Because it was cheap and readily available, approximately 250,000 tons of drywall was imported from China and used in homes typically built between 2004-2007. Chinese drywall can contaminate a home’s air supply and cause health issues. Most of these incidents have been reported in southern hot & humid climates There are no government standards for inspecting drywall in homes. However, there are symptoms to look for such as a strong sulfur smell, and dark & corroded copper wiring. A manufacturer’s label can sometimes be located on the back of drywall. Samples may also be sent to a lab for testing.
I’ve attached a photo showing the plumbing system of a kitchen sink. In the photo you’ll see plumbing from a dual sink and and a garbage disposal connection. All of which appear to installed correctly and problem free at the present time.
This garage door is installed on a two story home. The home is in a B designated exposure area. The door has a design pressure of 24+ and 24.5-. It is rated at 110 MPG based on the roof height of the house.
In the article titled “Collar Ties vs. Rafter Ties”, one is made aware that collar ties are not required by the 2012 IRC. That being said, under certain conditions, collar ties are a vital component. They work against the forces of uplift and uneven loads.
Did you know that the holding power of common nails drops by half within two days after being driven? After about a month or so the holding power will increase slightly as the wood fibers straighten out and grip the nail.
This Ring shank nail referenced in this picture is 2.5 inches in length and in new condition. The picture was taken from my neighbor’s home who just had a new roof installed last month. He was kind enough to allow me to go up in his attic providing that I bring down a box for him. I think that was a pretty fair trade. The bad news is I had one heck of time trying to find my nail. The installers did a really good job not missing the rafters.
The Ring shank nail are a favorite for installing wood decking and of course among other things. Anything that needs extra holding power to protect against strong winds and uplift is a great candidate for the ring shank nail.
Therefore it is safe to say if the theory is correct when initial installation occurs of a common nail that loses its holding power just after a couple of days. The ringed shank adds great holding power when initially driven and better yet gains strength a month later, which keeps the nail in place for years to come.
Since the 1800’s stucco continues to be a very popular form of protection of today’s residential and commercial buildings. Even though its mixture and application has advance in many different ways one things continues to hinder its longevity. Unfortunately in today’s day in age I feel that it is taken for granted in so many different ways from its initial application and procedures to maintenance. After reading the article it has made me much more aware that common so called “cracks” can indeed cannot be taken lightly. Simple cracks or common cracks over a wood structure can truly be a home owners or new home buyers a nightmare. Maintenance is the key factor which is typically neglected and it is really not explained to the average home owner. To a home inspector no doubt it is eye deceiving and there really is not to determine under-layment deterioration with out doing some sort of defacing of the wall.
The right exterior garage wall is fitted with Hardie Board siding. This material has no tongue and groove, keyway, lap or other material configuration to prevent moisture intrusion. It is assumed that the joints will simply be sealed with caulk. Moisture intrusion will result over time. Repairs can be made such as adding trim, installing H molding, etc., but this will continue to be a maintenance concern. Reason for the removal of the original stucco siding (assumed) is unknown. Recommend asking the sellers for more information about this.
This is a double garage door, just installed, that is in Sarasota County Florida. It exceeds the local building code in that it is rated Miami Dade 2010 for HVHZ and includes the sticker stating all of the tests this door passes. It was installed per the manufacturers fastening requirements. You can see all of the structural bracing and the closely spaced bolts and screws that attach it the masonry wall. The door has double hinges and 3 inch wheels. Note 201, 202 and 203 approvals. This door is further protected by having a previously installed fabric, flexible net type of approved protection as the previous door was of a lesser rating. That was a local building code in Sarasota County as of 2003.
According to the OIR-1802, credit for a “single wrap” truss attachment must be attached to the top plate or embedded in the bond beam. The strap must be free of significant corrosion with less than a 1/2" gap to the truss/rafter. 1.5" is acceptable, properly blocked. The attached photo depicts a clear, focused photo (properly oriented and centered in the frame!) of a textbook credit for a single wrap truss attachment. Three adjacent trusses were examined to substantiate uniformity. Other straps were viewed from a distance in the course of the attic inspection (this represented a full buyer’s inspection with ancillary wind mitigation request) to ensure that the attachments were homogenous throughout the structure.
