Since our Barbecue season is in full swing seems like a great time for safety with this style of cooking. The propane style of grill that most people use seem to be the most dangerous. Grills should always be inspected before use. Especially the first time of a new season when they have sat for awhile. Propane tanks should always be stored away from the grill. Each time a new tank is installed it should be checked for leaks by using a mix of water and soap or a gas leak detector. Caution should always be used around children and pets. Grills should never be left unattended. Once cooking is done the grill should be allowed to cool completely before covering and or storing. Charcoal and electric grills should be used in appropriate cooking matters also.
I read the article 10 ways to save money and energy in your home. I learned valuable ways to save money in my pocket by doing things like changing the light bulbs I use. Going to a tankless water heater is one that caught my eye. This article opened my eyes to things I will be doing in my own home to save money and energy.
The debris on the roof shows that the trees are to close and should be trimmed to prevent leaves and branches from falling onto the roof. Branches falling onto the roof can damage the shingles and create weak areas for water penetration to happen. They will also shorten the life expectancy of the shingles.
Walking on roofs, any roof has some degree of safety risk. You should only walk a roof if you feel confident in your ability to safely do so. Safety factor will vary with roof pitch and roofing material. Roof have moss will have a slippery feel as do smooth metal roof. You should also have proper safety shoes to walk a roof with high traction soles.
When a light fixture is to be placed in a ceiling filled with insulation, it requires an insulated contact (IC) rated fixture. An IC rated fixture “shall be permitted to be in contact with combustible material or blanketed with thermal insulation”.
Movement of the roof also causes the mortar to eventually crack and break adhesion between the tiles and the ridge capping. A major cause of movement is the constant expansion and contraction of supporting timbers as they react to the changing extremes in temperature.
In this picture there is a deteriorated crown at the top of the brick chimney. The crown diverts water and snow from the top of the chimney so it does not deteriorate. A qualified masonry contractor should further inspect and repair as needed.
In the article 10 Easy Ways to Save Money I learned about efficient ways to save money around your home using simple steps. The most interesting way I read was to seal and insulate their homes. Many people do not see the importance in this and do not feel the need to hire a professional insulation company, by doing this in the long run you will save more money than what it will cost to hire the right people to do a professional job.
Crawl spaces are host to a whole lot of nasty conditions that inspectors come into contact with. A few of them are mold, fungus, pests such as termites and the occasional snake. Older houses may contain asbestos so remember not to disturb it. Standing water and sewerage can be present. A inspector can also become pinned or get an electric shock by wires lying on the crawl space floor. Always wear the correct personal protection equipment and make sure to let someone know when you go into the crawl.
The object I have chosen is drip edging. Drip edging is designed to deflect water away from the home. This drip edging was installed correctly. It was installed on top of the underlayment and fastened every 6 inches. Drip edge is protected and covered by the roof covering, which in this case is 3 tab asphalt shingles.
I have chosen the wood shake nailing diagram. I have learned that using the proper nails with the proper installation is vital to the integrity of the roof. As you can see in this diagram it shows you the proper size and how far the nails should be driven. If the nails are not driven far enough into the sheathing, high winds can damage shingles. If the nails are driven too far is can crack and damage the sheathing. Also if the nails of fasteners are exposed it can cause corrosion to the fasteners and water damage to the sheathing. Therefore this is a very important detail that should not be overlooked by a home inspector.
This image is showing the soffit vents. This home has open soffits, the vent system is an soffit vent with a ridge vent also. The vents have bird screen installed correctly. They are placed at every other truss. This home has excellent venting. The gutter system is also visible in the photo. The gutter system is installed correctly but is in need of cleaning out. There is no visible signs of wood damage or rot on any of the tails.
For my choice i went with a picture of a tile roof. The roof is installed using a interlocking system of tiles. The tiles appear to be installed well and does not have any missing or broken tiles in the photo. The roof does need to be cleaned off as there is moss growing on it. This roof overall appears to be in good shape.
This articles provided information and stressed the importance to protect your assets through various means. Taking these precautions in the event that you are sued by someone who was less than happy with your inspection can protect your personal assets from seizure.
Some of the ways I learned from the article to safeguard my personal assets is to Incorporate my business or use a LLC a FLP (Family Limited Partnership. Another protection devise is to be sure to purchase reputable profession liability insurance and think about keeping your major assets such as work vehicles encumbered by leasing them instead of owning them.
At glance from ground level the asphalt roofing system could have experienced impact damage due to the low hanging pine tree branches that are in contact with the roof. Also the pine needles can cause break down of the roof surface due to the acidity during decay. This will need to be further inspected for evidence of detailed damage that may have occurred.
This is a photo of a small kickout flashing. Kickout flashing is also known as diverter flashing that moves rainwater from the cladding to the gutter. The need for kickout flashing typically occurs where the wall continues past the lower roof-edge and gutter or where gutters terminate at the side of a chimney. They provide excellent against the penetration of water into the home when installed correctly. The recommended length for a kickout is a minimum of three inches and an angle of 110.
Research shows up to 20% savings in heating and cooling costs may be attained by ensuring your home is properly sealed and insulated. A significant amount of heat is lost from unfinished attics that leak air. Sealing vent openings, ensuring access cover is insulated, the use of roof baffles and adding additional insulation are all ways to improve the air flow throughout the home remains effective and safe. Dirty spots on top of insulation are generally a sign of incoming air. Proper free flow of outside air is essential. The most efficient method allows outside air from soffits to flow through to roof ridge vents.
I chose to do my essay on this roof system. It is an asphalt three tab shingle. The shingles look good and there were none missing. The fasteners weren’t visible anywhere and there was some moss growth but not bad. The roof uses a soffit and ridge vent system.
I chose to do my essay on a picture of a gutter improperly discharging on a roof from the gallery. First, there was no end cap on the highest gutter and there is a higher risk for a potential leak next to the dormer. Second, the gutters were discharging onto the roof there were areas of localized shingle wear.
THIS IS AN IMAGE OF ROOF PANEL SHEATHING.ROOF PANEL SHEATHING ARE THE BASE FOR ATTACHING THE ROOF COVERING AND ADDS DURABILITY TO THE FRAMED STRUCTURE.THE PANELS ARE MADE OF PLYWOOD(OSB).IN THE IMAGE YOU CAN SEE AREAS WHERE ASPHALT SHINGLES VALLEYS WILL BE INSTALLED.
