Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In this photograph of a portion of the roof of this home, the roof is covered in asphalt, architectural shingles. In my overall observation the roof covering looks to be in good condition and there were no visible signs of deficiencies in the underlying structure, through the roof components and the home had no vegetation that extended over the roof.
Research & Writing Assignment:
There are a variety of dormers that are esthetically pleasing, however the Eyebrow dormer though very unique can be quite costly to instal and the expense of a contractor to build this difficult curvaceous creature can be brought to even great expense if the roofer does adequately cover connecting areas to prevent water intrusion.
Research & Writing Assignment:
In this article, Inspecting Roof Panel Sheathing, the author provides good information regarding the thickness of the panels, the spacing between panels, and which size panel to use depending on the spacing between rafters, the amount of nails needed to properly secure the panels to the rafters during normal installation and high wind locations and much more. This information is most useful for new construction Inspectors but nevertheless good to keep handy because you never know if one day we find ourselves doing new construction inspections.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Efflorescence is a white powdery substance sometimes found on pourous materials. Efflorescence is salt evaporating from the water the porous material has wicked up from the ground. Though mainly cosmetic, it should be addressed as it may indicate underlying moisture issues with the building.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Through the Illustration Gallery I observed and studied the ‘Downspout Extension’ article. This illustration displays two examples of a how downspout could be attached to the gutter system where one example shows the correct installation where the length of the downspout is stretched 4 to 6 feet from the home so water is drained far enough from the home where it will not penetrate into the the foundation wall. The second example is where the downspout is installed too short to where the water flow has the capability of penetrating through the soil onto/into the foundation wall of the home and can cause serious damage to the foundation and structure of the home.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Upon my inspection I observed a missing downspout at the rear of the home. This is a major defect and needs to be corrected immediately. Downspouts are installed to divert water from seeping and settling into the home’s foundation which could cause flooding and damage the structure the entire house. d
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In this picture you can see a dip in the ridge beam. This is generally called “saddle” or " swayback." This can be caused by a rotten beam or lack of collar ties. In this case it may be caused by undersized framing members due to the fact I observed the the rafters being sistered in the final two bays. It may also be caused by the foundation settling.
Research & Writing Assignment:
In the article “Inspecting Spray-Foam Insulation Applied Under Plywood and OSB Roof Sheathing” I learned the advantages of spray-foam underneath the roof shearing is that it can be an effective means of air sealing the roof deck in attic spaces. In order for the application of the spray foam to be successfull the roof sheathing must be leak free and have a moisture content of less than 18%.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Fiberglass asphalt ridge cap is damaged, missing part of the covering, close to wall on North side of the house. This could lead to water infiltration, damaging also the roof sheating, and roof structure. I recommend a qualified roof contractor repair.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Inspection Roof in Attic Area: when going to an attic, wear a respirator. Dust masks are inadequate. Many types of insulation contain particulates that can become airborne when insulation is disturbed, and they can cause respiratory problems, and also diseases.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
During my inspection of the garage roof structure from my ladder at the eaves, I noticed a significant sag in the middle of the ridge. Upon further inspection it was discovered that there are a lack of rafter-ties and purlin bracing in this common rafter system. One rafter in particular was cut in the middle to accommodate a garage door system. Its recommended these potential defects be further inspected by a structural engineer and/or a licensed contractor to be corrected. (I tried to upload multiple photos, Its only letting do one? I had photos of the cut rafter and the missing rafter-ties to show)
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
here we have a damaged three tab shingled roof. the sheathing damage appears to still be in place with a temporary type repair to the roof surface at this time. there is also damage to the drip edge and gutter. this roof should be reviewed for repair prior as soon as possible.
Research & Writing Assignment:
a normal brick masonry chimney has four different types of flashing, head, step, counter and apron, all are needed to properly seal the opening between the roof surface and the side walls of the chimney. union of the flashing and the chimney is made waterproof and held in place with sealant.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I chose the article ““Cool” Energy-Efficient Roofs”, in this article I learned that there are roof coverings available to help reduce the costs of cooling your home in summer months significantly. These roof coverings are known as cool roofs or reflective roofs. Cool roofs have qualities that reflect the suns solar energy back into space instead of absorbing that heat into the home. The most common types of cool roof systems are Single-ply and coatings. Single-ply materials are large sheets that cover the existing roof while coatings can be factory applied or during manufacturing. In essence cool roofs save you money and help extend the life of your roof by keeping it cool and your family.
Resource: https: //www.nachi.org/cool-roofs.htm
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In this picture you can see the insulation in the attic space of this particular home. The insulation is not cover the soffit which is within the standards. The insulation should never be covering where vents are to make sure there is proper venitlation.
Research & Writing Assignment:
proper headwall flashing should be installed on top of the roofing material on the lower edge and underneath the counter flashing on the top edge. the counter flashing is then installed underneath the outside material of the home. doing this ensure the water will flow properly off of the roof system.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This roof has shingles that are missing and/or loose from the recent blizzard. This is a condition that would require immediate attention. All gutters are in place and securely fastened. Theres are 2 protrusions through the roof where sewer vent stacks are. All flashing is in good repair.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I chose the image titled hail damage characteristics. This image shows that you are looking for dents from where the hail stone impacted the shingle. You can spot these indents not only from the indent itself but from granules that missing.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Cool roofs allow the interior of homes to stay cooler than a conventional asphalt roof. They use either coating on an existing roof or sheet material that are fastened over the roof. In some instances the cooling demand can be lowered by as much as 15%. This can keep the interior of the house cooler and use less energy at the same time.
In addition to this benefit of a decrease in heat transferred into the home, there are other noted benefits as well. They include; increased longevity of the roofing materials, a reduced “heat island” effect, lowered peak electrical demand and savings in the form of incentives and utility rebates.
One may consider a cool roof product if their residence is located in an area that is subject to warmer climates and or increased temperatures during the summer months. As in any product, a person needs to research cool energy-efficient roofs, to determine which would work best for their home or structure.
