below the frost line. Also if there is no frost line in the warm climate area, should be built in the undisturbed soil. The post should be firmly installed and connected to the footing.
The NEC requires one outdoor electrical receptacle at the front and back of a home. As of 2008 an outdoor receptacle needs also to be installed within the perimeter of any balcony, porch, or deck that is accessible from inside the home.
Inspecting a Deck:
I was surprised to see the high number of decks that are suspected of being unsafe. Progressing through the course, I am amazed to think back to the number of decks I have been on or even seen built that do not meet these standards. I think it will be important to educate the client of the importance of regular maintenance, even if their deck appears to have been properly constructed.
This is a redwood deck attached with a ledger board to the wall frame. It has proper flashing above, but is missing flashing under. The deck averages 18 inches above grade and has no handrails.Decks greater than 12 inches above grade should have a handrail, although some jurisdictions call for 30 inches before hand rails are needed.The joists are 1 by 10 spaced 16 inches on center
I chose this image of a deck and the baluster spacing. It shows how there is a maximum of 4 inch spacing between each baluster. There is also shows post every 5 feet, which is needed when building decks properly/safely.
An article on deck inspection states that 60% of all decks are unsafe.90% of decks collapsing are from the ledger board failure. Proper ledger board attachment guidelines, and design of structural support are critical.Deck stairs are notorious for not having graspable handrails.
I choose an image that shows various character models that depict the proper attire for a home inspector. They vary from simple t-shirt and shorts all the way to the other end of the spectrum with a suit and tie.
Upon inspection of the deck, damaged wood was observed at the steps and deck railings due to dry rot and / or termite activity. A pest control specialist should be contacted for further investigation. Any damaged wood should be replaced.
I believe the best practice for home inspectors is have the client sign the inspection agreement. in times where I know the client will not be attending, it is best to email the agreement before the inspection, have the client sign it and email it back.
This is a picture of a deck from my household. The spindles and balusters are spaced properly so they meet code. Nothing about this deck has any problems with relation to the standards of practice. The entire deck is a fairly new build.
Garage doors are mechanical devices that get a lot of usage. Each year there are 20,000 visits to the ER due to garage door related injuries. Inspectors should never fix a garage door but only inspect them so they remain safe to operate.
This is an image of a deck being properly built. The posts are pressure treated and are cemented to the top of soil level. The deck supports are placed into a cut notch in the posts. This is proper deck post and support installation.
I choose the articles on deck inspections. This article goes over proper deck inspection procedures, what caught my eye the most was the pick test. I have never even thought that way about testing to see if the wood is in either bad or good condition. I even went outside and tested it on my daughters swing set.
This appears to be a deck expansion that covered access to the septic tank. Instead of covering the access up they decided to add a removable section of the deck. Since the deck appears to only be elevated 4 inch of the ground and the removable section unitizes hangers. I do not see a safety concern with this configuration.
“Garbage Disposals for Inspectors”
Garbage disposals are used to grind food waste into smaller pieces so they will not clog the pipes. You should not use a garbage disposal if you have a septic system. This could cause undo stress of the septic system
In this photo we see that the wood from the platform attached to the deck is in contact with the earth. The can cause the wood to rot and cause the structure to become unsafe. Recommend repair by a qualified professional.
When inspecting a roof structure, the inspector is allowed to inspect from ground level or the eaves. The inspector is not required to walk on any roof. The inspector shall inspect the roof covering material, the gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing, skylights chimney, ant other roof penetrations. Also the inspector should inspect the general structure of the roof from the readily accessible panels, doors, or stairs.
Picuted is the deck on the back of a home that appears to have been primed for painting, but not painted. In addition to not being painted, the original wood, non-treated lumber, is exposed to the elements. This makes the deck very susceptable to moisture intrusion and possible damage.
After reading, “Deck Receptacles,” I was reminded about something I learned in in these courses that surprised me. Prior to taking these courses and learning about home inspecting, I was not aware that homes build after 2005 and 2008 had such requirements for exterior receptables. I had always thought of them as conveniences prior.