A Garage Inspection by Kenton Shepard was reviewed. This article was about the inspection of a garage with altered trusses. One needed to be familiar with the “normal” appearance of truss components and attachments. Alterations appeared in the woodwork of the trusses. This may have been performed under the direction of an engineer but documentation would be needed to verify these changes. What was obviously a fault was the miniature hangers supporting the truss ends into what was clearly just dry wall with deck screws. It was amazing the roof structure was holding up at all. These need to be brought to the attention of the homeowner as something that requires immediate attention in my opinion.
This is an image that I took on a recent wind mitigation inspection.
This image shows the weakest roof deck attachment.
In the image I used a metal scanner to verify the nail spacing and a shiner to verify the nail length.
I use a wooden ruler to verify the spacing in the photo.
I just posted an essay regarding ladder safety (twice!), but it appears to have disappeared, so here I go again. Briefly, I am a recovering quadriplegic as a result of substandard ladder safety techniques stemming from complacency brought on by years of contracting and inspection work. Photos of damaged ladders are all over the place including on this website. Be diligent about ladder safety! Do not place an extension ladder on a pitched roof to gain access to a higher roof plane! Throw away old equipment. BE SAFE! Dead people can’t inspect houses or provide for their family.
In response to myself in the ladder safety PSA above, I want to remind everyone that the right ladder for the task is important. My favorite ladder is my 7’ step ladder. I found it on special at Home Depot a couple of years ago by accident. Ladders come in two foot increments, even numbers. Unfortunately, many residential ceilings are 8’ tall. A six footer leaves a pretty good stretch into an attic scuttle and an eight footer is often a smidge too tall. The seven footer is genius, but hard to find. If interested, I found my new one (lost the old one from not locking into the truck!) at Grainger. Properly sized ladders are safer to use. Oh, and by the way, lock up your ladders when not in use:(!
The attached photo depicts a hip roof with 3- 4’ Dutch Hips or small gables. The perimeter of the dwelling 70’ x 50’ which is 3,500 sq.ft. Therefore the roof structure would be consider a Hip Roof, although without photos on all 4 sides of the dwelling a 15’x30’ flat room structure is attached to the roof at the rear of the dwelling. With a wind mitigation this would be consider a Hip/Flat Roof system. The storm shutters are Miami/Dade 140 mph large missal impact Bahama Shutters, however the front exterior door is not protected (it is metal/glass), not rated therefore, the openings on this structure would not be considered for a discount under Wind Mitigation.
Exterior garage door is not in good condition. It is the original with the home built in 1979. No glazed openings and not impact rated. The interior of the door did not have any reinforcement and 3 bolts fastening to the track.
I learned that although screws are granted a discount from insurance companies, screws have a downside. A couple of twist and it is unattached. Nails however, will remain attached. Screws can be reinforced with adhesive to further there durability. The most important thing is to find a contractor who is going to do the job correctly.
Double tapping observed in main electrical panel. Double tapping (i.e. 2 wires on a single pole breaker) can add to the load of the affected circuit causing a possible overload and tripping breakers. We recommend review by a qualified professional electrician for repair or replacement as necessary
Did some research on Knob and Tube- Knob and tub has higher capacity then more modern wiring and far more superior then modern wiring. However less resistant to damage. The components the knob and tub could last a lifetime.
Hello Everyone, I am doing my continuing education.
Topic: Garage Door commonly fail during windstorms due to inadequate door-track strength and mounting systems; and flimsy metal panels. The following features can protect a garage door from wind damage
No Windows
Garage door tracks that t have six to nine mounting brackets or continuous mounting
Trak brackets that are securely attached to the wall
Horizontal and/or vertical reinforcement on all panels
This post is for the requirement for the wind mitigation course.
Attached photo is of #4 ROOF TO WALL ATTACHMENTS**, type B CLIP, roof to wall connection. Does not wrap around the top of the rafter and connected with a minimum of 3 nails at the truss. (7 nails on the truss). Connected to the top plate of the wall framing with less than a ½” gap. No visible signs of corrosion or deterioration.
