Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Heavy moss noted on the roof at the shingle edges in the photo. Asphalt shingles are not water proof and rely on the roof’s slope to properly shed water. Moss hinders that run off and can pool water that just sits on the roof causing advanced deterioration and leaks. In addition: moss is a problem on roofs for several reasons including deterioration over time, severe deterioration when physically removed, and lifting shingles allowing for wind driven moisture.
Hello! This is my introduction to everyone. This is my first course on the road to becoming a home inspector. I look forward to learning! Thank you.
Rich L.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This image is of an open valley of a ribbed sheet/panel metal roofing taken from a ladder at the eave. Some of the panels lower side corners are bent up possibly from cutting to fit at the time of installation. Correction recommended.
Research & Writing Assignment:
This image is of an open valley of a ribbed sheet/panel metal roofing taken from a ladder at the eave. Some of the panels lower side corners are bent up possibly from cutting to fit at the time of installation. Correction recommended.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Roof underlayment is an important part of the roof covering system. One element of installation that can be easily over looked is how the underlayment is installed in relation the roof edge metal. Material should overlap the metal on the rake edges and be overlapped at the drip edges.
Research & Writing Assignment:
When inspecting a Chimney or fireplace, I start with the exterior. First just eyballing the chimney for any obvious defects, then taking a closer look. I start at the base of the chimney and start wrking my way up. Looking for a footer (not always visible), then looking up the vertical sides to check the connection to the house. Verify there is a chimney cap as well as a rain cap. You have to be careful, if there is separation, it should be noted and a masonry specialist should be called for an estimate for repair.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In this picture you can clearly see there is no insulation on the west side of the attic. The cooling and heating of this home will be affected by the lack of insulation. This issue can be easily addressed by talking to a licensed home contractor to have this issue corrected…
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This roof was installed with one layer of architectural asphalt shingles. It has a drip edge installed under the underlayment at the eave of the roof and a drip edge installed over the underlayment at the rake edge of the roof.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The flashing around a chimney is important for protection from water damage. Apron flashing should be installed at the front or lower edge of the chimney. If a chimney is larger that 30", a cricket is necessary along with the back or head flashing. The sides of the chimney should have both step flashing and counter flashing. The counter flashing should be attached 1" into the mortar joint on masonry chimneys.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Roof covering is 3 tab asphalt shingles. Missing shingles noted at the time of inspection. Missing shingles may allow moisture penetration onto the roof sheathing which may cause mold growth and water damage to the interior. Recommend further evaluation repair by a qualified contractor.
Research & Writing Assignment:
When inspection a roof structure, it is important to note that engineered roof trusses should not be cut or altered in any way. That trusses should bear on an exterior wall and not an interior wall. It is important to note any such defects in your report.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
When preparing a roof surface, it is critical to ensure that moisture intrusion concerns are addressed before a nail is driven. We address this with good quality underlayment and proper flashing. The sheathing should be attached with proper fasteners, at proper depths, etc., with 1/8" gaps, and ensuring that fasteners are not missing the structural members. In this essay, I am using an example of preparing the roof surface at a point at which the wall and roof intersect each other.
In this example, the underlayment is laid on top of the roof sheathing with a continuous lap of underlayment protecting the bottom of the wall surface. Pan flashing is then installed snug against the wall and roof surfaces, enabling water to run off without affecting the sheathing underneath. On the top edge of the pan sheathing, counter flashing is installed to prevent water intrusion from above. Of course, each form of flashing, including the underlayment, must be cemented, caulked, and fastened properly to ensure good cohesion according to manufacturers instructions and best construction practices in order to ensure moisture intrusion issues are addressed successfully. At that point, the tile can be laid according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The image I chose is the ‘Asphalt Shingle Nailing Diagram’ and it shows proper and improper fastening of Asphalt roofing shingles. Before taking the training I was aware that nails that aren’t pounded in enough could pose issues with the roofing system, however, I didn’t realize that nails that were pounded in, even a bit too much, could compromise the system as well. This is something I will surely keep in mind while doing inspections.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Roof inspected with a drone, no major issues were found and the roof appears to be a new installation. May want to check with homeowner as to the age of the roof. Some fascia boards need to be painted to fully protect from weather.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The article I read dealt with permits and the most important part that I found interesting and informative was the fact that if work is done without a permit, the current owner of the property will be the one held responsible, not the previous owner who had the work done.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This roof inspection was done on a home in a high wind area. By the photograph you can see that some of the asphalt composition shingles are missing as well as an area where repairs and/or replacements were done. Additionally you may notice that the original roof appears to be Laminated or Architectural design asphalt shingles and that the exposed area provides an indication that the attachment was only done with four fasteners in lieu of six which could be an issue with this high wind location. Photograph was taken by a drone.
Research & Writing Assignment:
In the article, “Mastering Roof Inspections: Asphalt Composition Shingles, Part 13”, it discusses the fact that roofs in shade may stay cooler or have more moisture. I have commonly seen this on the south side of houses in the Michigan area. Unfortunately, other than chemical or other metalogical treatment, little can be done to prevent moss from growing.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The rake edge of this gable roof shows only a single layer of asphalt shingles (two layers at the edge). The shingles appear to be in good functional condition with no curling or missing tabs. The vent boots are properly installed with no indication of leakage appearing in the sheathing from the attic.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
A view from a elevated distance shows a asphalt shingle architectural roof covering on the main roof and a asphalt roll roofing on the lower patio. The main roof shows the shingles to me in good shape, no visible defects and ridge cap in place. The skylights have the correct flashing, and the pipe boots are installed and in the correct placement. Gutters are in place and sloped correctly.
Research & Writing Assignment:
2-10 Rule 1
It’s important to know the rule for termination of a flue or chimney above the roof. In an open condition a minimum height of 3 feet is required and if adjacent to a another roof, peak or side wall in must rise to a point 2 feet above the adjacent height. A chimney or flue that is too short is unlikely to vent properly and it may also be a serious fire hazard to the building, risk setting the roof on fire.
